On Saturday, July 20, 31 Highlands Hurricanes traveled to Sylva to compete in the Mountain Swim League All Star meet. A swimmer had to post a qualifying time to be eligible to swim in the meet.
The Hurricanes defeated Franklin Amateur Swim Team 338-247. Smoky Mountain Aquatics Club finished third (102), Cherokee County Aquatics Club fourth (91) and Jackson County Swim Team fifth (63).
The Hurricanes were led by Jr. Olympians Lilliana Jandera-Chambless (4 golds medals, 24 points), Justin Powell (3 golds, 1 silver, 21 points), Conner Hughes (2 golds, 2 silvers, 20 points), and Finneaus Garner (3 golds, 20 points). Jandera Chambless, Powell, and Garner won the first place trophy for meet high scorer in their age groups. Hughes won the second place trophy.
Anna Shchelgachova (2 golds, 2 bronzes), Jr. Olympic qualifier Emilina Hernandez (also 2 gold and 2 bronzes), and Jr. Olympians Jasmine Abranyi (1 gold, 2 silvers), and Ben Halldin (2 gold, 2 bronzes) all scored 18 points. All four were awarded the second place trophy for their respective age groups.
Bella Batista (2 gold and 1 bronze) and Dodo Zhang (1 gold, 2 silvers and 1 bronze) both scored 17 points. Jr. Olympic qualifiers Alex Lopez (4 silvers) and Alex Petric-Sakonjik scored 16 and 15 points respectively. Batista, Zhang, and Petric won third place trophies, Lopez a second place. Jr. Olympian Chase Kenter had 2 silvers, 2 bronzes, 14 points and a third place trophy. Wylie Hinton (1 gold and 2 bronze medals), and Ivan Shchelgachov (1 gold and 1 silver) had 13 points each. Jr. Olympians Aniah McKim (1 gold, 1 silver) and Corena Dearth (1 silver) scored 11 and 9 points.
Nikita Denisoff (2 bronzes) had 7 points. Ian Batista Max Basil, Andre Jimenez and Jr. Olympian Paolo McRae had 6 points. Asa Garner and Jaycee Powell each had a bronze medal and 5 points. AnnMarie Hinton won a silver medal and 4 points. Stefan Halldin (1 bronze medal) and Harper Bresnahan scored 3 points. Max Jestin and Rocco Basil scored 2, Penelope McRae scored 1, and Charlie Hinton swam well.
Dasha Halldin and Emma Denisoff were out with injuries.
The Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team is a Highlands Recreation Park Swim Team that practices mostly in the mornings at the Highlands Recreation Park Pool. The only requirement to join is that a prospective swimmer must be able to swim 25 yards (the length of the pool) unassisted. For more information call Steve Hott, Head Coach at 828-421-4121.