By SCOTT PAKE

East Carolina Aquatics Associate Head Coach

 

GREENVILLE — East Carolina Aquatics hosted the 2015 East Coast Swim League Championship at Minges Natatorium at East Carolina University from March 27-29. Eight eastern North Carolina teams, including ECA, competed in the three-day meet. ECA dominated, accumulating more than 2,600 points over the second-place Waves of Wilmington, recording multiple first-place finishes and new team records.

Emma Hastings and Claire Chesnutt, both 10, broke the 50-free record, but it was Hastings that finished first with a blazing fast time of 27.09. Hastings went on to smash her own records in the 100 free, 200 free, 100 back and 200 Individual Medley. Chesnutt set a record in the 50 back, lowering her own mark by more than one second at 31.61.

Will Barker and Jack Nowacek, two of the fastest 12 and under boys in ECA history, also destroyed team records. Barker swept the backstroke records by clocking 28.39 in the 50 and lowering his own mark in the 100 back. Nowacek set a new record in the 100 Free with a time of 54.40 and lowered his record times in the 50 Free, 50 Breast and the 50 Fly. The Women’s 200-Free Relay of Svea Torres, Cary Pou, Morgan Despres and Emmie Barnhill clocked 1:36.89, breaking the 15-18 and senior team records by more than two seconds.

ECA’s record-setters were all event winners. Other ECA swimmers picking up wins included Cam Anderson, Kevin Andrews, Campbell Barnes, Kelly Barnhill, Zach Darden, Brooke Despres, Patrick Edge, Rylan Feimster, Avery Hastings, Faith Koesters, Luke McCarthy, JD McCray, Matthew McCray, Cayden Pake, Carmen Patterson, Trey Pofahl, Addy Quinn, Lyndsey Reeve and Bethany Tart. ECA dominated the relay events winning 12 of 14.

Anderson, Kelly Barnhill and Pofahl have committed to swim with East Carolina this fall, joining Darden, who signed early.

One of the most exciting events of the weekend was the 50 freestyle shoot-out, a single elimination tournament pairing the fastest swimmers in head-to-head competition. The event came down to a final between the No. 1 seed versus the No. 2 seed in the men’s and women’s events. Emmie Barnhill squared off with Svea Torres and Barnhill won the women’s title by just .03 with time of 23.94. Her brother Kelly Barnhill faced Zach Darden in the men’s final, claiming the top spot by only .08 clocking 21.12.

In addition to ECA and the Waves of Wilmington, other teams competing at the meet were the Goldsboro Family YMCA Sharks, Rocky Mount YMCA Racers, Sandhills Sandsharks, Sanford Squids, Cape Fear Aquatics Club and Brunswick Aquatics Club.

With the end of the short course, 25-yard season, ECA swimmers will begin long course competition in May. Long course events are held in 50-meter pools. For more information or to watch the 50 freestyle shoot-out finals, visit www.swimeca.org.