S-E’s Amon Van Alst (Green) poses with competitors after a third place finish in the boys 50 yard freestyle event. (Photo from S-E CSD)

ROME – Last week, the Sherburne-Earlville/Hamilton co-ed swim team competed in the Section III Championships held at Rome Free Academy. The Marauders earned a seventh place finish with New Hartford coming in first place.

Several S-E/Hamilton swimmers achieved at least one best time with four of seven swimmers qualifying for Sectionals.

Amon Van Alst led the team with two personal bests in the 50 and 100 freestyle events. In the 50 yard freestyle, he achieved his new best of 24.75 seconds for third place. He swam the 100 yard freestyle in a best 53.91 seconds to earn fifth place.

Van Alst also was a member of the relay teams with Parker McCracken, Ava Flanagan, and Emma Crespi. The team picked up a fifth place finish in the 200 yard freestyle relay and a seventh place finish in the 200 yard medley relay.

Individually, McCracken made the sectionals cut in the 100 yard breaststroke event, where he came in 15th place with a new personal-best of 1:24.79. Crespi was less than a second off her season-best time in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:13.00 for 10th place.

Ava Flanagan achieved a new personal best with a time of 1:05.64 in the 100 freestyle, coming in 15th place. Teammate Sophia Juarez swam a new best of 1:24.52 in the same event, despite a 25th place finish.

The Marauders (0-11) have a rescheduled regular season meet against New Hartford on Tuesday, February 7 at 5 p.m. before heading to Sectionals in the next few weeks. Good luck to all swimmers.