Breakers swim in Fall Colors meet

Fifty Traverse City Breakers swimmers jumped into the Grand Traverse County Civic Center pool for the Fall Colors Invitational Meet recently.

The meet marked the start of the new short course season for the Breakers, an organization that provides youngsters in the Grand Traverse area the opportunity to swim as part of a team.

Hayley McClellan, 6, was the youngest swimmer in the meet. She touched the wall first in the girls' 6 and under 25-yard freestyle (45.50 seconds) and 25 backstroke (51.70). Brother Jamie McClellan,10, captured the 50 freestyle (38.20), 50 backstroke (47.60) and 50 breaststroke (52.07), all in personal record time.

Kyle Skarshaug starred in the boys' 8 and under division. Skarshaug won all five events he entered: the 25 backstroke (25.59), 25 freestyle (21.70), 25 butterfly (28.10), 25 breaststroke (35.00) and 100 individual medley (2:12.34). Teammate Patrick Byrne, 8, touched second in the 25 freestyle (25.20) and 25 backstroke (27.34).

In the girls 8 and under group, Skylah Lundwahl led the way with victories in the 25 freestyle (19.01), 25 butterfly (31.35) and 25 breaststroke (29.00). Hannah Schramski was runner up in the 25 freestyle (20.75), 25 backstroke (25.10) and 25 breaststroke (33.55), while Ava Shaffer (25.20) and Mia Shaffer (31.43) swam well in the 25 freestyle.

Emerson Holmes, 8, placed third in the 25 freestyle (22.63). Kristen Myers touched fourth (23.24) and Morgan Myers fifth (24.26) in that event.

Three Breakers swimmers excelled in the backstroke in their first ever meet. Ella Meloche, 7, was fifth (28.30), Olivia Hale placed sixth (31.20), and Autumn Prohaska touched seventh (35.97).

Jenna Ashley led a strong group of swimmers in the girls' 9-10 division. Ashley swam personal best times in three of four events, including Junior Olympic qualifying times in the 50 freestyle (31.89) and 50 backstroke (38.28).

Paige Corrigan raced to a fifth place finish in the 50 freestyle (37.38). Teammate Jaime Boerema touched eighth (38.21) in the same event. Both girls were first time swimmers.

Julia Brunner, 9, captured the 50 butterfly (35.40) and 100 individual medley (1:22.06). Brook Prohaska, 10, won the 50 breaststroke (42.72) and had third place finishes in three other events.

Dana Pflughoeft (50.46) and Brook Ostrowski (1:06.06) swam well in the 50 backstroke in their first meet. Similarly, Lily Ober (1:37.29) and Natalia Chela (1:44.16) excelled while posting best ever times in the 100 individual medley.

Julia Vannatter, 10, notched personal best times in the 50 freestyle (37.23) and 50 backstroke (45.60). Maya Breneman established benchmark times in the 50 freestyle (50.17) and 50 breaststroke (1:04.36). Teammate Natalie Wagner scored personal records in the 50 freestyle (38.12) and 50 backstroke (46.83).

In the boys' 9-10 division, Silas Kornexl motored to victory in the 50 backstroke (39.88) and 100 individual medley (1:25.62). Chris Shumate touched second in the 50 freestyle (39.74), while Wiley Fraser was third (48.94).

Maegan Kornexl won two events the 50 backstroke (39.88) and 100 individual medley (1:25.62) in the girls' 11-12 division. Sierra Fraser, 11, captured the 50 freestyle (32.10) and Rachel Creamer, 12, won the 50 breaststroke (45.22). Becky Stanwick, 12, won the 50 breaststroke (37.31) and touched second in the 50 freestyle (32.90).

Maddy Zimmerman, 11, swam personal best times in four of five events during the meet. Brenna Argue set personal records in the 50 freestyle (36.43) and 100 individual medley (1:38.54), while Madison Campbell did the same in the 50 backstroke (49.05) and 50 freestyle (38.78). Emily Huhman hit the wall fourth in the 100 individual medley (1:36.08).

Bryn Davis raced to a runner-up finish in the individual medley (1:27.06) and 50 butterfly (40.22). Hanna Helton scored a personal best time in the 50 freestyle (38.57), as did Madissen Miller (38.14). Emma Simon posted personal best times in three of her four events, including her fourth place finish in the 50 breaststroke (50.52).

In the girls' 13-14 group, Olivia Verellen won all four of her events. Verellen stopped the clock first in the 50 freestyle (28.79), 50 butterfly (34.91), 50 breaststroke (40.27) and 100 individual medley (1:15.06). Molly Corcoran captured the 50 breaststroke (45.22).

Katy Zimmerman, 13, scored runner up finishes in the 50 butterfly (40.79) and 50 backstroke (43.41) during the meet. Kitty Mast touched third in the 50 breaststroke (48.36). Katlyn Myers placed second in the 50 freestyle (32.60), 50 breaststroke (48.34) and 100 individual medley (1:27.18).

On the boys' side of that group, Luke Balestrero set the pace with victories in five events and personal best times in four. His time in the 50 freestyle (26.01) qualified Balestrero for the Junior Olympic meet next March.

Ivan Suminski was runner up in the 50 freestyle (28.79), 50 backstroke (39.43) and 100 individual medley (1:20.82).

Hayley Shugart, 15, won her three events in the girls' 15-18 division. Her time in the 50 freestyle (30.10) was a personal best. In the boys' 15-18 division, Jacob Russell won the 50 breaststroke (30.65) and 100 individual medley (1:00.31).

A group of Traverse City swimmers are slated to compete in the Boo Bash Invitational in Zeeland this weekend.''

Photos

Competitors in the 15-18 age group hit the water at the start of the 50-yard freestyle race. Special to the Record-Eagle