Virginia Run Riptide Opens 2014 NVSL Season with a Win

On the first day of summer, on a cool and rainy morning the Virginia Run Riptide opened their 2014 Division 6 season with an away meet at the Cottontail Pool in Burke.  The Riptide went fishing for the Cobias and came away with an exciting victory 219 to 201. 

The freestyle events were dominated by the Riptide gentlemen who won four out of five races.  Charles Beamon (8& Under), Jason Cheifetz (9-10), Anthony Arcomona (11-12) and Geoffrey Eisenhart (13-14) won their races comfortably.  Jordon Banzon (13-14) and Joey Castro (15-18) took second place and those important third place points were claimed by Davis Collingsworth (8&Under), Owen Thomas (9-10), and Johnny Pace (15-18).  Ladies freestyle firsts were won by Didi Pace (13-14) and Serena Emanuel (15-18) while Natalie Orwat (8&Under), Maddie Whitton (9-10), Chelsea Nguyen (11-12), Chanel Cogan (13-14) and Skyla Davidson (15-18) won every second place point available and Emily Jon (9-10) and Becca Matthews (11-12) secured thirds.

As the back strokers pushed off, the Tide had a comfortable 55 to 35 lead which was widened by great performances by swimmers who won firsts: Andrew Boyle (9-10), Natalie Orwat (8&Under), Olivia Masterson (11-12), Sarah Boyle (13-14), and Mia Newkirk (15-18).  The boys collected every second place point with William Whitton ( 8&Under), Jason Cheifetz (9-10), Anthony Arcomona (11-12), Geoffrey Eisenhart (13-14), and Joey Castro (15-18), while Caitlin Kelliher (9-10) and Lauren Stovall (13-14) won second place for our girls.  Jack Kelly (8&Under), Ella Thomas (8&Under), Gabriella Borsato (9-10), Catie Gunn (11-12), and Alison Meredith (15-18) added third place points. 

With what seemed like a secure lead of 106 to 74, the Riptide breaststrokers moved to the starting blocks.  First place finished were achieved by Leo Wang (13-14), Olivia Masterson (only 12, but swimming up in 13-14), and Skyla Davidson (15-18).  Seven swimmers took second place: Griffin Osterhoust (8&Under), Tommy Vu (9-10), Thomas Beamon (13-14), Patrick Kearney (15-18), Laney Zimmerman (8&Under), Gabriella Borsato (9-10), and Chelsea Nguyen (11-12).  In addition, five swimmers won third place: William Whitton (8&Under), Brian Pisarcik (15-18), Neha Srinivasan (8&Under), Megan Vu (11-12), and Reilly Twiddle (15-18). 

As the butterfly competition began, Cottontail was swimming hard to challenge Virginia Run.  The Riptide took only three firsts with Charles Beamon (8&Under), Didi Pace (13-14) and Mia Newkirk (15-18), but they won seven seconds with Andrew Boyle (9-10), Leo Wang (13-14), Patrick Kearney (15-18), Madie Whitton (9-10), Catie Gun (11-12), Sarah Boyle (13-14), Serena Emanuel (15-18), and six thirds with William Brazier (8&Under), William Beamon (11-12), Neha Srinivasan (8&Under), Caitlin Kelliher (9-10), Katie Conway (11-12), and Alison Meredith (15-18). 

As the relays began, the Riptide had seen their lead reduced to eighteen points and when the Cobias won the first three relays the nail-biting began.  The Riptide team and their supporters almost lost their voices cheering when the 9-10 Girls Medley Relay team of Caitlin Kelliher, Gabriella Borsato, Maddie Whitton, and Emily Jon won their race by a razor thin .25 second margin.   After the 11-12 Boys Relay was defeated, the 11-12 Girls team of Chelsea Nguyen, Olivia Masterson, Catie Gunn, and Becca Matthews stepped up with an easy win to maintain a narrow lead for the Riptide.  Then the powerful 13-14 year olds asserted themselves.  The Boys Relay of Geoffrey Eisenhart, Leo Wang, Thomas Beamon, and Charlie Gunn won a decisive victory that was quickly followed up by a win by the 13-14 Girls team of Lauren Stovall, Abby Borsato, Sarah Boyle, and Didi Pace.  When the 15-18 ladies- Mia Newkirk, Skyla Davidson, Serena Emanuel, and Alison Meredith won the medley relay the meet was secured and the final win by the Ladies Mixed Age Relay of Masterson, Whitton, Pace, and Newkirk was the icing on the cake. 

Summer Swim Season in Northern Virginia involves over 100 teams and thousands of swimmers.  The Virginia Run Riptide is a team of over 210 swimmers with a strong NVSL history.  The Riptide Board, chaired by Dana Matthews, is pleased to announce that Scott Darwin is returning for his third year as Head Coach.  His depth of experience as Swim/Dive Coach at Lake Braddock Secondary and his ability to motivate and teach young swimmers has been a critical factor in the Riptide Team’s growth and success.  Coach Darwin has assembled a strong support staff.  Assistance Coach Kristina Scollins who has coached in NVSL since 2010, just finished her Junior year at James Madison where she is a club swimmer.  Junior Assistant Coaches are Nick Benedetto, Joey Castro, Serena Emanuel, and Johnny Pace.  Coaches for the youngest swimmers, the 8 & Unders, are Geoffrey Eisenhart, Brooke Guidash, Chloe Hicks, Patrick Kearney, Mia Newkirk, and Didi Pace. 

Swimming is one sport where an 8 or 18 old can contribute equally to their team, where every point earned by every swimmer counts, where fun is as important as competing and where all swimming skill levels can find a place to improve.