Virginia Run Riptide Earns Another Victory

Submitted by Bruce Eisenhart

The Virginia Run Riptide welcomed the Waynewood Dolphins for an NVSL Division 6 “A” meet last Saturday morning knowing that the contest promised to be a close one. While the pool water was chilly after the torrential rains of the past week, the Riptide swimmers’ performances were sizzling and Virginia Run won the day 234 to 186.

The competition was intense throughout the freestyle events. The 8 & unders led the way with Charles Beamon first and Sean Gunn second for the boys and Caitlin Kelliher first and Nora Collingsworth second for the girls. Riptide results ebbed until Joel Cheifitz scored a second in 11-12 free. Then the 13-14 juggernauts asserted themselves. Geoffrey Eisenhart took first, Nick McGrath second and Aaron Vu third as they swept the 13-14 boys freestyle for the third time in four weeks. The 13-14 ladies, Skyla Davidson and Alexa McAnally followed with a decisive first and second, while Joey Castro and Sierra Higinbotham rounded out the 15-18 races with second place finishes. When a meet is close each and every point matters, so the third place finishes of Chelsea Nguyen (9-10 girls), Charlie Gunn (11-12- boys), Sarah Boyle (11-12 girls) and Erika Turflinger (15-18 girls) were critical to giving the Riptide a narrow lead of 46-44 at the end of the freestyle.

The meet was a true nail biter as the back strokers pushed off. Logan Dahm won a second in the boys 8 & under, and when the 8 & under girls team of Caitlin Kelliher, Natalie Orwat and Isabelle Cogan took first second and third in their race, the tide began to turn. After Olivia Masterson took a second in 11-12 girls, the 11-12 boys provided a sweep with Anthony Arcomona in first, Ryan Tennile in second and Harry Shlatter in third. Geoffrey Eisenhart claimed a first and Nick McGrath a second in the 13-14 boys back, and the 13-14 girls quickly followed in kind with Chloe Hicks taking a first and Didi Pace taking a second. Matt Glowacki and Mia Newkirk swam inspired races to claim firsts in their 15-18 events. Contributing those important third place points were Catie Gunn (9-10 girls) and Hannah Brazier (11-12 girls) enabling the Riptide to claim a 52-38 victory in the backstroke.

With a little breathing room in the meet score, the breaststrokers took their lanes. For the 8 & unders, Connor Gary swam a personal best to capture a first and Julia Vu swam her new best time to take a second. Jack Liskey swam hard to claim a second in 9-10 boys, as did Joel Cheifitz to capture a second in the 11-12 boys. Both Olivia Masterson (11-12 girls) and Leo Want (13-14 boys) took first in their age groups. The 13-14 girls once again dominated their race with Skyla Davidson in first, Emma Guidash second, and Abby Borsato third. Sierra Higinbotham won the 15-18 girls breaststroke while Joey Castro took first and Patrick Kearney second in the 15-18 boys. Seven swimmers won third place points for the Riptide to wrap up a 53-37 win in the breaststroke: Charles Beamon and Emma Liskey- 8 & unders, Alana Turflinger 9-10s, Ryan Tenille and Sammi Castro 11-12s, Aaron Vu 13-14s and Meredith Matz, swimming up in 15-18.

The Riptide maintained their momentum in butterfly. Three age groups achieved sweeps: the 11-12 boys with Anthony Arcomona first, Harry Shlatter second, Charlie Gunn third; the 15-18 boys with Matt Glowacki first, Patrick Kearney second, Andrew Meredith third and the 15-18 girls with Mia Newkirk first, Jessica Sheftel second, Erika Turflinger third. Leo Wang was first and Thomas Beamon second inthe 13-14 boys and Chloe Hicks took first and Didi Pace second in the 13-14 girls. Both Connor Gary (8 & under) and Sarah Boyle (11-12) captured seconds, while the 8 & unders Sean Gunn and Isabelle Cogan and the 9-10s Jack Liskey and Maddie Whitton secured third place finishes.

Going into the relays needing only two wins to secure the victory, the Riptide won 6 of 12 relays. The 11-12’s won decisively with Ryan Tennille, Joel Cheifitz, Anthony Arcomona and Charlie Gunn for the boys and Hannah Brazier, Olivia Masterson, Sarah Boyle and Jacquelyn Hart for the girls. Geoffrey Eisenhart, Leo Wang, Thomas Beamon and Nick McGrath swam to victory in the 13-14 boys, while Chloe Hicks, Skyla Davidson, Didi Pace, and Alexa McAnally won in style, breaking their own Riptide record for the third time this year. Finishing the meet with victories for 15-18 year old medley relays were the boys team of Matt Glowacki, Patrick Kearney, Andrew Meredith, and Joey Castro and the girls team of Sierra Higinbotham, Mia Newkirk, Jessica Sheftel, and Erika Turflinger.