There have been many quick swims on the 2024 East Coast WinterFest, as Occoquan swimmers alone broke 41 meet information over three days in Richmond, Virginia.
Tennessee commit Gabe Nunziata highlighted the meet for Outdated Dominion Aquatic Membership. In his first meet after efficiently defending his Winter Juniors — East 200 breaststroke title with a lifetime greatest 1:54.36 that ranks thirtieth within the boys’ 17-18 age group, Nunziata largely raced secondary occasions. He hit a lifetime greatest 45.96 within the 100 freestyle prelims, qualifying second earlier than opting out of the ultimate.
One of the vital thrilling races of the meet got here within the boys’ 200 IM closing, as Nunziata confronted off towards Alex Grocholski. The 16-year-old Grocholski, a 2026 “BOTR” recruit and Virginia Tech commit, had the sting over Nunziatia on the midway mark after splitting 24.12/27.14 on the butterfly/backstroke legs. Nunziatia was simply two-tenths behind, although, and used a powerful again half (29.98/25.92) to energy forward of Grocholski and take the win in 1:47.32, whereas Grocholski took second in a lifetime greatest 1:48.47. Nunziato’s time was simply two-hundredths off the lifetime greatest he swam earlier this month for a Thirteenth-place end at Winter Juniors — East.
The boys’ 200 IM was the one particular person occasion Occoquan Swimming’s Grocholski swam that he didn’t win. He gained each freestyle occasion however the sprints, swimming lifetime bests of 1:38.51/4:23.11 as he gained the 200/500 freestyle and clocked a season-best within the 1000 freestyle (9:15.17). He additionally noticed enhancements in his stroke occasions, profitable the 200 breaststroke (2:01.51), 200 butterfly (1:49.27), and 400 IM (3:54.63) in lifetime bests.
Grocholski racked up 137 factors, profitable the boys’ 15-16 excessive level award on the meet. Although, in a show of how dominant Occoquan was on the meet because it got here out on prime within the mixed, ladies, and boys’ standings, Grocholski’s 137 factors ranks fifth on the crew. Julian Francisco, 12, scored 194 factors to guide the crew—and the boys’ 11-12 excessive level—whereas Aubrey Rossi’s 174 factors earned her the ladies’ 11-12 excessive level award. 8-year-old Katherine Payne tallied 155 factors, and Nicholas Wall, 10, scored 148 factors to spherical out Occoquan’s prime 4 scorers.
Andy Wen, 11, additionally turned in a notable efficiency on the meet. He gained 5 occasions with 5 lifetime bests, taking first within the 500 freestyle (5:25.69), 50 breaststroke (32.11), 100 breaststroke (1:08.15), 200 breaststroke (2:32.92), and 200 IM (2:18.64). In the meantime, Tommy Watson swept the 13&Over 100/200 breaststroke, hitting his Futures reduce within the 100 breaststroke (55.94).
Within the ladies’ 13&O 100/200 breaststroke, Watson’s Williamsburg Aquatics teammate Jenny Hofer had two shut races with Higher Fundamental Line YMCA’s Paige Fisher. Fisher, 17, gained each races, hitting 1:03.02/2:17.28. Nevertheless, Hofer, 15, earned her Futures cuts in each occasions, swimming 1:04.85/2:17.87. In the meantime, Elizabeth Gregory grabbed a Futures reduce within the 100 fly, as she gained the 13&O race with a season-best 55.41. She additionally gained the 200 fly (2:03.78), 500 freestyle (4:55.36), and 1000 freestyle (10:12.62) in Futures reduce instances.
