Virginia Run Riptide Earns Final Victory

By Bruce Eisenhart

The pool at Virginia Run was a busy place this weekend as the Riptide hosted their final “A” meet of the season against the Fair Oaks Sharks on Saturday and the Regional IM Carnival on Sunday. Despite Friday night’s pep rally attempt to “cool the pool” with hundreds of ice cubes, the swimmers said the hot pool water felt like jello Saturday morning. One would have never known the conditions were less than ideal, as the talented Riptide athletes knifed through that gelatinous water with amazing energy to secure a season ending victory of 224 to 196.

The freestyle races were close and first place points were hard to come by for the Riptide as they won 4 of 10 races with Chelsea Nguyen (9-10), Skyla Davidson (13-14), Chloe Hicks (swimming up in 15-18) and Joey Castro (15-18). Even with the ably supporting cast of second place wins by Caitlin Kelliher (8 & under), Katie Conway (9-10), Nick McGrath (13-14), & Alexa McAnally (13-14) and third place points from Charlie Gunn (11-12), Aaron Vu (13-14), and Patrick Kearney (15-18), the Riptide found themselves trailing the Sharks by fourteen points, 38 to 52, at the end of the freestyle competition.

The backstrokers began their program intent on tightening the meet. Five swimmers achieved first place in back- Andrew Boyle (9-10), Anthony Arcomona (11-12), Geoffrey Eisenhart (13-14), Didi Pace (13-14) and Matt Glowacki (15-18). Catie Gunn (9-10), Olivia Masterson (11-12), Joey Castro (15-18) and Sierra Higinbotham (15-18) secured second and Sam Metcalf (8&under), Isabelle Cogan (8 &under), Hilde Younce (9-10), Harry Schlatter (11-12), Hannah Brazier (11-12), Nick McGrath (13-14), Alison Meredith (13-14) and Maggie Blondin (15-18) took thirds making all those points matter as the Riptide and Sharks posted a 45-45 tie in backstroke.

As the breaststroke events commenced the pressure ramped up and the Riptide swimmers stepped up. Jack Liskey (9-10), Joe Cheifitz (11-12), Olivia Masterson (11-12), Leo Wang (13-14), Skyla Davidson (13- 14), and Patrick Kearney (15-18) won their races. Julia Vu (8 & under), Gabriella Borsato (9-10), Emma Guidash (13-14), Brian Pisarcik (15-18) and Sierra Higinbotham (15-18) scored second places. And adding those all-important third place points were Sam Metcalf (8 & under), Meghan Gary (9-10), Ryan Tennille (11-12), Sammi Castro (11-12), Geoffrey Eisenhart (13-14), and Nick Benedetto (15-18). So by the last race of breaststroke the Tide had turned as Virginia Run won the breaststroke 51 to 39.

As the swimmers began the butterfly events, the meet score was Riptide 134 – Sharks 136. While there may have been plenty of butterflies in the stomachs of the families and coaches, there were few nerves among the Riptide fliers as they won 7 of 10 races. Katie Conway (9-10), Anthony Arcomona (11-12), Sarah Boyle (11-12), Leo Wang (13-14), Did Pace (13-14), Matt Glowacki (15-18), and Chloe Hicks (15-18) took firsts. Five swimmers achieved second place- Connor Gary (8 & under). Caitlin Kelliher (8 & under), Maggie Whiton (9-10), Alexa McAnally (13-14), and Jessica Sheftel (15-18) and five swimmers scored third- Victoria Davila (8 & under), Jack Metcalf (11-12), Jackie Hart (11-12), Thomas Beamon (13-14) and Andrew Meredith (15-18). With a hard earned lead of 188 to 172, the Riptide looked to the relays to cement their victory.

Prior to those relay races, the Riptide honored their graduating high school senior swimmers – Brian Deely, Matt Glowacki, Sam Jugus, and Brian Pisarcik. These four extraordinary young men are truescholar athletes, having graduated with honors from Westfield High School while lettering in swimming and achieving multiple distinctions in the arts and sciences. Each young man represents what is best about America’s young people and each received a $500 from the Wrinkle Scholarship fund for their contribution to the Riptide team and their community. Brian Deely was unable to be present for the ceremony as he is already serving our country as a first year plebe at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Matt Glowacki is preparing for a move to Blacksburg where he will attend Virginia Tech and major in biochemistry. Sam Jugus will attend George Mason University after being admitted to the Honors Engineering program and will major in applied computer science. Brian Pisarcik will attend Christopher Newport University where he will pursue a major in biological sciences and business.

After the emotional presentations of gifts to the graduating students and their families, the Riptide swimmers readied for the relays knowing that 5 victories would guarantee a meet victory. The Fair Oaks Sharks won the first three relays, pulling within one point of the Riptide. When the 9-10 girls relay of Chelsea Nguyen, Gabriella Borsato, Maddie Whiton, and Katie Conway swam their best race of the season to win, they opened the floodgates for the next five relay squads. 

Quick races were won by the 11-12 boys team of Ryan Tennille, Joel Cheifitz, Anthony Arcomona, and Charlie Gunn and the 11-12 girls team of Hannah Brazier, Olivia Masterson, Sarah Boyle, and Jackie Hart. The undefeated 13-14 boys team of Geoffrey Eisenhart, Leo Wang, Thomas Beamon, and Nick McGrath continued their winning ways and the 13-14 girls, Chloe Hicks, Skyla Davidson, Didi Pace, and Aleza McAnally were within .48 second of setting an NVSL record with their win. Coach Scott Darwin substituted a new 15-18 boys medley team after the Riptide win was secured and the trio of graduating seniors, Sam Jugus, Matt Glowacki, and Brian Pisarcik, supported in butterfly by rising senior Andrew Meredith, swam a magnificent final race to win their relay. The girls mixed age relay of Sarah Boyle, Chelsea Nguyen, Chloe Hicks and Sierra Higinbotham topped off the day with a win in their event.

In less than 24 hours the Riptide were back in their pool for the Individual Medley Carnival. Required to swim each stroke in succession, 36 Virginia Run swimmers posted personal bests in the very demanding event. 

For the 10 & unders, Andrew Boyle at age 9 posted a team best of 1:46.49, Jack Liskey, age 10, a 1:56.27, and Alana Turflinger age 9 swam a 144.96, while Chelsea Nguyen, age 10, swam a 1:45.87. 

For the 11-12s, Anthony Arcomona, 11, swam an impressive 1:19.09 and Charlie Gunn, 12 a 1:30.24, while Sarah Boyle, 12, swam a 1:22.08 and Beca Mathews, 11, a 1:43.26.

 For the 13-14s, Geoffrey Eisenhart, 13, posted a sizzling 1:12.95, Nick McGrath, 14, a 1:18.31, Didi Pace, 13, a personal best of 1:18.76 and Alexa McAnally, 14, a 1:23.05. Joey Castro was the fastest 16 year old with a blistering 1:08.55, Patrick Kearney at only 15 swam a 1:12.49, and Andrew Meredith, 17, registered a 1:15.15.

On Saturday the 27th Divisional Championship Meet will be held at the Mantua Marlins pool where the top two swimmers in each stroke from the Riptide and the other five teams of Division 6 will race for medals and final season standings. A end of the year banquet on Sunday the 28th will provide an opportunity to celebrate a winning season for the 240+ Riptide swimmers and their supportive families and amazing coaches. 

Congratulations to all the Riptide members for a successful and memorable 2013 summer season.