Posted on: Monday, July 23rd, 2018
Our Swim Team Is in the News
Hockomock Area YMCA Swimmers amongst the best at New England Swimming Championships
Harvard University played host to this year’s New England Swimming Championships, where over 50 teams represented by more than 385 swimmers (ages 11-14) from the New England area competed over the weekend of July 19th to 22nd.
The Hockomock Area YMCA HAY Lightning Swim Team had many outstanding times from both individuals and relays. The 200 freestyle relay team of Melson Arquillano (Milford), Megan Lathrop (Foxboro), Isabel Qin and Jack Maron (both from Sharon) combined their efforts to place 6th overall.
Twelve year old Melson Arquillano led the team with an amazing round of competitions, which placed him in seventh position in the weekend’s Overall Championship. Arquillano and Maron each participated in one relay, as well as nine individual events—each involving preliminary qualifiers and night time finals.
All told, Melson came away with the following accomplishments: 2nd in the 50 fly with a time of 31.09; 2nd in the 200 fly (2:37.70); 4th in the 400 IM (5:32.61); 5th in the 100 breast (1:23.02); 5th in the 100 butterfly (1:11.10); 5th in the 200 IM (2:34.06); 6th in the 200 back (2:39.97); 6th in the 200 breast (2:57.29); and 10th in the 50 breast (38.83).
Jack Maron, also age 12, improved in every event he swam and finished 9th in the Overall Championships. His finishes included: 4th in the 400 free (4:55.40); 4th in the 200 back (2:37.02); 6th in the 100 back (1:13.33); 7th in the 50 back (34.23); 7th in the 100 free (1:05.33); 7th in the 200 free (2:21.32); 7th in the 200 IM (2:40.03); 12th in the 200 fly (2:47.48); and 14th in the 100 fly (1:13.97).
Isabel Qin, another 12 year old from Sharon, placed 20th in the 200 breast (3:13.66) and 24th in the 400 IM (6:00.29) and made a tremendous contribution to the HAY Lightning relay effort.
Megan Lathrop, 12 years old from Foxboro, swam a time of 1:09.81 to place 39th in the 100 free.
Additionally, Ryan Schmitt, 14 years old from North Attleboro, participated in two events placing 40th in the 100 fly (1:08.77) and 24th in the 200 fly (2:34.56).
“It was a fantastic weekend for HAY swimming,” said Coach Sue Roycroft, who herself swam for the team as far back as 1976 (then called the Hammerheads). “Our swimmers this weekend combined to earn 249 points and I’m incredibly proud of them. Together, they worked hard earning an overall finish of 13th from the more than 50 teams from New England.”
HAY Lightning Swim Team practices at all three of the Hockomock Area YMCA branches: Foxboro, Franklin, and North Attleboro and participates in swim meets throughout the region. The program offers a year round opportunity for competitive swimming in both YMCA and USA Swimming, as well as seasonal clinics for aspiring competitive athletes. HAY Lightning is comprised of girls and boys from age 5 through high school. Tryouts for the upcoming short course season will take place at the Foxboro Y on August 22nd at 7:00 p.m. For details, contact haylightning@hockymca.org.
