By Staff
The Atmore YMCA Stingrays finished fourth place overall in the 23rd annual Stars n' Stripes Invitational Swim Meet in Prattville, held on June 24. The Stingrays managed the fourth-place finish in a field of 11 teams despite competing with only 16 swimmers.
Standout performances were turned in by Cole Norton and Kaylie Castleberry. By virtue of their results in individual competitions, overall Norton earned the first runner-up trophy in the boys' senior division and Castleberry finished as the second runner-up in the 14-and-under girls' division.
Stingray relay teams also fared well in the meet. The girls' Senior 200-yard freestyle relay team, composed of Kristi Rigby, Megan Bryan, Megan Rolin and Kerrianne Castleberry, took the first-place trophy. The 200-yard medley relay team, which consisted of Rigby, Bryan, Rolin and Kaylie Castleberry, finished with a second-place trophy.
The 12-and-under boys' 200-yard medley relay team, composed of Brandon Sharpless, Ben Hetzel, Cody Norton and Myles Hollingsworth, won first place in the event. The same members made up the 200-yard freestyle relay team that snagged a second-place trophy.
The 12-and-under 200-yard medley relay team, made up of Amanda Hetzel, Eva Currie, Hillary Rolin and Caitlyn Luttrell, finished seventh place on the day.
Individually, here's how the Stingrays swam:
In the 10-and-under division, Aaron Sharpless placed fifth in the 100-yard individual medley, fifth in the 50-yard backstroke and butterfly events and sixth in the 50-yard freestyle. Caitlyn Luttrell finished eighth in the 100-yard individual medley. Hillary Rolin placed sixth in the 50-yard butterfly and seventh in the backstroke and 100-yard individual medley.
In the 12-and-under division, Ben Hetzel placed eighth in the 50-yard backstroke and freestyle events. Myles Hollingsworth finished fourth in the 50-yard backstroke, fifth in the breast stoke and sixth in the freestyle. Cody Norton had a solid day, placing third in the 50-yard breast stroke and butterfly, fourth in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events and seventh in the 50-yard backstroke. Brandon Sharpless finished second in the 50-yard breast stroke, fifth in the 50-yard freestyle and sixth in the backstroke.
In the 14-and-under division, Kaylie Castleberry's big day consisted of three second-place finishes in the 200-yard individual medley, the 100-yard breast stroke and the 50-yard freestyle. She also finished fourth in the 100-yard backstroke and fifth in the 100-yard freestyle.
In the 15-18 year-old senior division, Megan Bryan placed eighth in the 100-yard freestyle and breast stroke. Kristi Rigby finished fifth in the 100-yard freestyle, seventh in the 50-yard freestyle and eighth in the 100-yard backstroke. Megan Rolin took fifth place in the 200-yard individual medley, the 100-yard backstroke and the 100-yard breast stroke events. She also placed sixth in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle. Jake Hollingsworth performed well, finishing second in the 100-yard backstroke and breast stroke events, and third in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle. Cole Norton's solid performance landed him second-place finishes in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard and 50-yard freestyle events. Norton also placed third in the 100-yard backstroke and fourth in the breast stroke.
July 6, Daphne Swim Meet
The Atmore YMCA Stingrays duked it out with three other teams in a four-way swim meet held in Daphne on July 6.
Also competing in the meet were Forest Hills Swim Team, Monroeville YMCA Swim Team and Baldwin Mobile Aquatic Club.
All competitions were 50-yard events. Here are the Stingrays' individual performances:
In the 10-and-under division, Hannah Jones won first-place in the backstroke, fourth in the butterfly and fifth in the freestyle. Clare Jones placed fifth in the butterfly and ninth in the breast stoke.
In the 12-and-under division, Eva Currie finished eighth in the breast stroke and 10th in freestyle. Ben Hetzel placed second in the backstroke and sixth in freestyle.
Two sets of twins turned in standout performances in the 14-and-under division. Tyler Jones won first place in the freestyle and backstroke, beating out his twin brother Cooper, who placed second in both events.
Kaylie Castleberry won first place in the butterfly, the breast stroke and the freestyle. Her sister Kerrianne won first place in the backstroke while finishing third in the breast stroke and freestyle.
The senior division saw its fair share of outstanding performances as well. Jake Hollingsworth won first place in the freestyle, backstroke and breast stroke events.
Hollingsworth edged Blake Bell, who finished second in the freestyle and breast stroke. Megan Rolin placed second in the backstroke and breast stroke events.
Kristi Rigby finished second in the freestyle, third in the breast stroke and fifth in the backstroke.