Swimming: 3 RECORDS DOWNED!Multiple Personal Records During First Dual Meet of the Season Foreshadow Great Season!

12/20/16
Rockets v East Pennsboro High 12/20/2016

Proud Coach's Update of Romeo's favorite local sports team this season!

The 2016-2017 season is shaping up to be an exciting and rewarding season at the pool for the James Buchanan High School.   The first dual was a W for the small group of 21 swimmers and was a snapshot preview of what is to come for this talented group of student athletes.  Every day after school these dedicated students leave classes to jump into the pool for two hours and their hard work is paying off with great beginning of season times.

The meet began with a 200 Medley Relay of Annabelle McCullough at backstroke (28.6), Rachel Kimmel at Breaststroke (30.8), Sarah Kimmel at Butterfly (30.8), and Annaleisse Hissong anchoring with freestyle (27.2) .  This team put on a show for spectators as they smashed the old record of 1:59.01 and set a new mark of 1:55.88.  Is it too early for Coach to start dreaming of States for this group?

An individual record was set by Romeo’s own Jr., Annabelle McCullough in the 100 Fly, lowering the previous mark by over a second to a 1:00.58.  She also won the 200 Freestyle for the girls.  The third record of the evening was set by Jr., Rachel Kimmel in the 100 Breaststroke.  Rachel broke the record originally last year with a time of 1:11.77, breaking Keegan Reed’s decade old mark.  The first swim of the season she smashed this mark with a 1:07.86.  Jaw dropping first race of the season!  

Rockets went on to win a majority of the races during the evening.  Rachel Kimmel impressed in the 200 IM with a significant time drop to 2:21.92 to win with teammate Gretta Kriner placing third with a personal record of 2:41.50.  Juniors Austin Sheppard and Denver Norcross dominated the 200 Freestyle with a 1-2 finish.  Austin Sheppard also posted a first place in the 100 Backstroke with a personal best time of 1:03.70.  

Junior Nick Garbinski lowered his season best mark to a 22.68 with an impressive win in the 50 Freestyle.  He also brought home a first place in the 100 Butterfly with a personal record in the event.  

Sophomore Annaleisse Hissong won both the 50 Freestyle and the 500 Freestyle.  The swim team's foreign exchange student from Spain, Marcel Freixenet posted a first place in the 100 Freestyle with a personal record and won the 500 freestyle with teammate Denver Norcross taking second after a great race with a rival team swimmer.  

With such an exciting start to the season, it’s hard to imagine that Rockets Swimming has only one dual meet under their belts.  Keep your seatbelts on and keep your hands inside the moving car, these athletes are going to have an exciting season!

By Coach Lori Jo McCullough 
Rachel and Annabelle also earned Public Opinion Honor Roll this week...​http://www.gametimepa.com/story/high-school/franklin-fulton/sports/2016/12/22/po-honor-roll/95719608/