farragutpress

Gators 2nd, ’Rays 5th; 3 new ‘City Meet’ records

Concord Hills 6th with 2 records; Red Foxes 12th

July 26, 2023 by Staff Reports

KNOXVILLE — Three Farragut-based Greater Knox Area Interclub Swimming Association community teams competing in the annual GKAISA “City Meet” finished in the top six — led by the Village Green Gators’ runner-up showing — among a 30-team field team during three days of competition ending Saturday afternoon, July 22, in UT’s Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

A pair of top swimmers from two of those teams broke meet records.

The Gators, with 1,707 points, had 16 swimmers win at least one first-place honor while led by triple winners Emma Zimmer and Bo Gary, and double champs Cooper Owen, Davis Wells and Kendall Hudgens.

Meanwhile, fifth-place finisher Sugarwood was paced by Jackson Vineyard’s record-breaking meet finish (20:47) to win the Boys 15-and-Over 50-yard Freestyle. Jackson and teammate Judah Bell were triple winners overall among 12 Stingrays swimmers capturing at least one top finish.

Finishing her 11th season connected with the Sugarwood program, head coach Jodi Vineyard said “finishing in the top five was a pretty exciting finish,” adding, “we haven’t scored that high before” at the City Meet.

“Last year we were ninth and the year before 10th,” added the coach, whose team also was recognized for its 2023 regular season League 2 championship/undefeated record (4-0). The Stingrays also were Smoky Mountain Invitational champs among all levels earlier this month.

“It’s just been a really amazing season,” coach Vineyard said. “… We had the best, most fun summer we’ve every had.”

As for Jackson Vineyard’s meet record, “He’s actually a two-time triple winner; he won all three last year (also 100-freestyle and 50-butterfly),” the coach said about her son, 18.

In addition, “He did win that Bill Lauer Service Award,” coach Vineyard added about Jackson being honored for “involvement with your summer team, GKAISA in general and your service and leadership skills.”

Sixth-place Concord Hills was bolstered by a double meet record-setter: Landon Hall in winning the Boys 13-14 50-yard backstroke (24.56) and 50-butterfly (23.74). Landon was a triple champ overall and was joined by five other Piranhas grabbing a first-place honor.

Finishing 12th, the Fox Den Red Foxes were led by double winner Ryan Nettles.

First-place locals: 90 events

• Mixed 9 & 10 100-Free Relay: first, Sugarwood — Anna Bell, Sam Vineyard, John Long and Myla Dru Saffles (57:22);

• Boys 11-12 100-IM: first, Fox Den — Ryan Nettles (1:09.02);

• Boys 8 & Under 25-Free: first, Sugarwood — Judah Bell (16:54);

• Boys 9-10 25-Free: first, Village Green — Bo Gary (13.46);

• Girls 11-12 50-Free: first, Village Green — Emmy Zimmer (25.41);

• Boys 15 & Over 50-Free: first, Sugarwood, Jackson Vineyard (20.72);

• Boys 8 & Under 100-Medley Relay: first, Sugarwood — Judah Bell, Jamison Scott, Granville Long and Noah Steger (1:24.58);

• Boys 9-10 100-Medley Relay: first, Village Green — Cooper Owen, Grayson Clement, Bo Gary and Davis Wells (1:08.30);

• Boys 13-14 200-Medley Relay: first, Concord Hills — Landon Hall, Jeffrey Nichols, Hunter Lorusso and Logan Williams (1:49.69);

• Girls 8 & Under 25-Backstroke: first, Village Green — Misia Shaw (20:83);

• Girls 11-12 50-Back: first, Village Green — Emmy Zimmer (28.78);

• Boys 13-14 50-Back: first, Concord Hills — Landon Hall (25.04);

• Girls 9-10 25-Breaststroke: first, Fox Den — Lauren Hackett (16.27);

• Boys 11-12 50-Breaststroke: first, Fox Den — Ryan Nettles (34.26);

• Boys 13-14 50-Breaststroke: first, Sugarwood — Garrett Roberts (30.24);

• Girls 15 & Over 50-Breaststroke: first, Village Green – Kendall Hudgens (30.00);

• Boys 15 & Over 50-Breaststroke: first, Concord Hills — Evan King (26.29);

• Girls 8 & Under 50-Freestyle: first, Concord Hills — Kira Lobodina (35.88);

• Boys 8 & Under 50-Free: first, Sugarwood — Judah Bell (36.05);

• Girls 11-12 100-Free: first, Village Green — Emmy Zimmer (56.01);

• Boys 11-12 100-Free: first, Village Green — Taiyo Kurosaki (58.75);

• Boys 15 & Over 100-Free: first, Sugarwood — Jackson Vineyard (45.52);

• Boys 13-14 50-Butterfly: first, Concord Hills - Landon Hall (23.75);

• Boys 15 & Over 50-Butterfly: first, Sugarwood — Jackson Vineyard (22.72);

• Boys 8 & Under 100-Freestyle Relay: first, Village Green — Charlie Clement, Hank Wells, Bennett Zierden and Waylon Gustafson (1:09.98);

• Boys 9-10 100-Free Relay: first, Village Green — Cooper Owen, Gideon Jessee, Davis Wells and Bo Gary (57.25); and

• Girls 15 & Over 200-Free Relay: first, Village Green — Aydan Skelton, Karolina Nosarzewski, Kendall Hudgens and Grace Lacharite.