The Mandell JCC Sharks Swim Team had a successful finish to the season at the Connecticut Swim and Eastern Zone Swimming Championships.

Submitted by Larah Winn, Mandell  JCC

The Mandell JCC Sharks swim team wrapped up their 2016-2017 Short Course season with nothing short of tremendous swimming.

At the Connecticut Age Group Championships for swimmers 14 & younger, the team finished in the top 10 for the third year in row, and Mackenzie Headley was a High Point winner.

This is the first time a member of the Mandell JCC Sharks has earned this honor. The high point award is given to a swimmer who scores the most points in their age group. Mackenzie won the 9- and 10-year-old award after winning the 50 Breast, 100 Breaststroke, and 100 Butterfly. She also placed second in the 50 Butterfly, third in the 50 Freestyle, and third in the 200 Individual Medley.

The team had swimmers who placed in the top 10 in multiple events. The swimmers included: Jamie Amell, Tahlia Crowley, Kali Dominguez, Jacqueline Fox, Madison Hagberg, Emma Hapkiewicz, Mackenzie Headley, Malone Revis, Ella Shafman, Gavin Sherry, and Cyrus Xu.  I

n addition the following swimmers also qualified for championships: Molly Aubrey, Mitch Baboff, Arianna Bishop, Erika Dipietro, Kobe Dominguez, Tyler Grublich , Ava Hapkiewicz, Hally Laney, Alex Lee, Molly McHugh, Molly Miller, Parker Munro, Charlotte Otis, Carson Raisner, Julia Seguro,  Erin Shea, Liv Sherry, Tess Sherry, Aeva Silverman, Vanessa Squillante, Meghan Tiernan, Blake Wool, and Jennifer Zhang.

Five of the Sharks swimmers went on to represent Connecticut Swimming at the Eastern Zone Age Group Championships. This meets brings together the top 3 swimmers in each event from each Eastern State, including, New England, the mid-Atlantics states and the Tri-state area. Sharks participants included: Mackenzie Headley, Molly Miller, Matt Shea, Gavin Sherry, and Jennifer Zhang. Every shark swimmer finished in the top 10.

The Sharks also sent swimmers to the CT Senior Championship, with 11 swimmers qualifying and competing. Participants from the Sharks included: Alex Chernysh, Natalie Chernysh, Samantha Dickinson, Julian Flores, John Hagberg, Samantha Hagberg, Ian Harker, Aislinn Mitchell, Grace Moore, Matt Shea, and Jessica Zhang.  Alex, Grace, and Aislinn all had top ten finishes. The team placed 12^th overall, the highest finish for the team in its history.

After the Senior State Championships, the team competed at the Eastern Zone Sectional Meet in Ithaca, NY. This meet features the best swimmers in the Eastern Zone Swimming district.  Representing the Sharks were: Alex Chernysh, Natalie Cherynsh, Tahlia Crowley, Madison Hagberg, Emma Hapkiewicz, Aislinn Mitchell & Grace Moore.

The Mandell JCC Sharks Swim Team is a nonprofit member of United States Swimming dedicated to the development of competitive and recreational swimmers through technique and endurance development. The Sharks Swim Team is a year round program that offers many different opportunities for swimmers ages 6 and older. Registration for the 2017-18 team opens Aug. 1. For more information contact Coach Dave Laudati at [email protected] or visit the team site at www.mandelljccsharks.org.