Banquet Winners and Recap
The 3rd Annual Golden Goggle Awards were presented last night. We recognized the hard work and dedication of the athletes and parents. AAAA had a lot to celebrate! The nominees and award winners are listed below.
Congrats to all on a GREAT Year.
Accomplishments 2012-2013
· Top Medium Team D1 (both seasons)
· Top 3 all sizes (both seasons 3rd then 2nd)
· 8-Under Meet top 3 performances, Relays Records
· 20+ Zone and All-Star Qualifiers
· 3 NCSA Junior Qualifiers
· 3 Olympic Trial Qualifiers
· 2 top 3 Zone Performances
· 3 All-Star Champions
· Continued Growth and Success (110 athletes)
Team Record Swimmers from last year (LCM and SCY)
Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck
Daniel Christie
Evan Eskilson
Eric Sparks
Canaan Campbell
Hobbs Herlihy
Nicholas Stafanov
Stephen Johnson
Oliver Tillinghast
Marian Frick
Claire Campbell
Cierra Campbell
Emily Venters
Sydney Sirimongkhon-Dyck
Maggie McCalla
Faith Baxter
Darrian Gordon
Iris Sharon
Gretchen Frick
Mary Reed-Weston
JT Amrein
Noah Florence
David Christie
Adin Florence
Ben Carroll
Giulliano Lule-Parades
Max Whittaker
Ben Staulbaumer
Ainsley Krug
Lucy Sirimongkhon-Dyck
Janet Stefanov
Ava Cormaney
Brandon Bunting
Kara Krannawitter
Relay of the Year
This award is given to the best team relay performance, male or female. All performances are considered, with special emphasis on the Championship Season.
• 9-10 Boys SCY D1 Free (Hobbs, Riley, Noah, JT) 4th - 2:07.1 / Team Record by 30 seconds (Team Record in Medley as well)
• 11-12 Girls SCY D1 Medley/Free (Claire, Janet, Ainsley, Ava) 1st – Medley 1:59.96 / Team Record by .1, 1st – Free 1:47.62 record by 1 second
• 11-12 Boys Medley Columbia Meet (Stephen, Josh, Evan, Chris) – 4th place
• 13-14 Boys SCY D1 Medley (Evan, Ben, Daniel and Brandon) – Team Record Medley 4:07.2, Never had a relay previously
Female Race of the Year
This award is given to the female swimmer with the greatest single individual race of the year, with special emphasis on the Championship Season.
• Claire Campbell - 50 Free D1 Team Record
Claire had a number of swims during the last year that could have been nominated for Female Race of the Year, including her 2nd place finish at Central Zones last summer. Her 50 free at SCY D1, a time of 24.76 was top 20 in the country for 12 year olds and was the fastest in the LSC. It also qualified her for Sectionals.
• Emily Venters - 1000 Free Sectionals Team Record
Emily attended her first Sectional meet this spring and started out with a bang, dropping over 10 seconds in her 1000 free from the weekend prior and taking out her first 500 in her lifetime best. It was an impressive start to her Sectional meet career.
• Sydney Sirimongkhon-Dyck - 50 Free Sectionals Team Record
Sydney swam the 50 free three times at the spring Sectional Championship meet. In prelims, in a swim-off and in finals where she went lifetime bests each time. It was an impressive display of sprinting and racing. Ended with a NCSA Juniors cut of 24.23.
• Gretchen Frick - 1650/ 400 IM MN Grand Prix Team Record
Gretchen attended her first Grand Prix meet in the fall of 2012 and had a great all-around meet. Her 1650 (17:29) was impressive – dropping 14 seconds in the race. It was the first time she finished top 16 while competing in a meet with Olympians.
• Ainsley Krug - 500 Free All-Stars
Ainsley had one race at the 2013 All-Star meet and she took advantage of it. She raced to a best time in the 500 and dominated her heat. She dropped a total of 9 seconds and took 9th place with her first AAA.
Male Race of the Year
This award is given to the male swimmer with the greatest single individual race of the year, with special emphasis on the Championship Season.
• Stephen Johnson - 200 Free All-Stars Team Record
Stephen had a number of great swims this past year, many of which could have been nominated. At the 2013 All-Star meet, he put on an impressive performance in his 200 free, taking first in a time of 1:59.33. He was Missouri Valley’s top performer.
• Canaan Campbell - 1000 Free Sectionals Team Record
Canaan has been known for his distance swimming for sometime. During the course of this past year, he really worked on rounding out his abilities in the 200s of stroke and medleys as well. Still, his 1000 free at the spring sectional meet was impressive, taking 5th place in a time of 9:29.34, just 4 seconds off of the Winter Junior National cut.
