The Bedford Barracudas took part in two more meets recently, and many of their athletes posted personal records (PR) while hosting teams from the Manchester YMCA Tiger Sharks, Milford Keyes and Concord Blue Wave on July 7, then visiting the Jasper Valley swim team in Amherst on July 14.
On July 7, Lindsey Wagner broke a 15-year-old mark in the 25-yard backstroke for 8-andunder girls with a time of 18.95 seconds. She also set a record in the 50-yard freestyle.
The 13- and 14-year-old boys freestyle relay team of Jamie Lutze, Ryan Casey, Zachary Grimmett and Chris O’Hara broke a 17-year-old mark with a time of 2 minutes, 7.18 seconds.
The 9- and 10-year-old Barracudas led the team, which took first in 52 of 86 events.
The boys and girls swept all four relays, winning the 200- yard medley relay and the 200- yard freestyle team relay.
For the boys, Michael Giraldi won the 50 and 100 free events, plus the 100-yard individual medley (IM). Michael Soucy added victories in both the 50-yard butterfly and breaststroke. Connor Keiffer, Jonny Rosenbaum, David St. Germain and Charlie Statires all posted PRs for the 9- and 10- year-old boys.
Emma Wagner captured first in the 50 free. Lydia Barrett, Emily Burton, Taylor Carrobis, Amy Dalaker, Jay McDonough, Joely Merriman, Emma Nozell and Mollie Redman also turned in strong efforts. Meanwhile, Kasey Gamache captured gold in both the 100 free and 50 breaststroke.
Zach Gamache, 6, set PRs for the 8-and-under boys in the 25 and 50 freestyle races. Cam Bisson, Haley Woods and Andrew Casey impressed Ed Faszewski and his coaching staff when each didn’t hesitate to swim five events, as did 5-year-old Owen Labbe, who quickly jumped in the cold water for his 25-yard backstroke event.
Molly Fitzpatrick, 12, swept the 100 and 200 free events and the 50 back. Emma Nettleship won the 50 free and fly events among 11- and 12-yearold girls.
For the boys, Dan Carbone won the 15- to 19-year-old 50 and 100 yard free events, and 12-year-old Dan Soucy finished first in the 200 IM and 100 free.
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Against host Jasper Valley on July 14, the Barracudas captured first place in 28 individual events and eight additional first-place finishes in team relays. For the third consecutive week, a new team record was set, and 20 swimmers earned victories.
Kathleen Bolton, 14, broke an 18-year-old mark in the girls 13- and 14-year-old 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:16.13. She added a win in the 200 IM.
Shannon Luby, 7, won the 50 free, and Emily Lane took first in the 13- and 14-year-old girls 100 free. Among 15-andolder swimmers, Ambry Lane won the girls 100 free and back events. Other 15-and-older winners included Jenay Graves in the 100 fly. For the boys, Tyler Faszewski won the 200 free, Travis Pozzetta topped all competitors in the 200 IM, and Craig Wojtkiewicz won the 100 back.
In the 8-and-under group, the boys relay team of Andrew Twite, Luke Ramsay, Mark Keiffer and Ryan Reusch won the 100 free and 100 medley relay races.
Also contributing were 6- year-old girls Em Anderson in the 25 back and Lea Guimont, Reagan Rick and Isabelle Tagliaferro in the 25 free and back events.
Faszewski’s athletes, some competing in new races and trying new strokes, added to the team’s point total. Among 11- and 12-year-olds, Emma Nettleship in the 50 fly, Cassie Berger in the 200 IM and Molly Fitzpatrick in the 50 and 200 free events posted victories. Kira Fahmy, Lexi Gamache, Alexandra Letourneau, Addy Nozell, Abby Ramsay, Jess Lavine and Morgan Stickney also turned in solid performances.
For the boys, Andrew Casey earned victory in the 50 breaststroke, while Logan Nozell finished well in the 50 free and breaststroke.
The team’s final home meet – a tune-up for the Granite State Swimming Association championship Aug. 1 and 2 in Dover – is July 28 against a stellar Seacoast Swimming Association team.