It’s two meets down and three to go for the Franklin Amateur Swim Team.
After a hard-fought first week of the season, beating Highlands overall but being outscored in men’s events, on June 13 the FAST Fins hosted a three-team meet at the Macon County Rec Park. There, Franklin routed both the Jackson County Swim Team and the Cherokee County Aquatic Club, extending an incredible 15-year unbeaten streak.
Stella Hoover and Gatlin Harlfinger led the way in the 6 & under age group, winning the girls and boys 25-yard freestyle in 38.76 and 36.87 seconds, respectively.
Bailey Dockery dominated the 8 & under events for FAST, winning the girls 25 freestyle (23.25), 25 backstroke (25.03), 25 breaststroke (30.89) and 50 freestyle (52.33). Dockery was the only FAST Fin with four event wins on the evening.
Tatham Peters also turned in an excellent night for the 8 & unders, claiming the boys 25 free (18.51), 50 free (44.48), and 100 individual medley (2:15.17). Nyla Rivera took home the girls 25 butterfly (28.66), and placed second in the 50 free (53.59), second in the 25 breaststroke (30.91) and third in the 25 backstroke (29.77).
Two FAST Fins won multiple events in the 9-10 age group, with Leila Pinkston claiming the girls 100 IM (1:53.63) and 50 breaststroke (49.30), and Nathan Jessup taking home the 100 free (1:41.50) and 50 fly (56.20). Avery Dockery won the boys 100 IM (1:49.70), while Larken Lynch won the girls 50 fly (57.49).
In the 11-12 age group three FAST Fins took home first-place ribbons, including Abby Hodges in the girls 50 breast (50.89), Madelyn Kennedy in the girls 50 fly (49.20) and Michael Canzone in the boys 50 fly (55.43). Canzone also placed second in the boys 100 IM (1:53.57), while Hodges placed second in the girls 50 free (38.92).
Malik Walker turned in a stellar meet for the 13-14 boys, winning the 50 free (26.40), 100 free (59.56) and 100 fly (1:13.04). Walker’s times in the 50 and 100 free qualified him for the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics, along with 13-14 boys teammate Thatcher Daniels’ second-place 50 free time of 27.75. The team has now recorded five JO qualifying times this season after Claire Ballard met standards in the girls 15-18 100 breaststroke and 50 freestyle last week. The national meet will be held in Greensboro July 23-18.
On the girls side Kenna Keyworth also won multiple 13-14 events, claiming the 200 IM (2:52.16) and 100 fly (1:21.19) and placing second in the 100 back (1:24.66). Bri Dezarn won the girls 100 back (1:21.44), while Gabriel Ostojic won the boys 100 breast (1:23.96) and placed second in the 200 IM (3:09.70).
In the 15-18 age group Ballard also won three events for the Fins, taking home the 100 fly (1:15.27), 50 free (25.87) and 100 back (1:06.97). Brooke Borgmann won the 200 IM (3:08.14) and placed third in the 100 free (1:15.49), while Zoi Walker won the 100 breast (1:26.18) and placed second in both the 100 fly (1:18.62) and 100 back (1:18.20).
On the boys side three FAST Fins won multiple events, including Jose Gomez in the 100 back (1:08.57) and 50 free (24.14), Jackson Word in the 200 IM (2:34.11) and 100 fly (1:06.27) and Harrison Word in the 100 breast (1:09.76) and 100 free (57.26). The trio also earned several second-place finishes, including Gomez in the 100 fly (1:06.92), Jackson Word in the 100 free (59.34), and Harrison Word in the 50 free (25.33) and 100 back (1:14.09).
As a team Franklin easily outpaced their opponents’ combined score, racking up 910 points to Jackson’s 236 and Cherokee’s 172. The FAST Fins will host Waynesville’s Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club June 20.