The Shadow
LOW MOOR, Va. (VR) – The Alleghany Highlands YMCA Dolphins swim team recently competed in the PYSA championships held at the Salem Family YMCA.
Eighteen Dolphins competed in the eight-team PYSA (Piedmont YMCA Swim Association) meet held in March. The Alleghany Highlands YMCA team was one of the smallest in the field but placed fourth overall and first out of the small teams.
Dolphin swimmers recorded 73 personal bests and 13 first-time swims. Jack Shull was the top point winner in the league for 9- and 10-year-old boys.
“It’s a team sport, and everyone who participated helped the team,” said Shari Peterson, who, along with Kathy Wilson, coaches the Dolphins. “Every swimmer did a great job. We are so proud of them all.”
Alleghany Highlands YMCA Dolphins team members who competed were Brooks Gilbert, Makayla Gilbert, Francesca Hansford, Cora Hodges, Daisy Hodges, James Hodges, Alivia Hoover, Haley Jonas, Fisher Lee, Ava Nicely, Kara Nicely, Riley Persinger, Emily Peters, Jack Shull, Charlotte Smith, Charlotte Taylor, Edison Thomas and McKinley Yeagley.
“Every swimmer on our team earned points, either relay, individual or both, contributing to our fourth-place team finish — the top finish of the small teams,” Wilson said. “The coaches and families are very proud of the hard work all the swimmers put in and their awesome performance at champs.”
While competing at the PYSA championships, Riley Persinger and Jack Shull qualified to swim in the URSY Regional Meet in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Swimmers must make qualifying times in order to participate in this meet.
“We are extremely proud of both swimmers,” Peterson said.
INDIVIDUAL OVERALL HIGH POINT AWARDS
First: Top Point Winner: Jack Shull, top point winner in the league for 9- and 10-year-old boys.
Second: Haley Jonas, second, 9- and 10-year-old girls; Fisher Lee, second, 6-and-under boys; Kara Nicely, second, 13- and 14-year-old girls; McKinley Yeagley, second, 6 U and under girls.
Fourth: Francesca Hansford, fourth, 7- and 8-year-old girls.
Fifth: Brooks Gilbert, fifth, 9- and 10-year-old boys; Riley Persinger and Emily Peters, tied for fifth, 13- and 14-year-old girls.
INDIVIDUAL RIBBONS/MEDALS
First Place (Gold Medal): Kara Nicely (2), Haley Jonas (2), Francesca Hansford, Alivia Hoover, Haley Jonas, Fisher Lee, Riley Persinger, Edison Thomas, McKinley Yeagley
Second Place (Silver Medal): Haley Jonas, (4), Kara Nicely (3), Francesca Hansford (2), Fisher Lee (2), Riley Persinger (2), James Hodges, Jack Shull, Charlotte Smith
Third Place (Bronze Medal): Brooks Gilbert (2), Alivia Hoover (2), Haley Jonas (2), Francesca Hansford, Kara Nicely, Riley Persinger, Emily Peters, Charlotte Smith, Charlotte Taylor
Fourth Place: Emily Peters (3), Jack Shull (2), McKinley Yeagley (2), Haley Jonas, Ava Nicely, Riley Persinger, Charlotte Smith
Fifth Place: Cora Hodges (2), Brooks Gilbert, Francesca Hansford, Daisy Hodges, Alivia Hoover, Haley Jonas, Jack Shull, Charlotte Smith, McKinley Yeagley
Sixth Place: Jack Shull (3), Emily Peters (2), Kara Nicely, Charlotte Taylor, McKinley Yeagley
Seventh Place: Brooks Gilbert (2), Daisy Hodges, Alivia Hoover, Riley Persinger, Edison Thomas
Eighth Place: James Hodges (2), Ava Nicely, Charlotte Smith, Edison Thomas
Ninth Place: James Hodges (2), Edison Thomas (2), Brooks Gilbert, Francesca Hansford, Cora Hodges, Alivia Hoover, Emily Peters, Charlotte Taylor
Tenth Place: Brooks Gilbert, Cora Hodges, James Hodges, Charlotte Taylor
RELAY RIBBONS/MEDALS
Second Place Relays:
Mixed 10 & Under 200-Medley Relay: Jack Shull, James Hodges, Haley Jonas, Brooks Gilbert
Open 400 Medley Relay: Riley Persinger, Kara Nicely, Alivia Hoover, Charlotte Smith
Third Place Relays:
Open 200 Free Relay: Charlotte Smith, Kara Nicely, Riley Persinger, Alivia Hoover
Open 200 Medley Relay: Alivia Hoover, Charlotte Smith, Kara Nicely, Riley Persinger
12 & Under 200 Medley Relay: Makayla Gilbert, Ava Nicely, Daisy Hodges, Charlotte Taylor
Fourth Place Relays:
12 & Under 200 Free Relay: Ava Nicely, Makayla Gilbert, Daisy Hodges, Charlotte Taylor
10 & Under Free Relay: Haley Jonas, Brooks Gilbert, James Hodges, Jack Shull
Open 400 Free Relay: Cora Hodges, Charlotte Taylor, Ava Nicely, Alivia Hoover
Fifth Place Relays:
Open Girls 400 Medley Relay: Emily Peters, Makayla Gilbert, Ava Nicely, Charlotte Taylor
8 & Under Free Relay: Fisher Lee, McKinley Yeagley, Francesca Hansford, Edison Thomas
PERSONAL BEST (PB) or FIRST TIME SIWMS (FTS) / NUMBER OF RACES SWAM
9 PB/FTS: Haley Jonas 9/9 9 PB – Improved 100 percent of swims – all nine swims
8 PB/FTS: Kara Nicely 8/8 7 PB, 1 FTS; Emily Peters 8/8 6 PB, 2 FTS
7 PB/FTS: Brooks Gilbert 7/9 3 PB, 4 FTS; Jack Shull 7/9 7 PB
6 PB/FTS: Francesca Hansford 6/6 6 PB – Improved 100 percent of swims – all six swims
5 PB/FTS: James Hodges 5/7 5 PB; Ava Nicely 3 PB, 2 FTS; Riley Persinger 5 PB; Charlotte Taylor 5/6 4 PB, 1 FTS; McKinley Yeagley 5/5 3 PB, 2 FTS
4 PB/FTS: Edison Thomas 4/5 3 PB, 1 FTS; Daisy Hodges 4 PB
2 PB/FTS: Fisher Lee 2/3 1 PB, 1 FTS; Cora Hodges 2 PB; Alivia Hoover 2 PB; Charlotte Smith 2 PB
The Alleghany Highlands YMCA Dolphins winter swim season begins in early October and continues through early March. Summer swim team will be offered again this summer, beginning after school’s release for the summer. Children ages 5 through 19 can participate in either program but they must pass a swim test to participate.
Anyone interested in joining the Dolphins swim team is encouraged to call Trevor Barron, Alleghany Highlands YMCA aquatics director, at 540-862-8679 for more information.
Since its inception, the Alleghany Highlands YMCA has provided a variety of youth and family programs along with expanded memberships and services into all of the Alleghany Highlands communities. For more information on the Alleghany Highlands YMCA, call 540-962-9622.