• Noah Florence - 100 IM Swim Off D1
Noah was having an impressive D1 Meet in Topeka, but a highlight moment for Noah was when he tied for 8th place in the 100 IM on the last day of the meet- this tie would lead to a Swim-Off at the beginning of the finals session. Noah had a time of 1:18 coming into the meet, competed in the swim off swimming a time of 1:13.72- three hundredths off of a AAA Time Standard.
• Daniel Christie - 100 Fly Zones Team Record
Anytime you win Central Zones, it is an impressive resume builder for your swimming career. Danny was male Zone Champ in the 100 Fly with a time of 1:04.54. This was a first for Quad A and a AAAA time.
• Eric Sparks - 100 Free Sectionals Team Record
Eric’s story is one of perseverance. It shined brightly in his 100 Free at the spring sectional meet with a time of 46.81. He dropped over a second and finaled in his first time under 47 seconds ever.
Newcomer of the Year
This award is given to the athlete who is a new member of AAAA and has contributed to the success of the team, with special emphasis on contribution at the Championship Meet level.
• Josh Florence
Josh joined us and immediately made an impact as a great teammate and great practice buddy. He contributed points for AAAA at the spring D1 meet and for team Missouri Valley at the 2013 All-Star meet. His first AAA time came at the D1 meet in the 500 Free.
• Noah Florence
Like his brother, Noah was immediate contributor at workout as well as at meets. He also scored points for AAAA at the spring D1 meet and for team Missouri Valley at the 2013 All-Star meet.
• JT Amrein
JT has been a great addition to AAAA for the past year. He contributed points for AAAA at the spring D1 meet and for team Missouri Valley at the 2013 All-Star meet. JT was a top 3 performer in most every meet Quad A attended. JT achieved his first ever AAA time in the 100 Free.
• Payton Krug
Payton showed amazing growth over the past SCY season. She was AAAA’s top point scorer at the D1 meet and the 2013 All-Star Meet for the 9-10 Girls age group. All of this after starting the season with just a few D2 times and finishing the season with AA time standards.
• Ainsley Krug
Ainsley, like her sister, has been a great addition to the AAAA team. Her fun personality and strong swims made for a great SCY season. She contributed points at both the spring D1 meet and the 2013 All-Star meet. She ended the season with 2 AAA time standards.
Breakout Swimmer of the Year
This award is given to the athlete whose performance(s) stand out in relation to other years, with special emphasis given to the Championship Season.
• Ava Cormaney
Ava embodies what we look for in a competitive swimmer on Quad A. Her dedication, commitment to excellence, and drive for success is visible everyday on at practice and at meets. Ava achieved her first D1 time this past summer, then carried that momentum into the winter achieving all D1 times, and a AA Time standard in the breaststroke finishing 9th at Division 1’s.
• Lanie Whitehill
Lanie Whitehill had a breakout season starting with very few D2 times, but competed in several meets to achieve D1 time standards. By the end of the season, Lanie qualified for D2’s in all of her events, competed at D2’s qualifying for D1’s by taking home several medals. Lanie went on to compete at D1’s, qualified for final swims at night and achieved the A time Standard in both breaststroke events.
• Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck
Riley is one of the hardest working swimmers on Quad A. He loves to compete and is always very focused in practice on doing what is asked. When reflecting on Riley’s past year- he has broken the barrier of becoming a competitive 9-10 Boy in our LSC. Riley achieved his first D1 time this summer in the backstroke events, and continued to work all hard all winter season to do the same thing. Riley competed at the D2 Spring Meet and finished in the top 3 and took home several gold medals. Riley cut on average 10 seconds and made his way into the D1 Meet.
• Justin Lee
Justin Lee started swimming competitively this year with Quad A in the comets group. He was very eager to compete at swim meets. He natural ability to swim was evident from the start. Justin loves breaststroke and qualified for D2’s within his first few times competing in the event. Justin went on to compete at D2’s and move up into the Asteroids Squad.
• Ben Stallbaumer
Ben impressed us with his continued progression and hard work all season. His breaststroke split on the 13-14 Medley Relay at the SCY D1 meet was his best time by 4 seconds. His positive attitude and smile have been infectious.
Perseverance Award
This award is given to the athlete, who overcomes adversity, sickness, injury, etc., to have outstanding and inspiring performance(s) at meets and workouts throughout the entire year.
• Matt Reimer
Matthew Reimer is a vibrant ten-year-old boy born and raised in Lawrence, KS. Like many little boys his age, he loves to swim.
