×

RAYS compete in regional meet

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — The RAYS swim team ended the swim season on a high note at Bowling Green State University in the 2017 Great Lakes Region Zones Championship.

The team finished 34 out of 78 YMCA teams at the meet, with only six swimmers competing against teams from Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana.

“I am very happy about the way this team performed at such a competitive meet,” coach Brendan Cain said. “The team represented the Randolph/Upshur area well. They’ve practiced for this meet for several months now and those long hours of practice paid off at this final meet of the season.

“It was exciting to see so many of the swimmers achieving personal records in a variety of events. I’m very proud of this team, I couldn’t have asked for a better effort from them. I’m looking forward to building on their accomplishments next August when we start again.”

Swimmers had to qualify for the meet by achieving strict time standards. Five out six swimmers had one or more personal best times at the event. Every swimmer scored points for the team.

“A fantastic effort by our swimmers to swim so many personal best times at the biggest meet of the year,” coach John Schmidt said. “I know we coaches are extremely proud of not only how well they swam but also how well they represented our local YMCA.”

Riley Vincent competed in the 9-10 year-old girls division and finished eighth in the 50 yard backstroke with a time of 33.61.

In the 11-12 year-old girls division, Cadence Vincent finished 25th in the 200 freestyle (2:10.87), 9th in the 50 backstroke (29.72), 10th in the 50 freestyle (26.22), 12th in the 100 freestyle (57.60), and 10th in 100 backstroke (1:04.48).

Cameron Zuliani, despite fighting through an illness, finished 13th in the 50 back stroke (30.27), 13th in the 50 freestyle (26.58), 21st in 100 butterfly (1:08.26), 31st in the 100 freestyle (59.53), 22nd in the 50 butterfly (29.61) and 24th in the 50 breast (35.32) in the 11-12 year-old girls division.

In the 10 and under boys division, Carter Zuliani and Isaac Anger both finished strong in multiple events. Zuliani finished 11th in the 200 free style (2:23.92), 15th in the 50 back stroke (34.50), 7th place in the 50 freestyle (28.45), 12th place in the 100 free (1:03.84), and 28th in the 50 butterfly (34.29).

Also in the under 10 boys age group, Anger finished 13th in the 50 backstroke (34.20), fourth place in the 100 IM (1:11.01), 4th in the 50 freestyle (28.02), 5th in the 100 free style (1:00.60), 18th in the 50 butterfly (32.82), and second in the 50 breast (35.30).

Luke Anger competed in the 11-12 year-old boys and finished the 50 yard butterfly in a time of 28.98 to round out the RAYS swimmers.

“It was a great year and all of these swimmers showed they can compete at this level,” coach Eric Anger said. “Cameron Zuliani swam despite having a high fever and flu-like symptoms. I never heard her make any excuses and she gave 100 percent. That is the kind of commitment these swimmers have for this team. I think you are going to hear these kids’ names a lot at the high school level in Elkins and Buckhannon in the near future.”

The swimmers will move on to swim with the Buckhannon Splashers and Elkins Otters for the summer. The RAYS will start again in late August and more information can be obtained at the Elkins YMCA.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today