The YMCA of Greenwich’s Marlins Dive Club Qualifies Eight to East Nationals
Greenwich, CT, USA (PRWEB) March 26, 2014 -- The YMCA of Greenwich’s Marlins Diving Club opened their spring competition season this past weekend at the 2014 USA Diving Spring Regional diving meet held in New Canaan, CT. Out of seventeen teams and over 200 competitors, the Marlins Divers finished in third place in the team competition.
“This first competition is always a challenge,” said Coach Lindsay Weigle. “This region that we are in has many exceptionally talented kids and since only the top six divers in each age group move onto the East National meet, we knew it was going to be a tough, but good, competition.”
The twelve Marlins divers who participated at the regional meet include: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Lee Christensen, Elizabeth Uhl, Shannon Daine, Carolina Sculti, Kate Russack, Alexea Papanicolaou, James Hopper, Casey Kirsch, Regina Frias, Devon Ott and Madelyn Seltzer. The top six divers in each event at regionals qualified themselves for the USA Diving Spring East National Competition, which will be held in Largo, FL April 25th-27th. The Marlins Divers who qualified include: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Lee Christensen, Elizabeth Uhl, Carolina Sculti, Shannon Daine, James Hopper, Madelyn Seltzer and Devon Ott.
The Marlins Women’s Team dominated the events, finishing in first. Double winners this weekend included Elizabeth Fitzpatrick from Darien, CT for the Girls 16-18 age group and Carolina Sculti of Rye, NY from the Girls 14-15 age group. "Elizabeth owned her events this weekend by winning the one-meter event by 45 points and the three-meter event by 70 points," said coach Dylan Korn. "This was Carolina's debut competition in the 14-15 age group. She looked very consistent and has really set her self up well for a successful season." Sculti and Fitzpatrick also tied for high point winners of the meet.
For the 11 and under age group, Devon Ott of Rye, New York and Madelyn Seltzer of Scarsdale, NY dominated the events by both walking away with gold medals; Ott won the one-meter event and Seltzer won the three-meter event. Ott walked away with the silver from the three-meter event; and Seltzer took the Silver from the one-meter event.
For the Girls 12-13 age group, Regina Frias of Greenwich, CT finished seventh in the three-meter event and 10th on the one-meter event. Casey Kirsch of Greenwich, CT placed ninth in the three-meter event and 12th on the one-meter event.
Another set of medals went to the Girls 14-15 age group. Elizabeth Uhl of Greenwich, CT won the silver medal on both the one-meter and three-meter events. Shannon Daine of Greenwich, CT placed 9th in the three-meter event and qualified herself to the East national meet by finishing fifth in the one-meter event. Kate Russack of Greenwich, CT placed 25th on the one-meter and 21st on the three-meter. Alexea Papanicolaou of Greenwich, CT placed 29th on one-meter.
The Marlins Men’s Team had a great showing this weekend. Lee Christensen of Darien, CT finished in the top of the Boys 16-18 age group throughout the competition, placing second on the three-meter and eighth on the one-meter springboard. James Hopper secured his spot to East Nationals by taking the bronze in the Boys 14-15 one-meter event.
“We are so proud of the divers that competed this past weekend,” said Coach Dylan Korn. “Everyone looked relaxed and dove well. It was a good way to start off the 2014 season.”
The Marlins Diving Club will return to the competition pool on April 25th when they will compete at the Junior Olympic East National competition.
The YMCA of Greenwich Junior Olympic Team offers an advanced level of training with the goal of instructing athletes in a range of dives on the one- and three-meter boards. The team competes at local, regional and national meets and invitational tournaments with the goal of qualifying for Nationals. For more information, please visit http://www.marlinsdiveclub.com.
The YMCA of Greenwich was founded more than 98 years ago in 1916. Today, it is the largest community-based organization in Greenwich with more than 5,400 members dedicated to healthy living, youth development and social responsibility through athletics and life- long learning programs in order to nurture the potential of all in our community. To learn more about the YMCA of Greenwich, membership and its numerous wellness programs, visit: http://www.greenwichymca.org.
Peter Barhydt, Aberdeen Associates, Inc., http://www.AberdeenAssociates.com, +1 (203) 618-1709, [email protected]
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