With one of their largest lineups in years the Valparaiso Swim Club took 11 athletes to the Indiana Age Group State Championship. Even more impressive than the sheer size of the team was that every single athlete scored a point for VSC by placing in the top 16 in at least one event or another.
The green and white swam fast from their very first event. In the 400IM Andrew Antonetti paved the way for VSC by shattering the team record by 10seconds and taking 6th place in the state. Moments later in the north pool Grace Cobble led her heat wire to wire and took 13th place in the 200 freestyle. The men’s 500 freestyle found Antonetti earning his second medal of the night with a 5th place finish. Antonetti would join Tim Blue, Evan Curry, and Javier Arriagada for the 400 medley relay, a 17th place finish.
Saturday saw the state meet premier of Sam Behrend, Cole St. Aubin, Ryan Hrosik, and Ian Holmes. The boys combined forces in the 200medley relay for a 15th place finish. Ryan Hrosik put together a great effort in his 50 free and 50 back. His training partner Grace Cobble took 14th place in the 50 free on the girl’s side of the event. Her day was also spent swimming the 100fly and the 50 back. Cole St. Aubin swam the 50 breaststroke like a seasoned veteran. Kaitlyn Steffus took 16th place in the 100fly. Antonetti took 5th place in the 1000free, lowering his team record and qualifying for the Grand Prix Series of swimming. 6 minutes later Antonetti joined Curry, Blue, and Arriagad to take a 9th place finish in the 200 free relay. Antonetti continued swimming to a 4th place finish in the 200 back, a and 6th place finish in the 200free .
With 10 of our 11 athletes already contributing to the scoring it was the focus of the 10&Under boys 200free relay to make sure we were a perfect 11 for 11. After shaking off the nervous jitters, Sam Behrend, Ian Holmes, Max Isley, and Ryan Hrosik set the VSC record in the 200 free relay and took 12th place in the state. Cole St. Aubin continued to improve in his 100breaststroke and placed 15th in the state. Grace Cobble took 16th in the 100 free and showed improvement in the 100back. That evening Antonetti picked up his 6th medal by placing 5th in the mile. Caitlyn Steffus swam a lifetime best time in the 200fly and placed 15th in the state.