The annual Duane Whitenack City-County Swim Meet was held at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center last weekend, capping off a season that began on June 3. Three Botetourt County swim teams participated in the meet.
This year’s City-County champion is the Stonegate Swim Club from Salem. The Gators scored 18,335 points over two days to out-swim Olympic Park, who had 16,396. Hunting Hills edged Castle Rock for third, 13,895.5 to 13,596.5.
Spring Run was fifth and Read Mountain was sixth among the 13 teams competing. The local Muskies finished the meet with 10,014 points.
“We had a lot of new swimmers this summer,” said coach Susan Bleeker. “Read Mountain works to encourage the fun of swimming and team camaraderie.”
Katrina “Kitt” Williams of Read Mountain was awarded the prestigious Duane Whitenack Memorial Award. In 1980 the RVAA established a special award in memory of Duane Whitenack, who worked to help the RVAA expand and grow and who established the plans for a year-round pool for the use of the traveling team. The RVAA designated the year-end championship meet, “The Duane Whitenack City/County Championship Meet.”
Also each year, the RVAA gives a special award in his memory to the person or persons who have contributed in an exceptional manner through their time and efforts to promote swimming in the Roanoke Valley. According to the RVAA website, “All recipients of this award share common characteristics; they are special, dedicated individuals who have demonstrated their love for children and the great sport of swimming.”
“This was a pretty big deal for me,” said Williams, who was recently named to return as swim coach of the James River High School team. “Our swimmers had a great meet, swimming best times and achieving personal success. It was many people’s first City-County Meet and first meet at a facility like that.”
The Ashley Plantation team was 10th with 5,064.5 points. Ashley had 14 first place finishers.
“We had 32 swimmers compete for the weekend,” said Karen Williams of the Ashley team. “As a team the swimmers improved their times by four minutes and 16.6 seconds from their previous best times. It has been a great season for our small but competitive team.”
Right behind Ashley, in 11th place, was Limestone Park with 4,397 points. Colton Cunningham had a first gold in the 50 Backstroke and Austin Nielsen swam to a first gold in the 100 IM.
Howard Butts of the Barracudas was recognized for swimming every year of the RVAA’s 60-year existence. At 83, he is the oldest member of the league. Also Al McPhearson, at age 72, had a perfect meet as he scored 350 points and swam to three meet records, breaking two he set last year.
