The season is at an end for the Franklin Amatuer Swim Team.
Having secured an incredible 20th straight league title at the Mountain Swim League Championships the week before, on July 20 FAST’s most elite swimmers traveled to Sylva for the MSL All-Star meet. There, nearly a dozen FAST Fins placed near the top of their age groups, ahead of the Amatuer Athletic Union Junior Olympics this weekend.
Tatham Peters dominated the 8 & under events for FAST, placing first overall by way of wins in the 25-yard backstroke (23.95 seconds), 25-yard freestyle (18.20), 50-yard freestyle (43.23) and 100-yard individual medley (2:01.56). Owen Baillio placed third overall with a win in the 25 breaststroke (27.08) and a second-place finish in the 25 butterfly (28.66).
On the girls side Bailey Dockery also placed first overall, taking home the 25 breast (29.65), 50 free (47.15) and 100 IM (2:12.86). Nyla Rivera placed second overall with a win in the 25 free (22.73) and second-place finishes in the 25 fly (31.94), 50 free (51.23) and 100 IM (2:18.27); touching the wall in the 25 fly after teammate Hannah Griffith (30.03).
Leila Pinkston (49.04) and Nathan Jessup (50.15) led the way in the 9-10 age group, both placing second in the girls and boys 50 breast, respectively. Jessup also placed second in the 50 fly (53.92) and 100 IM (1:46.48). Charlie Scruggs was the lone FAST Fin to place in the 11-12 age group, finishing sixth in the 100 free (1:21.12).
Three FAST Fins won multiple events in the 13-14s, led by Thatcher Daniels in the 100 fly (1:16.53), 100 breast (1:21.75) and 200 IM (2:38.14). On the girls side Dalila Canzone claimed the 50 free (28.70) and 100 back (1:18.75), while Kenna Keyworth took home the 100 fly (1:20.44) and 200 IM (2:56.58).
Claire Ballard once again dominated the girls 15-18 events, winning the 50 free (26.76), 100 free (1:00.11), 100 back (1:07.28) and 100 breast (1:23.37).
After wrapping up the Mountain Swim League season, FAST’s most elite swimmers turned their attention to the Junior Olympics in Greensboro July 25-28, where they’ll race top competition from across the country. They’ll join other elite swimmers from around the MSL to form a single team.