Over the past several years, the WGCC Lightning swim team has been one of the dominant teams in the Country Club Swimming and Diving Association (CCSDA) league. Last year, WGCC had an undefeated season and they defended their title of CCSDA Champs. The team hopes to win the third-straight CCSDA title — something the team has not done. This week, the Lightning took its first step in completing this feat by besting division rivals Congressional by 367-119.
Ryan Baker continued his record-breaking ways with his swim in the 18&U free. His time of 23.76 broke his own team record from last year. Baker leaves next week for the Olympic trials in Omaha, Neb. where he'll be competing in the 100 Meter Backstroke.
WGCC athletes who won all three of their individual events at this meet were: Olivia McManus (Girls12&U IM, free, fly); Jack Carman (Boys 12&U IM, breast, fly); Jillian Johnson (Girls 18&U IM, 14&U back, fly); William Lepre (Boys 8&U free, back, fly); Ollie Bernasek (Boys 14&U free, back, fly); and Ryan Baker (Boys 18&U free, back, fly). Double winners were: Richard Gentry (Boys 18&U IM, breast); Luke Bernasek (Boys 12&U free, back); Caroline Otteni (Girls 14&U free, breast); and Madeleine Steves (Girls 8&U back, breast). Single winners were: Emme Yoder (Girls 8&U free); Lucas Zidlicky (Boys 10&U free); Izzy Bernasek (Girls 10&U back); Pamela Grace von Seelen (Girls 12&U back); Nicholas Zochowski (Boys 8&U breast); Elice Lebedev (Girls 10&U breast); Conner McCarthy (Boys 10&U breast); Sydney Cate Thornett (Girls 12&U breast); Cate Barrett (Girls 18&U breast), and Kate Loper (Girls 8&U fly).
WGCC dominated in the relays and won every single relay event. Winning relay teams included: Girls Junior Medley Relay (Johnson, Thornett, Loper, and Caroline Klauder); Boys Junior Medley Relay (O. Bernasek, Carman, Arav Bhargava, and Zochowski); Girls Senior Medley Relay (Petie Nassetta, Otteni, McManus, and Maren Schwarz); Boys Senior Medley Relay (Baker, Rajan Bhargava, Henry Rehr, and Zidlicky); Girls Mixed-Age Free Relay (Yoder, Schwarz, Helen Otteni, C. Otteni, and Nassetta); and the Boys Mixed-Age Free Relay (Lepre, Zidlicky, L. Bernasek, O. Bernasek, and Baker).
The Lightning takes on their cross-town rival Army-Navy on Thursday June 30 in their next division dual meet.