The Community YMCA Swim Team Wins National Championship

The Community YMCA’s Aquarockets swim team captured the national title for the second year in a row at the 2019 YMCA Long Course National Championship at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md.

Both the men’s and women’s team took first place overall, while Head Coach Jack Caucino of Point Pleasant was honored as Coach of the Meet at the national swimming event, which took place July 30-Aug. 3.

“We are thrilled to congratulate our swim team on their second national championship, and proud of the hard work and continued excellence of Coach Jack Caucino,” said The Community YMCA President and CEO, Laurie Goganzer.

The women's 400-meter freestyle consisting of Megan Judge of Colts Neck, Caroline McGann, Mary Mahoney and Natalie Heim, all from Middletown, captured first place, while Richie Trentalange, 17, also of Middletown, defended his national title and swam to a first-place victory in the 50-meter breaststroke.

“Our swim team earned the national title with hard work, dedication and tremendous support from their parents and our team of coaches,” Caucino said.

Caucino was again recognized as Coach of the Meet at the YMCA nationals, the third time in his career. He has coached the Aquarockets swim team for 22 years, leading 12 teams to top 10 finishes at YMCA national meets.

In all, 48 swimmers on the team competed at the national meet.

They are: Chase Adams, Hunter Adams, Kirsten Ardis, Leo Carnevale, Dylan Citta, Sean Cook, Spencer Davis, Gabby DeVirgilio, Christian Dela Cruz, Matthew D'Elia, Ben Dupree, Ryan Foreback, Morgan Fuerbacher, Dmitry Halaburda, Natalie Heim, Victoria Ireland, Alexis Jankovich, Megan Josephs, Megan Judge, Shannon Judge, Grace Kayal, Jimmy Kundrats, Arabella Lee, Gregory Lin, Mary Mahoney, Caroline McGann, Maile Mora, Julia Nappi, Neil Nejame, Natalie Neno, David Perez, Leah Policari, Charlie Rennard, Sammy Rennard, Theo Rennard, Paul Retterer, Quinn Rinkus, Michael Schober, Skylar Shafritz, Emma Shaughnessy, Abby Shaw, Charlotte Trentalange, Richie Trentalange, Kevin Truscio, Sydney Weidner, Katie Wright, Jessica Zebrowski, and Emily Zimmerman.

Following are team highlights at the national championship meet in Maryland:

Women’s Relays

1st Place, 400 Freestyle Relay - Megan Judge, Caroline McGann, Mary Mahoney, Natalie Heim

2nd Place, 200 Freestyle Relay – Natalie Heim, Megan Judge, Jessica Zebrowski, Kirsten Ardis

4th Place, 400 Medley Relay – Grace Kayal, Victoria Ireland, Arabella Lee and Megan Judge

5th Place, 800 Freestyle Relay – Mary Mahoney, Grace Kayal, Natalie Heim and Caroline McGann

Men’s Relays

4th Place, 800 Freestyle Relay - Sammy Rennard, Theo Rennard, Ryan Foreback and Paul Retterer

5th Place, 400 Freestyle Relay – Sammy Rennard, Richie Trentalange, Ryan Foreback and Paul Retterer

7th Place, 200 Medley Relay – Paul Retterer, Johnny Nutt, Richie Trentalange and Leo Carnevale

8th Place, 200 Freestyle Relay – Michael Schober, Sammy Rennard, Ryan Foreback and Leo Carnevale

8th Place, 400 Medley Relay - Paul Retterer, Dylan Citta, Richie Trentalange and Ryan Foreback

Women’s Individual Events

Kirsten Ardis – 20th, 50 Freestyle

Natalie Helm – 9th, 100 Freestyle

Victoria Ireland – 10th, 50 Breaststroke, 12th, 100 Breaststroke

Megan Judge – 8th, 50 Freestyle; 6th, 50 Butterfly; 7th, 100 Freestyle; 12th, 100 Butterfly

Grace Kayal – 4th, 200 Backstroke; 18th, 50 Backstroke; 4th, 100 Backstroke

Arabella Lee - 20th, 50 Backstroke; 8th, 100 Butterfly

Mary Mahoney – 24th, 100 Freestyle

Caroline McGann – 15th, 200 Freestyle; 14th, 100 Freestyle

Maile Mora – 18th 400 Individual Medley, 18th, 200 Butterfly

Julia Nappi – 9th, 200 Breaststroke; 18th, 100 Breaststroke; 19th, 50 Breaststroke

Quinn Rinkus – 7th, 50 Breaststroke, 15th, 100 Breaststroke

Emma Shaughnesy - 5th, 100 Breaststroke; 3rd, 50 Breaststroke

Katie Wright - 10th, 200 Backstroke; 13th, 400 Freestyle; 14th, 800 Freestyle; 10th, 100

Backstroke, 22nd, 50 Backstroke

Jessica Zebrowski – 15th, 100 Butterfly; 5th, 50 Butterfly

Emily Zimmerman – 4th, 50 Breaststroke; 6th 200 Breaststroke; 7th 100 Breaststroke; 21st, 200 Individual Medley

Men’s Individual Events

Hunter Adams – 5th, 200 Butterfly

Leo Carnevale – 16th, 50 Freestyle

Dylan Citta – 4th, 200 Breaststroke; 6th, 100 Breaststroke; 6th, 50 Breaststroke

Sean Cook – 19th, 50 Breaststroke

Johnny Nutt – 10th, 200 Breaststroke; 2nd, 50 Breaststroke; 3rd 100 Breaststroke; 19th, 200 Individual Medley

Sammy Rennard – 6th, 400 Freestyle; 3rd, 400 Individual Medley; 3rd, 800 Freestyle

Theo Rennard – 6th, 1500 Freestyle; 11th 400 Freestyle; 6th 800 Freestyle

Paul Retterer – 2nd, 200 Backstroke; 13th, 100 Freestyle; 16th, 400 Freestyle; 10th, 200 Freestyle; 9th, 50 Backstroke

Richie Trentalange – 7th, 200 Breaststroke; 6th, 200 Individual Medley; 1st, 50 Breaststroke; 5th, 100 Breaststroke

Kevin Truscio – 24th, 200 Breaststroke, 15th, 400 Individual Medley, 21st, 200 Individual Medley

The Aquarockets team competes in the National YMCA Swimming and Diving and the United States Swimming organizations. A program of the Red Bank Family YMCA, the team consists of 300 swimmers ranging in age from 6 to 18, and is led by full-time and part-time professional coaches, who are supported by the Red Bank Swim Team Parent Association.

The national championship team practices at both the Red Bank Family YMCA and at Camp Zehnder in Wall Township.

More information on the Aquarockets swim team can be found at http://www.aquarockets.com or www.TheCommunityYMCA.org.

About The Community YMCA

The Y is a leading nonprofit charity that strengthens communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Community YMCA serves more than 20,000 residents in greater Monmouth County, NJ through programs such as: preschool, before and after school care, summer day camp, teen leadership, arts enrichment, health and wellness and personal and family counseling. In 2018, the Y provided $830,000 in financial assistance and program subsidies to strengthen 2,590 children and families in Monmouth County. For more information, visit TheCommunityYMCA.org.