From Monday, July 21 through Sunday, July 27, eight members of the Highlands Hurricanes were in Houston, Texas, competing at the Amateur Athletic Union Swimming Nationals (also known as the Junior Olympics). They were: Hayden Bysura, Emma Denisoff, Dodo Zhang, Ian Batista, Justin Powell, Bella Batista, Luca Maseko, and Jayce Powell.
These eight swimmers teamed up with seven other swimmers from the Franklin Amateur Swim Team, Jackson County Swim Team, Cherokee County Aquatic Club and Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club (the other four teams of the Mountain Swim League) to form Team MSL. They competed against more than 40 other teams from across the country including: Team Florida, Team New England, Team Hawaii, Team Guam and Team Arkansas.
The boys team finished 19th. All of the points scored by Team MSL were scored by members of the Highlands Hurricanes.
Medaling for the Hurricanes
Hayden Bysura - 6th place, 200-Meter IM (Individual Medley); 7th place, 100m Backstroke; 8th place, 100m Butterfly; 8th place, 200m Freestyle
Dodo Zhang - 7th place, 100m Backstroke; 8th place, 200m Backstroke
Luca Maseko - 6th place 50 Meter Breaststroke
Emma Denisoff swam the 50, 100, and 200m Freestyle, and the 100m Breaststroke.
Ian Batista also swam the 50, 100, and 200m Freestyle, and the 200m IM.
Justin Powell swam the 50 and the 200m Freestyle.
Bella Batista swam the 50 and the 100m Freestyle.
Jayce Powell swam the 50m Freestyle, the 50m Backstroke and the 200m IM.
Bysura also swam in the 200 and 400m Medley and the 200 and 400m Free Relay.
Zhang also swam in the 200 and 400m Medley and the 200m Free Relay.
Ian Batista also swam in the 200 and 400m Free Relay.
Justin Powell also swam in the 200m Medley Relay.
The Highlands Hurricanes are a Highlands Recreation Park Team that practices mostly in the evenings at the Highlands Rec Park Pool. The only requirement to join is that a prospective swimmer must be able to swim 25 yards (the length of the Rec Park Pool) unassisted. For more information call Steve Hott, Head Coach, at 828-421-4121.
- Steve Hott, Head Coach
Highlands Hurricanes Swim team