The YWCA Flying Fish swim team had a strong showing at their end-of-season meets, sending the largest group of qualifiers ever to the Sunkissed Invitational Swim Meet, formerly the YWCA National Championships.. The Flying Fish were represented at the meet, which took place April 3-6 in Charlotte, N.C., by more than 49 swimmers competing in the Junior (13 and under) and Senior (14 and over) divisions.
Two Flying Fish women in the Senior Division captured top three finishes. Amelia Girgenti was third in the 100 free (52.81) and Ana Woods was second in the 100 breast (105:19). In the Men’s Senior Division Ryan Knohl placed third in the 200 Free (1:42.11), third in the 100 Fly (52.23), second in the 500 Free (4:36.70) and third in the 200 Fly (1:54.59). Chris Russo was third in both the 100 back (52.06) and 200 back (1:52.89). The Senior boys 200 and 400 medley relays (1:36.65, 3:29.35) both took second, behind Russo, Knohl, Jake Girard and Duncan Martinson. The Senior boys 200 free relay placed third (1:25.62) and the 400 free relay placed second (3:07.01), with Martinson, Knohl, Russo and Christian Stankovic.
Russo broke two team records in his backstroke events and the team set six new team relay records, including all of the Senior boys relays, as well as the Senior girls 200 free relay (1:40.22) with Woods, Girgenti, Mary Claire D’Arrigo and Anna Topping, and the 13/14 boys 200 medley relay (1:45.68) with Jack Larkin, Ethan Lim, Jonathan Booth and Aidan Dillon.
Matt Gibson was recognized as the Flying Fish “Male Age Group Swimmer of the Year.” Gibson had a great season, breaking four team records for 9/10 boys, 50 fly (31.65), 100 fly (1:14.46), 50 back (34.34) and 200 IM (2:48.65). He also placed in the Top 16 in 3 events at Illinois Age Group Champs, 100 Fly (1:14.16), 50 Fly (31.91) and 50 Back (34.24).
Sisters Amelia and Sophia Girgenti were named female Age Group Swimmer of the Year and Senior Swimmer of the Year respectively.