There’s a story in every time that makes it into the books at the Jefferson Swim League Championships.
There’s the decorated older swimmer in their last year of competition in the league setting a record or winning an event title like Fry Spring’s Cole McMahon-Gioeli in the 100-free or Zachary Greenhoe in the 15-18 meter 100-IM, 50-free and 50-backstroke. Or Boar’s Head’s Matt Mandell in the 50-backstroke and teammate Morgan James in the 100-free.
There’s the burgeoning stars clocking swims beyond their years like Fairview’s Claire Moody and ACAC’s Athena Vanyo who finished 1-2 in the individual high point standings in the girls 13-14 year old group. Both set new meter-based records in their individual events. Or Crozet’s Thomas Heilman, a 10-year old who was coming off setting two state records and a meet record at the Virginia Long Course Age Group Championships and was equally dominant at the JSL meet, setting three individual records by more than three seconds each in the 50-free, 50-back and 50-fly, winning the high point award for the 9-10 boys.
There’s also the largely new-to-the-sport young swimmers who knocked full seconds off their previous time like Boar’s Head’s Lucas Daniero, who scored for Boar’s Head in one event, the 50-fly, but dropped 12 seconds from his 100-IM, six seconds off his previous 50-fly and 9.5 seconds off his 100-free clocking. Or Elena Handy of Key West who won the perseverance award that recognizes the JSL swimmer 12 and under for her dedication to improving on a personal level and inspiring teammates to do the same. Or Louisa’s Ethan and Devin Michael, who cut 34.95 seconds and 25.00 seconds off their respective times in the 25-free and 25-backstroke, Lake Monticello’s Morgan Millburn who cut 13.04 seconds off her 100-free or Culpeper’s Cole Edwards (9.28 seconds off his 50 backstroke).
Every year in the Jefferson Swim League there are hundreds, nay thousands of swimmers who compete, learn and grow, and 2017 was different in location only, as the annual horde of young swimmers descended on Fork Union’s pool instead of UVa’s AFC to set records, improve and showcase what they learned and their hard work from this summer.
Fairview Swim Club walked away with the title again with 2,395 points, but not without holding off a strong charge by the Crozet Gators who clocked in with 2,285 points and ACAC that checked in in third with 2,271 points. Boar’s Head (fourth with 2,102) and Fry’s Spring (fifth with 2,027 points) also crossed the 2,000-point mark.
A pack of new records were set, due in part to these being meter-based records which were only set during the one other time the championships were swam at Fork Union, back in 2012. When held at UVa’s AFC, the championships are measured in yards.
Fairview notched high point winners from Moody in the 13-14 year old girls, Lucas Smith in the 13-14 year old boys as well as the runner-up in that spot, Victor Valovalvo and the runner-up in the boys eight and under (Colt Bloxsom) and girls 11-12 (Madelyn Wells).
Fairview got some critical relay wins in the 11-12 girls 200 medley and 200 free, the 13-14 girls 200 medley and the 15-18 girls 200 medley and 200 free races.
Second place Crozet picked up relay wins in the 11-12 boys 200 medley and free, 9-10 girls 200 free, 6 and under 100 free. High point standouts from the Gators were Heilman and 8 and under girls runner-up Miller Grimes.
ACAC notched relay wins in the 8 and under girls 100 free and 100 medley, 8 and under boys 100 medley, the 9-10 boys 200 medley and free, the 13-14 boys medley. ACAC’s Chase Easton won the eight and under boys high point nod, Sofie Vanyo won the girls in that age group and Mariam Mithgal won the girls 9-10 high point award. Athena Vanyo was the runner-up at 11-12 and teammate Jack Smith was the runner-up in the boys 11-12 group. ACAC, who won the Regular Season Division I title, took home the Championship Spirit Award in Division I, with Farmington winning that in Division II and Gordonsville winning it in Division III.
Hollymead was the Division II champion for the meet while Glenmore took home the Division III title.
