HAMMONTON—The Hammonton Stingrays earned their first victory of the season on July 16, defeating the Deerwood Tritons 338-227.
In the 67 official events, the Stingrays had a total of 68 swimmers competing in the meet. Across the 48 individual events Hammonton had 32 first-place finishes (160-points), 25 second-place finishes (75 points) and 19 third-place finishes (19 points). In the 19 relay events Hammonton had 12 first-place finishes (84-points).
Also, many Hammonton swimmers continued to improve upon their season-to-date times, as there were 46 swimmers showing improved, personal best times in the meet across 80 different events that each competed in, compared to their times in the previous swim meets.
Individual first-place finishers included (number of events won): Glyza Canovas (3); Giovanni Catania (3); Dominic Cushinotto (1); Bryan Falciani (1); Isabella Falciani (2); Kellen Frankel (1); Grace Gribbin (3); Shayne Herbert (2); Everly Husta (2); Evan Kiss (1); John Paul Mazza (2); Macy McDowel (3); Raelynn McDowel (1); Kyle Muller (3); Guinevere Rizzo (1); Casey Schulz (1); and Lauren Wines (2).
Through the first four meets this season the top three point earners for the team, by gender, are (# points earned):
Female: Macy McDowel (51); Glyza Canovas (43); and Grace Gribbin (42).
Male: Giovanni Catania (59); Evan Kiss (37); and Kellen Frankel and Kyle Muller (36 each).
Upon completion of the swim meet, there was an adult relay event with a total of 20 Stingrays parents and coaches coming together to create five relay teams. The fun-filled event was heavily cheered on by all the younger swimmers and families and was ultimately won by the relay team of Eric Chesebro, Sarah Gribbin, Gina Johannsen and Alicia Murphy.
The Stingrays will host the Raccoon Valley Masked Bandits (from Mullica Hill, N.J.) on Saturday, July 23, which is the final meet of the season.
During the final meet of the season the Stingrays plan to honor two long-time team members that are competing in their final season with the team, as each recently graduated from high school: Glyza Canovas (Hammonton High School) and Kyle Muller (St. Augustine Preparatory School). There will also be a memorial dedication of a new lifeguard stand at the club in the memory of Bill Myers, a long-time member and supporter of both the Hammonton Swim Club and Stingrays swim team who selflessly donated his time and talents in myriad ways though the years.
The league championships will be held over the final weekend in July for qualifying swimmers at the Crystal Lake Pool on Haddon Township.