The William Byrd swimmers had their first two meets of the season in the past week, swimming at the Salem YMCA last Thursday and at Hollins University on Monday.
In Salem Byrd went up against Northside, Alleghany and William Fleming. The women won all three of their meets, beating Alleghany, 101.5-58.5, Northside, 110-37, and Fleming, 113-9. The men beat Alleghany, 57-34, and Fleming, 60-35, but were edged by Northside to deny Byrd the sweep, 55-52.
“It was a great first meet of the year,” said coach Krista Martin. “Several returning swimmers went times they were ending last season with. I think that is the perfect place to start this season.”
First place finishes for the women included Chelie Plaster in the 100 back and 200 free, Madison Horacek in the 200 IM and 100 breast, Abbey Murtaugh in the 100 fly and 500 free and Laura Schneider in the 100 free. The 200 medley relay team of Plaster, Horacek, Liah Davis and Murtaugh won the 200 medley relay and the same four won the 200 free relay. Andrea Logan, Cassidy Hall, Elizabeth Recktenwald and Schneider won the 400 free relay.
“We have a strong girls team and are going to be competitive, especially because we have some depth,” said Martin.
For the men, Khalil Fonder breezed to wins in the 200 IM and 100 breast and swam on the winning 400 free relay team with Tyler Troutt, Richard Qiu and Gabe Plichta. Qiu also won the 50 and 500 free and Plichta won the 100 backstroke.
“W only have four boys that are varsity level and scoring for us and I’m very proud of them,” said Martin. “ It was also exciting to see what all nine of these 8th graders could do in the water.”
On Monday at Hollins Byrd swam against host Lord Botetourt and Fleming. The Terriers beat Fleming again, 60-16 for the men and 100-17 for the women, but lost to LB. The Cavaliers won beat the Byrd girls, 97-63, and also took the men’s meet, 100-43. First places went to Fonder in the 50 and 100 free, Qiu in the 200 IM, Plaster in the 100 free and Murtaugh in the 100 back.
“We were up against some tough competition,” said Martin. “That always makes for a good opportunity for some best times.”
The Terriers don’t have another meet in 2017, returning to competition on January 8 to host Salem at the Gator Aquatic Center for “Senior Night.”
“We are going to train hard and look forward to some fast swims to kick off the new year,” said Martin.