West Fargo, ND (12 – 15 Mar) — Rushmore Swim Team (RST) returned home Monday following a successful showing at USA Swimming’s Speedo Sectionals championship swim meet where the Tsunami delivered a 20th place showing against 90 teams representing 12 states. At this prelims/finals event, A and B Finals event participants were awarded team points. RST was represented by nine swimmers from the greater Rapid City area. Deadwood-Lead 76ers and Fall River Swim Team were also represented.
Rushmore Swim Team Swimmer and Relay Highlights
Izzy Renaud qualified for two A Finals, and one B Finals event. She was the highest placing 13 year-old at the Sectionals meet in both overall scoring and in any individual event, with her seventh place finish in the 50yd breaststroke.
Charlie Ashton qualified for A Finals in both the 50yd and 100yd breastroke events reeling in ninth place in the 100. He also completed B Finals in 200yd breaststroke.
Aaron Ainslie showed his diversity in strokes competing in three B Finals events, both individual medley distances, and the 200yd back.
Owen Johnson swam in three B Finals, winning the B Finals in the 100yd butterfly.
He also qualified for A Finals in the 200yd butterfly.
Hunter Johnson made the A Finals in the 400yd individual medley finishing 8th, to go along with a fifth place finish in the 1,000yd freestyle. He also swam in the B Finals in the 500yd free and qualified for B Finals in the 200yd individual medley.
The Rushmore girls fielded the youngest and only relay team composed of 13 and 14-year-olds, competing well in two relay events.
Rushmore boys placed in two A Finals, both major accomplishments. RST boys teams placed ninth in the 800yd free relay and seventh in the 400yd medley relay.
As Team Tsunami plots their course in advance the summer season, their future is bright and their plates full. Highlights include hosting the Rushmore Summer Classic (12-14 June), and SD State Long Course, Speedo Sectionals and TYR Futures (all championship venues and all in July), and Pure Pactola (29 Aug).
Rushmore Tsunami is holding team tryouts March 24th at the Roosevelt Swim Center for the summer season. For inquiries contact the registrar at rushmoretsunami@gmail.com
The Rushmore Swim Team is a member of USA Swimming and South Dakota Swimming, Inc. The team offers year-round quality, technical, and competitive instruction by professionally trained coaches for swimmers of all ages and abilities. For more information, please contact the Rushmore Swim Team at RushmoreSwimTeam@gmail.com.
