Smit and Brady, Top Recruits, Highlight Trident TYR Cup

LANCASTER, Pennsylvania, December 16. ACROSS the country last weekend, a number of invitational competitions featured quick swimming in a variety of age groups. Fitting the bill was the Trident TYR Cup, held at Franklin & Marshall College and typically one of the faster meets in Pennsylvania when it comes to late-season competitions.

Headed for Stanford University, Julia Smit (Three Village) posted some of the top times on the female side, as she registered a quintet of victories, including a meet-record showing in the 400 individual medley (4:15.58). Having recently established a national-scholastic record in the 200 individual medley, Smit won that event in 2:02.51 and also secured first-place finishes in the 100 backstroke (55.55), 200 freestyle (1:50.10) and 200 breaststroke (2:19.25).

Smit was also second in the 100 fly, finishing .01 behind winner Anne-Marie Botek (55.09). Botek, a University of Georgia recruit, also won the 50 free in 23.42. In boys’ action, Chris Brady rolled to a quartet of gold medals, claiming each of his events in meet-record time. A Michigan recruit, Brady (Team Delaware) prevailed in the 50 free (20.96), 100 free (46.22), 100 fly (48.99) and 100 back (50.76).

Two of the top swims of last weekend’s gathering were delivered in distance events, thanks to the skills of Kirsten Groome (Germantown Academy Aquatic Club) and Josef Kinderwater (Trident). Groome dominated the 1,650 freestyle with a mark of 16:12.07, good for a meet record. The 15-year-old, who trains under Dick Shoulberg, also won the 1,000 freestyle (9:45.45) and the 200 butterfly (2:00.76). Groome was also second in the 500 free (4:49.06), behind West Shore’s Leah Gingrich (4:48.97), and second in the 400 I.M. (4:17.10).

As for Kinderwater, the 16-year-old doubled in the 1,000 and 1,650 freestyles. Kinderwater set meet records of 9:13.55 and 15:26.93. Also in senior action, Cody Weik claimed wins in six events that covered four disciplines. One of Pennsylvania’s top youngsters, Weik topped the field in the 200 free (1:40.56), 500 free (4:33.63), 200 I.M. (1:52.78), 400 I.M. (3:59.24), 200 back (1:51.78) and 200 fly (1:50.51).

In the 13-and-14 age group, the main star was Thomas Luchsinger of the Three Village Swim Club. En route to nine wins (that’s correct), Luchsinger set meet standards in seven events. The standout’s record-setting swims were supplied in the 100 free (48.33), 500 free (4:41.57), 100 back (53.11), 200 back (1:55.13), 100 fly (52.14), 200 fly (1:54.29) and 200 I.M. (1:56.47). He also finished first in the 200 free (1:44.85) and 400 I.M. (4:10.78).

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