1) Congratulations to Norwich YMCA Dolphins’ Nora Diefenbacher on becoming a NYS YMCA Champion! (Submitted Photo), 2) Norwich YMCA Dolphins’ Maggie Williams competed in both the 50 breaststroke and the 50 freestyle at the NYS YMCA Championships. Williams made the finals in 50 breast, where she finished 12th. (Submitted Photo)

WEBSTER – The Norwich YMCA Dolphins produced 17 top 16 finishes and over 108 seconds worth of time drops at the NYS YMCA Swimming Championships. Every one of the 12 athletes representing the Norwich YMCA swam at or earned personal best times.

For the 9-10 girls age group, Nora Diefenbacher was crowned the State Champion in the 50 Backstroke while also taking fourth in the 50 yard Breaststroke, seventh in the 100 yard Freestyle, and ninth in her 50 yard Freestyle.

Kate Hull claimed fifth in her 200 yard Freestyle along with dropping over 14 seconds in that same event. Additionally, Kate Hull took seventh in the 50 free, 11th in her 100 free, and 15th in both the 50 back and 100 IM.

Reigan Aikins achieved time drops in all of her events along with finishing 13th in the 50 Fly, 15th in the 200 free, 18th in the 100 free and 50 free, and 23rd in the 100IM.

Kennedy Foulds held her time in her events placing 40th in the 50 Breast, 59th in the 50 free, and 61st in the 100 free. The 9-10 girls’ 200 yard Freestyle relay and 200 yard Medley Relay Teams saw fourth place victories in both of those events, placed fifth overall in NY among 30 teams, and first out of the Central New York YMCA League Teams.

For the eight and under age group Laura Coye took second in her 25 yard Breast, 16th in the 25 Back, 18th in the 50 free, and 33rd in the 25 free.

Lawton Ferris placed 38th in his 50 back and dropped time in his 50 yard free. Gideon Matthews placed 12th in his 25 Breast and 20th in his 100 Free. Emma Harmyk had a strong showing in her 25 back, achieving a personal best time as well.

Maggie Williams, in the 11-12 year old age group, returned the Dolphins to the finals in the senior division with swims in 50 Breast, where she placed 12th and finished 15th in the 50 Free. Maggie also earned 17th in the 100 free.

Newcomer Kaelyn Conant dropped over four seconds to gain a new personal best time and a 29th place finish in the 100 Breast for the 13-14 girls.

Tim Guzewich saw 35th in the 50 Free and 37th in his 100 Back.

The Dolphins graduating senior, Kris Deuel closed out his swimming career with several great swims. He finished 13th in his 500 free, 42nd in his 50 free, 22nd in the 200 free, along with personal best times in his 100 freestyle, where he placed 38th and swam the 100 breast with a 22nd place finish for the 15-19 year old age group.

This is one of the highest levels of competitive swimming in NY State. To put the standings into perspective, there are thousands of competitive swimmers in New York State YMCA Swimming.

In order to compete at this level, a swimmer must achieve a qualifying time for a specific event. These athletes then compete against the other athletes in the State in that same event over the course of a three-day meet.

For 10 years of age and under, they swim their events once. For 11 year olds and over, they swim in the morning, then again at night if they make the top 16 to determine whom earns the top spots at finals.

The coaches are incredibly proud of all of the hard work and dedication that the swimmers put into their season. The team camaraderie was on full display at this meet between all of the age groups with our swimmers supporting, cheering, laughing, and lifting each other up. This was a wonderful and impressive way to end the season.

-Information from the Norwich YMCA Dolphins