This past week March 13-17, eleven Baylor Swim Club athletes competed in the 2018 National Club Swimming Association Junior National Swimming Championships at the Orlando YMCA Aquatic Center in Orlando, Fl. This is one of the top swimming competitions in the country on an annual basis for swimmers eighteen years old and under. In general there are over 1700 swimmers in the meet representing over 250 clubs from all over the nation. This will be the eleventh year in a row that Baylor Swim Club will send athletes to this competition. Leading the way for Baylor were some outstanding performances by Ellie Waldrep and Addison Smith.
(Complete Results Meet Info Page)
On Saturday, fifteen year-old Ellie Waldrep broke Arden Pitman's Baylor School record in the 100 backstroke on her way to placing fifth at Junior Nationals in a new personal best time of 53.51. With her swim in the 100 yard backstroke, she also earned her way on the 2018 NCSA All-America Team to represent Team USA. She will travel to Ireland and compete at the Irish Open Long Course Championships April 4-8 in Dublin, Ireland. Ms. Waldrep also finished sixth in the 50 yard backstroke, and 26th in the 200 backstroke.
Addison Smith was also impressive during the five day competition. She battled her way out of 30 heats of 200 FR in the AM prelims session to earn her way into her first championship final, placing eighth in a time of 1:48.75. Ms. Smith also raced her way to a championship finals swim in the 500 freestyle to take eighth overall. She also claimed 23rd in the 200 yard butterfly.
Other Baylor Swim Club athletes competing in finals: Jamee Mitchum (39th- 50 BK); Cecilia Porter (33rd-50 BR); and Dallas Woods (29th- 100 BK, 24th-50 BK)
Congratulations to the following Baylor Swim Club athletes on an outstanding meet this week: Jewel Gordon, John Hollowell, Zach Kangeiser, Jamee Mitchum, Cecilia Porter, Sarah Riley, Addison Smith, Will Tippett, Daniel Unhuryan, Ellie Waldrep, and Dallas Woods.
Baylor has placed in the top ten in three of those years, placing fourth in 2008, third in 2009, seventh in 2011, eighth in 2012, 13th in 2013, the boys team finished fourth in 2014, and fifth in 2017.