The West Plains Waves Swim Club successfully competed in the Springfield Aquatics Fall Classic swim meet Oct. 4 through 6, 2019 at the Breech Aquatics Center on the campus of Drury University. Thirty athletes competed in the USA meet with a 133 best times and 37 new Waves records. The team placed sixth overall in a field of 16 teams from the surrounding area.
Head Coach Kristi Sheridan said, “It was very exciting to see our athletes compete against larger teams from Springfield and St. Louis. Many of these young, talented athletes have developed significantly with year-round training and we are very excited to see them compete at the upcoming Ozarks Championships in February and as future Zizzers swimmers.”
Overall point earners were Avery Miller in the 11-12 year division with 225 points, Austin Young with 106 points and Paige Sheridan in the 13-14 division with 80 points. Avery Miller received the high point award for the 11-12 year old division by winning the following events: 50/100/200/500 free, 100 back 200 Individual Medley (IM), 50 fly and placing second in the 50/100 breast, 100 IM and100 fly. Miller is now ranked 3rd in the Ozark LSC, and 40th in the nation for his IMX index which is a combination of your national rankings in 500 free, 100 back, 100 breast, 100 fly and 200 IM.
Coach Sheridan, stated “It is exciting to see a swimmer from a rural area rank so well as an all around swimmer both in our LSC and across the nation. We are making things happen here in West Plains.”
Austin Young finished second in the 50 fly, third in the 50 free, fourth in the 100 back, fifth in the 100 fly, sixth in the 100 IM and 200 free and seventh in the 50 breast. Paige Sheridan placed third in the 500 free and 200 back, fourth in the 100 breast, and sixth in the 100 back. Isaac Miller placed third in the 50 free, fourth in the 25 fly and 100 IM and 6th in the 25 back. Emma Tugwell placed fourth in the 50 breast, fifth in the 500 free and eighth in the 100 breast. Evie Niessen finished fourth in the 400 IM and eighth in the 200 breast. Addie Peugh placed eighth in the 100 back. Caleb Spurling placed seventh in the 50 fly and eighth in the 50 free. Josiah Spurling placed sixth in the 50 back, seventh in the 100 IM, and eighth in the 50 fly. Joel Walker placed sixth in the 50 free and eighth in the 25 back. Kristi Sheridan was “excited to see our swimmers finish in the top 8 when faced with very competitive times from larger teams.”
The following swimmers helped break 37 Wave records in their age division reflecting significant growth and development of the Wave program: 8 and under boys Isaac Miller (25 back, 50 breast, 25 fly, 100 IM); 11-12 girls, Emma Tugwell (100/200 Free, 50 Breast), Riley Spurling (50 Free, 50 Fly); 11-12 boys, Avery Miller (100/200/500 Free, 50/100 Back, 50/100 Breast, 50/100 Fly, 100/200 IM); 13-14 girls, Paige Sheridan (50/100/200/500 Free, 100/200 Back, 100 Breast), Audrey Land (100 Fly); 15-18 girls Gilly Grigsby (500 Free, 100 Breast), Emma Peugh (200 Breast), and Olivia Fiorino (50/100/200 Free).
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