2000 SC ZONE TEAM

Twice a year selected Connecticut swimmers come together as one team and travel to the Eastern Zone Age Group All-Star Swimming Championship.  This short course season produced sixty-two swimmers qualifying for the Connecticut  Zone team which headed off to Landover, MD on March 30th for three full days of competition.

Record-breaking swims were recorded by Kirsten Dodds (NCY) in the 10/U Girls 100 Breast and by Matthew McLean (WCA) in the 10/U Boys 100 Fly.  Further congratulations to Matt McLean who achieved National Top 16 consideration times in all his events. Swimming a personal bests and achieving National Top 16 consideration as well, was Denise McWhirter (CAT) in the 11/12 Girls 500 Free and Kira Wallace (RAC) in the 11/12 Girls 50 Fly and 50 Back.  Correction: Along with her record-breaking swim, Kirsten Dodds also achieved National Top 16 consideration times in the 50 and 100 Breast.

Medaling for Connecticut were:

10/U Boys
Eric Jackwin (LEHY)- 200 Free
Matt McLean (WCA)- 50, 100, 200 Free; 50, 100 Fly; and 100 IM
David Reed (NCY)- 50 Breast
400 Free Relay (Matt McLean, Kevin McDonald, Eric Jackwin and Brett Beaulieu-Jones)

10/U Girls
Kirsten Dodds (NCY)- 50, 100 Breast; 50, 100 Free and 100 IM
Kerry Gruendel (SHKS)- 50 and 100 Breast
Gabby Johnston (WWRX)- 50 Fly

11/12 Boys
Andrew Trepp (SHKS)- 200 and 500 Free

11/12 Girls
Aidan McKinlay (CDEV)- 100 Fly
Erin McLaughlin (HMST)- 50 Free and 100 Back
Whitney McLellan (SOCO)- 50 and 100 Breast
Denise McWhirter (CAT)- 500 Free
Kira Wallace (RAC)- 50 Back and 50 Fly
200 Free Relay (Denise McWhirter, Erin McLaughlin, Kira Wallace and Jennifer Liu)

13/14 Girls
Allison Palomaki (BRS)- 100 Breast

15/18 Girls
Ashley Johnston (WWRX)- 200 and 1000 Free

Rounding out the 2000 short course Zone Team were:
Maria Altieri, Eleanor Doran, Emily Heath, Paige Letendre, Haley Smith, Heidi Wolfgruber, Alex DiPalma, Devon Moran, Taryn Prout, Kathryn Siemon, Sophie Connolly, EIleen Connor, Laura D'Erasmo, Lauren Evanosky, Erica Fischer, Natalia Fugate, Kimberly Gambino, Lauren Kunces, Hayley Wolfgruber, Lauren DeLuca, Eileen Dowd, Shannon Kelley, Alison Kreidel, Stephanie Mailloux, Daniel Aupi, Charles Schott, Charles Baker, Craig Chuba, Francis Driscoll, Gregory Murtha, Matthew Rienzo, Andrew Royster, Matthew Sweitzer, EJ Verrico, Michael Baity, Zack Czaplicki, Mark Desimone, David Guernsey, Zachary Guglin, Joe Huvelle, Abram Paley, Alexander Ware, Timothy Silva, Ryan Toner, and Sean Weicht. 

Preparing the CT Zone team for traveling to a meet of this caliber is no easy task.  There are many to thank for its success.  Our CSI coaches coming forward to prepare and travel with this team were Wayne Brusseau (head coach) Kevin Quill, Kaeley Steinnagel, Todd Stevens, and Kathy Walsh.  Parent chaperones donating more time to swimming were Linda Altieri, Patricia Baity, Robin Beaulieu-Jones (also the nurse), Diane McLean, Patty McLellan, Jan Murtha, Eric McWhirter and John Weicht.  Special thanks to Larry Frost for staying on top of the CSI database and for countless hours at the computer putting the entry together and finally much gratitude goes to Ben Wallace, Zone Coordinator.  Thank you all!

CLICK HERE for photos.....and HERE for more photos.