YMCA Flyers swim team celebrates successful fall/winter season

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The Ponte Vedra Family YMCA’s Flyers swim team achieved several accomplishments during its short course season in the fall and winter.

Lilly McCabe tied for first place in the 100 breaststroke at the Florida High School State Championship meet with a time of 1:04:56, which enabled her to compete at the National Club Swimming Association (NCSA) Juniors meet in March.

More Flyers than ever qualified for championship meets. At Senior Championships, Igor Kazhuro was the MVP after dropping significant time in each of his events. Riley Hagy and Casey Hayford attended for the first time, and Jesse Hagy returned for another great performance. Ashleigh Churchill also qualified.

At the Florida Age Group Championship meet (Flags), Reilly McCabe qualified for finals as a 13-year-old in the girls 13-14 category for the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24:89. First time championship qualifiers Matthew Regil, Haylee Hite and Leah Harris represented the team and were joined by veterans Jason Hepfer, Reilly McCabe, Haley Harris and Tristan Lewers.

Over 40 swimmers attended Y-State Championships in Orlando, with many Flyers advancing to the finals. Haley Harris placed second in the 200 freestyle in the girls 13-14 group. The team of Kaitlyn Copland, Haley Harris, Eden Palm and Reilly McCabe placed in second place in the 200 free relay, third in the 400 free relay and third in the 200 medley relay. In the senior girls group, Lilly McCabe won the 50 breaststroke, placed in second place in the 50 freestyle and took third in the 100 breaststroke. Jason Hepfer also swam well in the boys 13-14 group, taking third in the 100 butterfly, second in the 200 butterfly and fourth in the 200 IM.

Held at Cecil Aquatic Center, the Area 1-4 Championships featured a strong performance from Ashleigh Churchill, who finished in first place in the 100-yard breaststroke in the girls 13-14 group and in third place in the 100-yard breaststroke in the senior girls group. Kaitlyn Copland placed first in the girls 13-14 50-yard freestyle, while Haley Harris finished in second in that race and second in the senior girls 100-yard breaststroke.

With the short course season behind them, the Flyers look forward to training for a successful long course season over the next several months.