SMAC Claims First THSC Round Robin Invitational Title

Behind triple event winner William Spencer (200 and 400 IM and 100 backstroke), and relay dominance from the 10 and under and 13-14 girls, the Seattle Metropolitan Aquatic Club captured their first THSC Round Robin Invitational title with 1003 points.

During the course of the weekend, SMAC earned duel meet victories against Hillsboro Heat, Legacy Aquatics, and the Tualatin Hills Swim Team before entering the eight-team championship round on Monday morning.

Earning the first victory of the day in the 11-14 year old girls 1000 freestyle was newly minted 13 year old Nora McCarthy, in a new best time of 11:03.31, with Cookie Hooper following in 4^TH place. Jackson Butcher and August Pierce followed with a 3^RD and 6^TH finish in the boys’ version of the event. In the 11-14 girls 400 IM, Sophie Pham (3^RD) and Parker Marvin (9^TH) placed in the top 10 before Will Spencer notched his first victory of the championship in the boys' 400 IM. Training partner, roommate, and name twin William Ho finished in 4^TH place with a new personal record.

After a break for additional warm up, the 13-14 girls dominated the 200 medley relay from start to finish for their first of two relay victories on the day. The team of 13 year olds Sophie Pham, Kaitlyn Vu, Nora McCarthy, and Cookie Hooper would also go on to win the 400 freestyle relay at the conclusion of the meet. After podium finishes in the sprint medley relays for the 13-14 and 11-12 boys, the 10 and under girls outlasted the Hillsboro Heat for the victory in their 200 medley relay. The team of Ashley Shadwick, Jane Jackman, Avery Stender, and Rachael Cohen finished with a time of 2:23.96.

From there, SMAC and THSC would trade the lead throughout the meet with neither team extending their lead past double digits. SMAC was led by top three finishes from Greta Ambach (100 freestyle 3^RD), Jackson Butcher (200 butterfly 3^RD), Bella Chang (100 breaststroke 2^ND, 200 breaststroke 3^RD), Ryley Clough (100 backstroke 3^RD, 200 freestyle 2^ND), Andy Farrington (50 and 100 freestyle 2^ND), Wyatt Herzog (50 backstroke 2^ND), William Ho (100 backstroke 2^ND), Cookie Hooper (100 freestyle 2^ND, 100 butterfly 3^RD), Jane Jackman (100 breaststroke 3^RD), Lucy LaBella (200 IM 3^RD), Sheyne Martin (50 freestyle 3^RD), Parker Marvin (100 breaststroke 3^RD), Nora McCarthy (200 freestyle 2^ND, 200 backstroke 2^ND), Kepa Meir (50 butterfly 2^ND), Kyle Pham (50 and 100 breaststroke 2^ND), Ashley Shadwick (50 backstroke 2^ND, 100 backstroke 3^RD), Avery Stender (100 butterfly 2^ND), Zachary Wahlborg (100 IM 2^ND), and Elena Warner (100 backstroke 2^ND) and event titles from Jacob Baginski (100 backstroke), Charlie Cancelmo (50 and 100 butterfly), Rachael Cohen (50 freestyle), Jane Jackman (100 backstroke), Parker Marvin (200 breaststroke), Kepa Meir (50 freestyle), Sophie Pham (100 backstroke), Avery Stender (50 butterfly), and Zachary Wahlborg (50 freestyle).

Following event 63, the 11-12 girls 200 IM, THSC clung to an 18 point lead. From that point, led by top three finishes from Jacob Baginski, 11-12 boys 200 IM (3^RD), Sophia Pham and Kaitlyn Vu 13-14 girls 200 IM (1^ST & 2^ND), and Will Spencer, 13-14 boys 200 IM (1^ST), and strong relay performances including the second relay victories for the 10 and under and 13-14 girls, SMAC outscored THSC 162 – 128 to claim the narrow victory.