Two years ago Matt was diagnosed with the genetic disorder Adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD. Like some boys with ALD, Matt takes regular doses of Lorenzo's Oil to help break down the saturated fats in his body, which helps slow the progression of the disease. Lorenzo's Oil has not yet been approved by the FDA, so the only way people with ALD can access the Oil is through clinical trial. In Matt's case, the Lorenzo's Oil has shown to be an important part of keeping this horrible at bay.
Matt’s presence on the team is like no other-his drive, desire, and love for swimming is evident everyday and at meets. His attitude is contagious.
• Kathryn Bach
Kathryn has persevered through the disappointment of not qualifying for D1 with several attempts at the end of the season. Kathyrn had her goals set on qualifying for D1’s and attended MAL and D2 with high expectations. She had cut time throughout the season and was very close. At D2’s she finished first and just a few tenths of the D1 cut in the 100 Fly. In the 50 fly, she swam the event in prelims, finals, and a time trial- coming less then a tenth away. Kathyrn came to D1 and competed on Relays and has set her goals high this summer to compete at D1. The way Kathryn never gave up was very inspiring to those athletes and coaches around her.
• Eric Sparks
Eric has overcome the loss of his father. He has been a role model to the young athletes of AAAA. And has he has said, it is not always easy coming in and training with younger athletes. But he has done it and the results have paid off.
Teammate of the Year
This award is given to the athlete who most consistently has a positive attitude at practice, competition and outside the pool. These athletes are polite, encouraging, and motivating at all times to all coaches, athletes, parents and officials. They define what it means to be a model AAAA swimmer.
• Kiran Cordes
Always a smile. 100% attendance. Always polite to every coach and in a great mood.
• Mary Reed-Weston
Great teammate all the time. She is friends with all levels of swimmers and is a real great swim friend to all.
• Morgan Jones
Good chearleader… truly cares about others and how they perform. Always willing to lend a helping hand.
• Maddie Dean
Infectious smile that lights up a room. Always has something kind to say to others. Is both focused at meets while having a good time with teammates. Always willing to lend a helping hand.
• David Christie
David is the model teammate in and out of the water. He is one of the first to cheer on his teammates during a race and one of the first to give a high five after a set at workout. Polite!
Rises to the Challenge Award
This award is given to the athlete who most consistently exceeds coach’s expectations in regards to effort and mental toughness at practice and competition.
• Canaan Campbell
Canaan embodies the spirit of pushing himself every set, every day, every week, every season. He is always driving himself to be better technically and in physically – and his year-end results always show that.
• Claire Campbell
Claire is a racer! She pays attention to race details and executes in the moment. She works hard daily at workout.
• Darrian Gordon
Darrian Gordon is a go getter!!! Darrian is one of the hardest workers in the Asteroids Squad. Darrian gives 100% all the time and does exactly what the coaches request. For example during the power hour sets -Darrian will keep going even if she gets no rest. She will swim for an hour-Darrian rises to the challenge everyday in dryland- performing the exercises correctly and always doing the right amount. Darrian’s ability to surpass the expectations given is superb.
• Lauren Amrein
Lauren favorite event is Breaststroke, yet at the Pro-Am meet, she really rose to the challenge in something new. When given the opportunity on a relay she went 8 seconds faster then her best time in the 200 free.
• Emily Venters
Emily embodies the spirit of pushing herself every set, every day, every week, every season. She has consistent time drops and is the ideal practice worker.
Volunteer of the Year
This award is given to the person who has gone above and beyond in volunteering their time efforts to helping the swim team with special emphasis on those people with multiple years of service with AAAA.
Don Buchner
Edith & Eric Eskilson – Helped with D2
Tricia Venters – Chaperone, D2
Dave Springe/Ellie Hendricks – D2 Meet Director- First one ever for the Club
Tracey Ford Stacy – Ironman, helping get club started
Female Athlete of the Year
This award is given to the top female swimmer of the year with special emphasis on achievements at Championship Meets.
• Emily Venters - Team Record
• Claire Campbell - Team Record
• Gretchen Frick - Team Record
• Payton Frick - Top Point Scorer for 9-10 at bottom of Age Group!
• Cierra Campbell - Team Record
Male Athlete of the Year
This award is given to the top male swimmer of the year with special emphasis on achievements at Championship Meets.
• Canaan Campbell - Team Record
• Stephen Johnson - Team Record
• David Christie - Team Record
• Evan Eskilson - Team Record
• Daniel Christie - Team Record
