The YMCA’s National Winterfest swimming invitational
championship was held from January 11th to 13th at the
University of Maryland. Winterfest brings together the highest level of YMCA
competitive swimmers in the North East.
The local participants included Abby Stauffer, Karlee
Metz, Nick Wertz, Chandler Desotelle, Caleb Gayman, Bryton
Zook, Daniel Callis, Chandler and McKenzie Johnson; Elena, Daniel, Eli, and
Jacob Fierer; Danielle and CJ Pong;
and Marget, Nick and Rece Shelly.
Chambersburg’s esteemed nationally-ranked swimmer Marget
Shelly, entered in the 100 fly, 100 back, 200 IM,
and the 50, 100, 200, and 500 freestyle races, placed high enough in prelims to
swim in all seven finals, entering finals
with four number two seeds and three number one seeds. In the final session, she won all seven of her
events on her way to setting five
11-12 Charger records. Her times of 25.14, 54.10, 59.11, and 1:00.71 in the 50 free,
100 free, 100 back, and 100 fly, were all team records.
In her 15th and final race, she dropped four
seconds in her 200 IM, breaking Abby Stauffer’s
open team record with a time of 2:10.31. The
seventh grader picked up two new National Cuts in the 100 back and 200
IM, giving her three total with her best 200
free time of 1:55.59.
Abby Stauffer, both a CASHS Trojan and Chambersburg YMCA
Charger, qualified for finals in three of
her seven events, swimming six 200’s on Saturday. Abby
lowered her open Charger record in the 200 IM to 2:10.67, before it was broken
later in the meet by her teammate Shelly. In Abby’s final 200, she
broke an open 200 breast record by going 2:29.50 and won a consul heat by 3
seconds. Abby placed 12th in the 400 IM, lowering her open
team record in that event to 4:40.82.
The other finalist for
the Chambersburg Chargers was Danielle Pong. Danielle won the 100 13-14 breast consolation
heat with a personal record of 1:10.12 and finished 9th place
overall.
Thirteen year old Chandler
Desotelle finished 26th overall in the 13-14 boys 500 freestyle,
breaking Jordan Metz’s 13-14 age group record with a time of 5:19.98.
The girl’s open 200 Medley Relay team finished in 9th
place in 1:54.33, including teammates Marget Shelly, Danielle Pong, Abby
Stauffer, and Karlee Metz.
The boy’s 10 and Under finished 4th place in
the 200 free relay with a time of 2:03.52 and 5th place in the
Medley relay in 2:25.68. The relay consisted of Caleb Gayman, Nick and Rece
Shelly, and CJ Pong.
CJ Pong also finished 5th in the 10 & U
100 free in 1:06.79, while Rece Shelly finished 8th in the same
event in 1:07.73. Caleb Gayman finished 9th in the 10 & U 100
back, lowering his team record by 5 seconds to 1:18.58.
Despite Winterfest not having an 8 and Under age bracket,
Nick Shelly broke two personal records allowing him to compete in the 10 and
Under category.
Finally, Nick Wertz competed in his first YMCA
Championship meet this weekend. He swam in three 11-12 year-old events and set
three personal best times.
