Lewes Yacht Club tops Sussex YMCA in 307-218 win

The Lewes Yacht Club poolside, normally a beautifully maintained place of leisure, was transformed July 11 into the setting of a summer competition as the Sussex Family YMCA Tsunamis arrived to challenge the LYC swim club.

As the sun began to set, excitement continued to rise as parent volunteers ensured that the young athletes were ready to dive into the water when the buzzer sounded, and organizers reminded the littlest swimmers of relay rules at the last minute. Coaches for both teams clutched their clipboards and stood together on one side of the pool, cheering on each of their swimmers by name.

Standouts from the LYC team included David Hentnick, Grace McCoy, Keegan Pando, Sammie Price, and Alia Marshall.

The SFY was well represented by competitors like Jack and Molly Weeks, Charlotte Acklin, and Page Athey.

Seventy-six races took place during the evening. Swimmers competed in a wide range of events, from the 6 and under freestyle to the 15-18-year-old relay. Officials worked tirelessly to combine races when possible and keep the meet organized. Teammates cheered inexhaustibly until the last swimmers had hoisted themselves out of the pool.

The conversation on the pool deck sounded not like banter between opposing teams, but more like chat between adjacent neighbors. Conversations about summer vacations and city happenings went on, as families of the two local teams took advantage of converging in the same place.

For many Delawareans, these meets provide just another opportunity to enjoy the best of what summer has to offer. Rebecca Vansant registered her 6-year-old son Carter with Sussex County YMCA so he could enjoy extra outdoor activity. As she braved the splash zone created by the thrashing arms of competitors in the pool, she sat with her son and remarked, "I love watching him swim."

"Sussex is a great team," Vansant added. "The coaches are really great."

A similar pride in one's team was felt by the families of the LYC. April Betts, mother of Maddie, 9, and Abby, 6, said she enrolled her daughters in the program known throughout the region because of the importance of strong swimming skills for those who reside near the coast.

While Betts credited the coaches and staff for making the team a success, she said one of her favorite aspects of the meet was not about competition, but watching her community's development. From the deck, she said she enjoys watching the kids from year to year and seeing how they grow.

As for the swimmers, it seems that the simple pleasures of summer evenings spent with their teammates keep them perfectly contented. As the young athletes prepare to begin their meet, markers used to write the participants' name and age on their backs double as a form of entertainment. By the time the races start, many a swimmer is decked out with sketches of monsters on their skin, tag lines like "Eat my bubbles," or even drawn-on six-pack abs.

But, the meets are more than just fun and games for the swimmers; as head coach of the LYC Garrett Arant said, "They work hard." As he stood with his assistant coaches, Renah Scudlark and Corey Sellurale, he added that his team swam fast and never gave up.

Perseverance was also valued by the SFY club's coaches. Up to the last race, head coach Lydia Schmierer and assistant Tina Nigh-Johnson cheered on their swimmers with full force, but for them, enthusiasm comes easily. The two discussed how swimmers are a different breed of athlete, and how encouraging the quirky and hysterical gang was a pleasure. As her swimmers crowded around her, Schmierer said, "They're a good group of kids."

The SFY coaches are already looking forward to the summer championships, for which 60 percent of their swimmers have already qualified. In this meet, SFY earned 35 first places, 16 second places, and 16 third places.

The LYC swimmers finished strongly with 40 first places, 48 second places, and 37 third places.  When the final score was tallied, LYC was declared the winner by a score of 308-218. However, both teams preformed well and displayed exemplary sportsmanship. At the finish of one of the 6 and under races, two competitors reached across the lane to shake hands. As it appears, even the youngest of swimmers know what sports are truly about.