Stingrays top Deerwood

HAMMONTON--The Hammonton Stingrays hosted the Deerwood Tritons, from Westampton Township, at the Hammonton Swim Club on July 8, earning their first victory of the season.

Hammonton resident, and swim team parent, Maddie Birnbaum opened the swim meet by singing the National Anthem a cappella, then the younger, developing swimmers from both teams got in the water for the fun-filled kickboard races.

During the event, Stingray swimmer Giovanni Catania (15 years-old) was acknowledged for breaking a long-standing swim team record in the male, 15-18, 50-meter backstroke with a time of 30.47 seconds (breaking the previous record held by Matt Wilner with a time of 31.32 seconds from 1996).

Across the 67 official events, the Hammonton Stingrays had a total of 78 swimmers competing in the meet. Hammonton won the meet with a final score of 373 to 167.

In 48 individual events, Hammonton had 38 first-place finishes (190-points), 28 second-place finishes (84 points), 15 third-place finishes (15 points).

Individual first-place finishers included (# events won): Giovanni Catania and Raelynn McDowel (three each); Madison Carley, Dominic Cushinotto, Isabella Falciani, Grace Gribbin, Everly Husta, Macy McDowel, Morgan Rizzo, Lauren Wines (two each); and Colton Castone, Bryan Falciani, Sean Falciani, Jordan Fatato, Kellen Frankel, Brynn Gribbin, Shayne Herbert, Eli Johannsen, Evan Kiss, John Paul Mazza, Cole McDowel, Alex Nees, Elizabeth Nees, Scotlyn Pace, Nathan Reedy, Charlie Rieder (one each). Also, many Hammonton swimmers improved upon their season-to-date times, as there were 61 swimmers showing improved, personal best times in the meet across 108 different events that each competed in, compared to their results from prior events this season.

Across the 19 relay events Hammonton had 13 first-place finishes. First-place finishers in either one or two relay events included the following 34 swimmers: Anthony Bova, Madison Carley, Colton Castone, Giovanni Catania, Elaina Chesebro, Dominic Cushinotto, Kayla Cushinotto, Isabella Falciani, Sean Falciani, Jordan Fatato, Kellen Frankel, Grace Gribbin, Paige Gribbin, Shayne Herbert, Everly Husta, Kendall Husta, Eli Johannsen, Brennen Kiss, John Paul Mazza, Maggie McCloud, Raelynn McDowel, Macy McDowel, Cole McDowel, Lola Meyrick, Scotlyn Pace, Nathan Reedy, Charlie Rieder, Adeline Rizzo, Nina Rizzotte, Casey Schulz, Kylie Short, Ella Wilson, Juliet Wilson, and Magnolia York.

The Stingrays return to action on July 15, when they host the Elmer Sharks at the Hammonton Swim Club and during this meet the Stingrays plan to honor long-time team member, Massimo Catania, as he recently graduated from high school and is competing in his final season with the team.