Area swimmers in the Savannah Coastal Swim League (SCSL) wrapped up their season in late June at the Chatham County Aquatic Center with two events that were a success by all accounts. The Rising Stars meet was held on June 29 for novice and developmental swimmers and the City Championship on June 30 concluded another excellent season for Savannah’s premier aquatics league.
Rising Star Swim Meet is designed for swimmers that may not win during the dual season, but have a chance to shine as rising stars. City Championship Meet swimmers must achieve a qualifying or "cut" time to participate. The time standard was based on the top 50-percent of swimmers competing by age group and gender. This season, swimmers must have met the time standard in at least one stroke to compete at the City Championship Meet.
More than 300 competed in the City Championship and more than one hundred participated in the Rising Star meet.
"Summer swim team with the Savannah Coastal Swim League is a great introduction to competitive swimming for youth," said SCSL President Emily Stigall through email on July 2.
"As a summer league coach, it is so much fun to watch the athletes learn how to improve their strokes and push themselves to beat their best time. Kids love being part of a team, making new friends and they look forward to it year-round."
Since 1967, the swimming scene in this area has been largely organized and orchestrated by the SCSL. Providing youth swimmers with an opportunity to learn, train and compete in the pool, SCSL had nine teams and over 500 swimmers this summer. The mission of the Savannah Coastal Swim League is to promote competitive youth swimming in Savannah/Chatham County, Beaufort, Richmond Hill, Pooler and other surrounding areas.
Swimmers competed in six different age divisions, spanning from ages six to 18 and the divisions were six and under, eight and under, nine-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-18. Teams in the league were: Horizons Hurricanes, Isle of Hope Sharks, Jewish Educational Alliance (JEA) Orcas, Landings Lightningbolts, Mayfair Marlins, Savannah Golf Club Stingrays, Savannah Quarters Country Club Sailfish, Savannah Yacht Club Swimming Commodores and the Wilmington Park Barracudas.
The Savannah Golf Club Stingrays were the first place finishers at the 2022 City Championship meet. Savannah Quarters Country Club Sailfish finished second and the Wilmington Park Barracudas third. At the Rising Stars meet one day prior, the Isle of Hope Sharks took home the first place team trophy. The Savannah Quarters team took second place while the Mayfair Marlins secured third place.
Rising Stars Champion Isle of Hope
It was a record breaking day for the first place finishers in the City Championship meet. Savannah Golf Club Stingrays had nine swimmers tie or break previous records for the event. A full list of those records can be seen below. To find out more information about SCSL by visiting them on Facebook or by emailing savannahcoastalswimleague@gmail.com.
SGC STINGRAYS RECORDS AT 2022 CITY CHAMPIONSHIP MEET
50 Freestyle – 13-14 girls – Jenny Hippert – 24.54 (1997)
NEW (TIED): 24.54 – Amy Shonk
50 Back – 13-14 girls – Jenny Hippert – 28.65 (1997)
NEW: 27.92 – Amy Shonk
50 Back – 15-18 boys – Judson Cuttino – 24.64 (2004)
NEW: 24.50 – Stephen Jones
50 Fly – 15-18 boys – Stephen Jones – 23.55 (2019)
NEW: 22.70 – Stephen Jones
200 Freestyle Relay – Boys 15-18 – 1:32.03 (2009)
NEW: 1:27.57 – Stephen Jones, Sebastian Rosales, Will Taylor, Reese Jones
200 Medley Relay – 15-18 boys – 1:41.76 (2009)
NEW: 1:37.82 – Sebastian Rosales, Reese Whelan, Stephen Jones, Will Taylor
Follow SCSL on Instagram @savannahcoastalswim
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Photo - City Champions - Savannah Golf Club
