The Franklin Amateur Swim Team has continued an incredible streak.
For the past two decades the Fins have controlled the Mountain Swim League, capturing their 20th straight league title last year. With their fifth win of the summer July 3 over Highlands and Jackson County, they completed their 17th straight unbeaten regular season.
Hailey Janoe and Grover McMahan led the way in the 6 & under age group, winning the girls and boys 25-yard freestyle in 28.00 seconds and 1:14.91 respectively for FAST.
Owen Baillio dominated the 8 & under boys events, claiming the 25 butterfly (27.38), 25 breaststroke (23.82), 25 free (21.09) and 50 free (49.33). Sebastian Hernandez placed first in the 100 medley (2:22.50) and second in the 25 fly (1:26.82). On the girls side Ali Janoe took home the 25 free (21.47), while Abigail Samuelson placed second in the 25 free (22.59) and 50 free (52.55).
David Hernandez impressed for the 9-10 boys, winning the 50 free (38.40) and 100 free (1:34.60). Emerson Maddrey took home the 50 fly (54.32), while Knox Strum placed first in the 100 medley (1:49.55), second in the 50 breast (50.23) and third in the 50 fly (57.64). On the girls side Luna McDougall claimed the 50 (36.43) and 100 free (1:30.64), and placed second in the 50 breast (50.31).
Nathan Jessup led the way for the 11-12 boys, winning the 50 backstroke (42.32) and 50 breast (47.02). On the girls side Lenore McDougall took home the 50 breast (45.55).
Thatcher Daniels dominated the 13-14 boys events, claiming the 100 breast (1:16.54), 100 free (58.55) and 200 medley (2:25.54). On the girls side Lana Walker won the 100 back (1:22.34), 100 breast (1:31.35) and 200 medley (2:48.09), while Emma Ballard took home the 100 fly (1:45.62).
Two FAST girls won multiple 15-18 events, including Zoi Walker in the 50 free (26.36) and 200 medley (2:35.22), and Kenna Keyworth in the 100 fly (1:10.40) and 100 breast (1:24.76). On the boys side Gavin Alverson took home the 100 fly (1:02.15).
As a team FAST’s boys survived another close call with Highlands, earning 308 points to the Hurricanes’ 267, with Jackson County finishing a distant third with 96. Franklin outscored their in-county rivals 385-373 in their first meet of the season June 5.
FAST’s girls cruised to a much easier win than their teammates, scoring 344.5 points to Jackson’s 198.5 and Highlands’ 177. Overall FAST comfortably won the three-team meet, earning 652.5 to Highlands’ 444 and Jackson’s 294.5. The Fins last lost a regular-season meet at Hendersonville in 2007.
With yet another unbeaten campaign in the books, FAST turned their attention to the Mountain Swim League postseason, planning to host each of the league’s four other teams (Highlands, Jackson County, Waynesville/Canton and Cherokee County) at the Macon County Rec Park for the MSL Championship meet July 12. Following the championship, the league’s elite swimmers will travel to Sylva July 19 for the MSL All-Star Meet at the Roscoe Poteet Pool. Swimmers qualify for All-Stars by meeting strict time standards in specific events throughout the season.