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Sports

YMCA Sharks place ninth at summer nationals in Maryland

Published: September 18, 2008

BEVERLY — The YMCA of the North Shore Sharks (YNS), the No. 1 YMCA swim team in New England for the 12th consecutive year, placed ninth overall at the YMCA National Long-Course Championship swim meet held at the University of Maryland natatorium in College Park.

The Sharks had 36 swimmers compete in the meet, more than double the number that participated in the Winter YMCA Championship Meet in April.

The Sharks placed ninth (combined scores from men's and women's events) out of more than 150 YMCA teams represented from across the United States. Of all the events swum, more than 75 percent represented personal best times for the Sharks' swimmers. In addition, 15 new Sharks team records were set.

Qualified swimmers ages 12-21 were eligible to enter nationals, and all events were swum in a 50-meter indoor pool. Overall, 1,316 swimmers participated.

"Summer Nationals proved to be a total team experience for YNS, and I am extremely pleased with the true camaraderie and effort put forth by all of our swimmers and coaches to make this one of the most memorable events ever for our team," Sharks head coach John Ogden said in a statement.

"Great leadership was displayed by our senior swimmers (Brian Bouvier, Andrew Reid, Ryan Pitcarin, Joe Hines, and Suzanne Foley, Patrick Shea, and Sara Shea). Sixteen of our swimmers received All-American status as a result of finishing top 16 at this meet, and YNS also qualified two swimmers for the USA Junior National championships in Minnesota (Ted Millet and Kelly O'Connor)."

Scoring individual men's points for the Sharks included Brian Bouvier, who placed 15th in the 400-meter freestyle, 10th in the 800-meter freestyle and 8th in the 200-meter butterfly; Tim Bouvier, who placed 9th in the 800-meter freestyle and 5th in the 1500-meter freestyle; Joseph Hines, who finished 16th in the 50-meter breaststroke; Tyler Lareau, who placed 14th in the 100-meter backstroke and 13th in the 50-meter backstroke; Ted Millett, who took 5th in both the 50-meter and 200-meter breaststroke, 9th in the 200-meter individual medley and 3rd in the 100-meter breaststroke; Ryan Pitcairn, who placed 16th in the 1500-meter freestyle; Andrew Reid, who finished 13th in the 400-meter individual medley and 16th in the 200-meter butterfly; and Patrick Shea, who finished 5th in both the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle, and 15th in the 1500-meter freestyle.

Scoring individual women's points for YNS included Colleen McCormack, who took home 10th place in the 800-meter freestyle; and Kelly O'Connor, who finished 2nd in the 200-meter backstroke, 8th in the 100-meter backstroke and 12th in the 400-meter individual medley.

In addition, the Sharks posted overall team points in the relays: 13th place in the men's 200 medley relay (Tyler Lareau, Ted Millett, Brian Bouvier, Andrew Reid); 16th place in the women's 800 freestyle relay (India Boland, Amy Needham, Katelyn Kidney, Molly McSweeney); 10th place in the men's 800 freestyle relay (Tyler Lareau, Ted Millett, Brian Bouvier, Andrew Reid); 15th place in the men's 200 freestyle relay (James Black, Tyler Lareau, John Bateman, Andrew Reid); 14th place in the women's 400 medley relay (Kelly O'Connor, Sara Shea, Emily Needham, Amy Needham); and 6th place in the men's 400 medley relay (Tyler Lareau, Ted Millett, Andrew Reid, Brian Brennan).

The 2008 Summer YMCA Nationals is the culmination of the YMCA long-course swimming season, which began in April, where top swimmers from across the country converge at the University of Maryland natatorium to compete in this championship. With 36 swimmers, YNS, for the first time, represented the largest number of swimmers participating from a single team, ultimately tying with a team from Wilton, Conn. For more than 12 consecutive years, YNS has had a group of swimmers qualify for and compete at long-course YMCA Nationals.

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