West Point Swim Meet

Duty, Honor, Country; the words proudly displayed across the West Point Military Academy Swimming pool.  The Sharks swim team attended the 2014 Special Olympics New York Spring Games West competition at West Point on Saturday April 26th.

Nestled along the Hudson River in the Hudson Highlands the West Point Military Academy is an institution steeped in history and tradition. A place the Sharks swim team is honored to be able to swim every year.

Attendees were greeted by an impressive and heart felt show of force from the cadets, who came out to “buddy up” with athletes for the day. “Having a cadet hang out with me for the day is my favorite part of the day,” said Sharks swimmer Carly Horowitz.  As always the cadets were attentive, polite and enthusiastic.

Shortly after the parade of athletes (a triumphant march around the track lined by West Point athletic teams cheering athletes on) the crowd was wowed by an aerial display from the West Point jumpers as they jumped from a chinook helicopter and parachuted with precision right onto the football field.

With our squad of cadets and spirits high the Sharks made the trek up from the stadium to the swimming pools where they would win glory in the water.

Having blown the competition out of the water at White Plains High School in March every athlete was charged with more events and greater distances to master at West Point. A task they accomplished handily.

The Sharks swim team brought home a bounty of gold, silver and bronze medals in events ranging from the 25 meter free style, 50 meter backstroke and 25 meter breast stroke.

When awarded their medals the athletes made their way to the podium where a United States Army colonel in dress regalia presented them with their prize as both posed for the camera.

The West Point meet is a culmination of everything our athletes have been working towards all year. An event we all look forward to. An event the Sharks compete in with duty, honor and country in mind. 

Special Olympics Swim Meet 3/22/14

The Sharks were in the water and were on the hunt for gold.

This past Saturday members of the South East Consortium Sharks Swim team competed in the 2014 Stephen Sturgis Memorial Aquatics Competitions.

The competition, held at White Plains High School, hosted several swim clubs from around the area including North East, YWCA, White Plains Park and Recreation and the Mamaroneck Star Fish.

The Sharks had been focusing on their freestyle, backstroke and team relays at practice and it definitely showed this weekend. The team took home 7 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze and placed in every other event they were entered in.

Additionally the two relay teams entered both came out of the pool wearing gold for their efforts.  There was definitely some sore necks from all that hanging metal the next day!

Every athlete improved their personal best times recorded at practice. Some new comers to the event made a real splash. John MacAulay showed up big time on Saturday motoring through the 50 free style with a time of 40:41. Zoe Smith’s debut was met with much success in the 25 Free and 25 backstroke.

Both South East Consortium’s relay teams flexed their muscle cruising easily to first place in the 100 meter relay event. The relay teams were comprised of Matthew Teator, Andrew Myers, Danny Maloney, Ryan Urquhart. The second team was made up of Carly Horowitz, Nikita Afanasiev, JD Stiner and John MacAulay.

The Sharks will be heading up to compete at West Point Military Academy on April 26^th.

South East Consortium West Point Meet

This past Saturday the Sharks Swim Team made the trip up through the Hudson Valley to West Point Military academy to compete in the aquatics portion of the annual 2013 Spring Games West.

The event, hosted by Special Olympics New York, saw teams from all over the lower Hudson valley and as far away as Long Island competing in aquatic events.

The day started with opening ceremonies at West Point’s Shea Stadium. Each athlete was partnered up with a West Point cadet volunteer. The cadets escorted the Sharks around the field during the parade of athletes prior to the torch lighting ceremony. Our cadets followed us to the swimming pool facility where they continued their spirited support.

The Sharks dominated in both single events and team relays. Athletes competed in various events including the 25 meter free, 50 meter free, 100 meter free, 50 meter breast stroke, and 50 meter back stroke. Relays included the 25 meter free and 50 meter free.

Athletes who participated in the 4x50 meter relay placed 1^st in an exciting, down to the wire dash to the finish. Those athletes included Andrew Myers, Gianfranco Siciliano, Matthew Teator and Jakob Supranowitz.

Other medalists included Liam Cadigan who grabbed his first gold medal for his efforts in the 25 meter backstroke. The Sharks showed a strong presence in the 25 meter breast stroke. Something they had been working very hard on at practice. All preformed beautifully.

All athletes broke their personal bests in time in at least one event. Overall a successful day for all participants.

Sharks Swim Meet March 23rd 2013

The Sharks swim team swam their way to victory this past Saturday at White Plains High School. The 2013 Stephen Sturgis Memorial Aquatics Competition presented stiff competition from around the area; teams including North East, the Angel Fish, the Sound Shore Stars and YWCA. By working hard at practice all year and great attitudes the Sharks raked in medals.

It was a morning of firsts for the Sharks swim team. For the first time in swim team history Jakob Supranowitz swam the 100 meter free where he won a first place medal. The meet saw the debut of four new athletes to the team; Liam Cadigan, Samantha Mehlbauer, Ryan Urquhart and Jack Lambert. All of whom exceeded expectations in their events.

The Sharks competed and placed in all three relays. With a  few team absences athletes from other swim clubs volunteered to compete so the Sharks could get in the last relay.

Competition breeds success and Saturday was no exception. All athletes who participated shattered their last recorded time at practice. But as always the truly phenomenal aspect of the meet was the spirit emanating from athletes, parents, volunteers and coaches.

The Sharks will be competing next at the Spring Games at West Point Military Academy on Saturday May 4^th.