Tsunami swimmers win district title

Swimmers from Sussex Family YMCA’s Tsunami swim team competed against YMCA swimmers from Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., in the East Field South District Championships March 14-16 in Laurel, Md.

With a complete team effort, Sussex walked away with its second straight Middle Division Championship, its second straight Girls’ Middle Division Championship, its first Boys’ Middle Division Championship, and a second-place overall finish. Sussex also finished as the top team in the girls’ 10 and under age group, boys’ 10 and under age group, girls’ 11-12 age group, girls’ 13-14 age group, girls’ 15-21 age group and boys’ 15-21 age group. The Tsunami swim team has competed in EFS District meet for more than 30 years, and this was its best showing.

Cape sophomores Mia Jaoude and Brady Schell each won a District championship in five of their seven events. Jaoude won the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, 100 fly and 200 fly, while Schell won the 50 free, 50 fly, 100 fly, 100 back and and 200 back.

Lea Jaoude and Gretchen Maughan added additional success with three wins apiece. Lea won the 50 breast, 100 breast and 200 individual medley, while Maughan took top honors in the 50 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM.

In the 10 and under age group, Sophie D’Iorio and Graham Knowlton each won two individual championships. D’Iorio won the 100 free and 100 IM, while Knowlton won the 50 breast and 100 IM).

Other champions included Angelina Rodriguez (9-10, 200 free), Megyn Chenosky (9-10, 50 breast), Lily Touw (13-14, 50 fly), Gabriella Damouni (15-21, 200 free), Victoria Evans (15-21, 50 back) and Jude Damouni (15-21, 200 free).

SFY swimmers recorded many podium finishes for earning a top three position in an event.

Those swimmers included:

9-10 age group – Avery Andrew (third, 100 breast), Megyn Chenosky (second, 50 back; second, 100 back; third, 100 IM), Sophie D’Iorio (second, 200 free; second, 50 fly; second, 100 fly), Angelina Rodriguez (second, 50 free; second 100 IM; third, 100 free), Abe James (third, 200 free) and Graham Knowlton (second, 100 breast)

11-12 age group – Estelle Damouni (secon, 100 fly), Lea Jaoude (second, 500 free; third, 200 free), Greyson Mariner (third, 50 breast) and Elise Russo-Kucek (third, 100 fly)

13-14 age group – Eva Csaszar (second, 50 back; second, 100 back; third, 1,000 free), Gretchen Maughan (second, 100 breast; second, 200 breast; second, 1,000 free; third, 200 free), Zoey Neufeld (third, 400 IM) and Lily Touw (second, 100 fly; second, 200 fly; second, 400 IM; third, 100 free; third, 500 free) 

15-21 age group – Gabriella Damouni (second, 50 free; second, 100 free; second, 500 free; second, 1,000 free; second, 200 IM), Victoria Evans (second, 100 back; second, 200 back), Mia Jaoude (third, 1,000 free), Jack Bain (third, 400 IM), Jude Damouni (second, 100 free; second, 500 free; second, 1,000 free; third, 100 fly; third, 100 breast), Cole Huxtable (third, 1,000 free), Brady Schell (third, 100 free) and Christian Wright (third, 50 fly; third, 50 back).

SFY also had 11 championship winning relays:

10 and under – girls’ 200 free relay (S. D’Iorio, A. Mariner, M. Chenosky, A. Rodriguez) and girls’ 200 medley relay (M. Chenosky, A. Andrew, S. D’Iorio, A. Rodriguez) 

13-14 – girls’ 400 free relay (E. Csaszar, Z. Neufeld, G. Maughan, L. Touw) and girls’ 400 medley relay (E. Csaszar, G. Maughan, L. Touw, G. Mariner)

15-21 – girls’ 200 medley relay (V. Evans, G. Maughan, M. Jaoude, G. Damouni), girls’ 200 free relay (G. Damouni, J. Reinhold, I. Touw, M. Jaoude), girls’ 400 free relay (G. Damouni, J. Reinhold, I. Touw, G. Damouni), girls’ 400 medley relay (V. Evans, Z. Neufeld, M. Jaoude, G. Damouni), boys’ 200 medley relay (C. Wright, M. Perchiniak, B. Schell, J. Damouni), boys’ 200 free relay (B. Schell, J. Bain, J. Damouni, C. Wright) and boys’ 400 free relay (J. Damouni, B. Schell, C. Wright, A. Figueroa).

The SFY Tsunami swim team will take 11 swimmers to Greensboro, N.C., Monday, March 31 through Friday, April 4, to compete in YMCA Nationals.

Schell has qualified in five events (50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, 100 back and 200 back). Mia Jaoude returns for her second trip to nationals, qualifying in four events (50 free, 100 free, 100 fly and 200 fly). Christian Wright, a summer national qualifier last year, will be heading to his first winter national meet, qualifying in two events (50 free 100 free). Gabriella Damouni, Gretchen Maughan and Jude Damouni will head to their first national meet. Gabriella qualified in three events (50 free, 100 free, 200 free), Jude in two (100 free and 200 free) and Maughan is following in her big sister Gracie’s footsteps and qualified in the 100 breast. SFY also qualified five relays – girls’ 200 and 400 medley relays (Victoria Evans, Maughan, M. Jaoude, G. Damouni), girls’ 200 free relay (M. Jaoude, Jenna Reinhold, Isla Touw, G. Damouni), boys’ 200 free relay (Schell, Jack Bain, J. Damouni, Wright), and boys’ 400 free relay (J. Damouni, Schell, Wright, Angel Figueroa).