The 2000 Connecticut short course season concluded with the exciting and fast-paced Senior Open Championship held March 9-12th at Wesleyan University.  Approximately four hundred athletes, representing forty plus teams, from Connecticut and surrounding states, came with hopes of personal bests and team high-point. 

And what a meet is was..........four Olympic Trials/Senior National times achieved, over sixty-five Junior Championship times swum and 13 records fell.  Congratulations to top seeds Nick Brunelli (OSS) and Chuck Barnes (OSS).  Each swam Olympic Trials qualifying times; Brunelli in the 50 free with a record-breaking 20.45 and Barnes in the 200 free with a 1:38.43 and in the 100 back with a record-breaking 49.07.   Additionally, Brunelli swam a 50.06 in the 100 back to earn a senior national time.
Rewriting the record book were: Nick Brunelli (OSS)- 50 free, Chuck Barnes (OSS)- 100 back and OSS Men's 200 free and medley relays.  More age group records fell to Kristen Frost (CAT)- 11/12 Girls 50 and 200 free, Kevin Donahue (OSS)- 13/14 Boys 100 breast, Geoff Rathgeber (SOCO)- 13/14 Boys 400 IM, Seok Jun Lee (OMNI)- 15/16 Boys 200 breast, and Nick Brunelli (OSS)- 17/18 Boys 50, 100, 200 free and 100 back. Click Here for complete record information.
Swimming Junior Championship qualifying times were:  Carolyn Bowman (CDEV)- 200 IM, Jessica Brookman (CAT)- 100 back, Emily Fenn (WRAT)- 200, 500, 1000, 1650 free and 400 IM, Kim Fiore (CDEV)- 100 fly, Kristen Frost (CAT)- 200 free, Michelle Herd (OAK)- 100 and 200 back, Amber Johnston (UAC)- 100 and 200 breast, Kristen Kane (CCSC)- 200 breast, Jessica Knapp (GYWD)- 500, 100 free and 400 IM, Meredith Lindgren (WAC)- 100 breast, Katie McWilliams (AJSC)- 500, 1000 and 1650 free, Andrea Miller (UN)- 100 and 200 fly, Laura O'Brien (OMNI)- 500, 1000 and 1650 free, Julia Russack (YMID)- 500, 1000 and 1650 free, Laura Schulman (YMID)- 500, 1000 and 1650 free, Lauren Semchyshen (RAC)- 100 and 200 free, Caroline Stephenson (CCSC)- 400 IM, Liz Swartwout (OMNI)- 100 breast and 200 IM, Torey Thelin (PSDY)- 100 fly, Casmera Wick (UN)- 100 and 200 free, Wendy Whitcomb (CDEV) 100 breast, Chuck Barnes (OSS)- 500, 100 free, 200 back 100 fly and 200 IM, Nick Brunelli (OSS)- 100, 200 free and 200 IM, Fred Cipoletti (SIA)- 50 free, Mark Dillon (unOSS)- 50, 100, 200 free, 100, 200 fly and 200 IM, Gavin Frazier (CCSC)- 200 back, Mark Hammerstrom (SCSU) 50 free, Seok Jun Lee (OMNI)- 100 and 200 breast, Michael McLean (WCA) 1000, 1650 free, 100, 200 back and 400 IM, Owen Samuelsen (SIA)- 200 breast, and Robert Schotter (OSS) 100 and 200 breast. Correction: the following 50 free qualifiers were omitted: Jaime Crowley (CAT), Kim Fiore (CDEV), Torey Thelin (PSDY) and Lauren Semchyshen (RAC).  Apologies from the web master!

Scoring was posted after each final session as spirited team competition prevailed.  In the end, Ocean State Squids (OSS) dominated winning the Men's Team High-Point and Combined Team High-Point.  The Women's Team High-Point went to Wilton Y Wahoos.  Rounding out the team awards were:

Runner-up Women's Team High-Point:  Cheshire Devils (CDEV)
Runner-up Men's Team High-Point:  Southern Connecticut State Univ. (SCSU)
Runner-up Combined Team High-Point:  Hamden/N. Haven Swimming (HNHS)
Third Place Women's Team High-Point:  Hamden/N. Haven Swimming (HNHS)
Third Place Men's Team High-Point:  Hamden/N. Haven Swimming (HNHS)
Third Place Combined Team High-Point: Wilton Y Wahoos (WYW)

Among the outstanding swimmers were the meet's four high-point scorers:

Women's Individual High-Point:  Emily Fenn (WRAT)
Men's Individual High-Point:  Chuck Barnes (OSS)
Women's Individual Distance High-Point:  Emily Fenn (WRAT)
Men's Individual Distance High-Point:  Andrew Cullum (CCSC)

Click Here  for High-Point Photos (revised).

A very special thanks to Meet Director, Mary Beth McCarthy with wonderful assistance from Bonnie Fisher, the Senior Committee (chaired by Tim Quill) and all our many volunteers.

Click Here for meet photos...........and here for more photos.

Check out our athletes competing at Junior Championships, Nationals  and NCAA Championships.