LCATS Compete in Open Water Event

By Mark Hopson

Whitney Point, NY-    On Sunday, June 18th the Lansing Cats (LCATS) swim team under the direction of coaches Reed Dewey and Bob Terry competed in the “Swim the Triangle” Open Water Event held at Whitney Point Lake.  This is the third year the team has participated in this Open Water Meet which has become a favorite of both LCAT swimmers and their families.

A total of 13 teams from all over central NY competed this year; the LCATS led the way with 47 swimmers, aged 8 to 22.   The athletes swam various distances ranging from 0.5 to 5K.  Swim times for these events ranged from about 10 minutes for the 0.5K swim to over 1 hour for the 5K distance events.

The LCAT swimmers  competed in 26 different age event categories.  The LCATS won 19 of these events and broke 7 Whitney Point Open Water records in the process.   Dewey and Terry acknowledged all the swimmers’ accomplishments at Whitney Point and noted that “this event is a blast for our kids.   They look forward to swimming here each year.”  Dewey also stated “this meet provides them a chance to swim in open water which is much different than their typical schedule throughout the year which consists of short (25 yards) and long course (50 meters) indoor events.” 

Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to be outside on a beautiful sunny day at Dorchester Park.   Several family members helped officiate and monitor the swimmers from canoes and kayaks.  They also found time between races to have a team barbeque and play games.

Event results listed below include race event, swimmer, time, order of finish, and meet record where noted.

0.5 K race results: 

8 & U Girls- Valencia Gell 12:01 -2^nd.

9-10 Girls- Libby Weaver 10:03 -1^st, Madi McMillan 11:43 -5^th, Katie Barr 12:39 -7^th.

11-12 Girls- Ingebjorg Toresen 10:04 -2^nd, Olympia Canales 10:25 -3^rd.

8 & U Boys- Cyrus Browning 10:36 -1^st -WP record; Theo Angelopoulos 12:03- 2^nd.

11-12 Boys- Edward Kiefer 9:26 -1^st-WP record.

1 K race results: 

 9-10 Girls- Miryam Ginsparg 20:53 -2^nd, Aurora Kiefer 24:11 -3^rd, Laura Ferris 24:24 -4^th.

11-12 Girls- Katie Weaver 17:41 -1^st, Grace Ferris 21:25 -5^th.

13-14 Girls- Tacia Angelopoulos 15:17 -1^st-WP record; Katie Kidder 18:55 -4^th.

9-10 Boys- Sergio Gomez 22:25 -2^nd, Wil Dewey 24:10 -3^rd.

11-12 Boys- Adam Hopson 17:41 -2^nd.

 

2 K race results:    

 

11-12 Girls- Marina Angelopoulos 35:53- 2^nd, Annika Browning 38:54 -3^rd.

13-14 Girls- Kenna Hartmann 33:22 -1^st.

15-16 Women- Kayla Sherwyn 33:18 -1^st- WP record.

17 & Over Women- Erin O’Brien 32:35 -1^st, Erin Trowbridge 33:21-2^nd.

11-12 Boys- John Koch 34:17 -1^st, Xavier Gell 36:34 -2^nd.

17 & Over Men- Lucas Zelehowsky 29:25 -1^st.

 

3 K race results:  

12 YO Girls- Adelaide Smallidge 54:25 -1^st -WP record.

13-14 Girls- Adele Ferris 45:45 -1^st, Nathalie Smallidge 54:40 -3^rd.

15-16 Women- Karinna Browning  45:33 -1^st, Erin McElfresh 45:38 -2^nd.

17 & Over Women- Emily O’Brien 45:36- 1^st, Ella Graffin 50:15 -2^nd.

12 YO Boys-  Mikey Koch 53:42 -1^st -WP record, Jed Dewey 54:15 -2^nd, Ryan McElfresh 57:34 -3^rd.

15-16 Men- Ronan Corgel 45:20 -1^st -WP record.

 

5 K race results:  

13-14 Girls- Cecile Browning 1:15:40 -1^st.

15-16 Women- Natalie O’Brien 1:15:42 -1^st, Emma Otto-Moudry 1:19:21 -2^nd.

13-14 Boys- Joe Koch 1:17:38 -2^nd, Faadhil Moheed 1:21:30 -3^rd.

17 & Over Men- Adam Zelehowsky 1:09:35 -1^st, Clement Towner 1:11:15 -2^nd, Hans Roser 1:25:20 -4^th.

 

The Lansing CATS program is a year-round, Age-Group and Senior Level swim club designed to offer a competitive swimming experience to young male and female athletes from the early, developmental swimmer to the national-caliber athlete. The LCATS are a USA Swimming (USA-S) sanctioned club with fully certified and insured coaches, run and maintained by the coaches and parent volunteers.   In 2011, the LCATS have achieved USA Swimming Bronze Medal Club status.  This achievement ranks the team as one of the top 200 USA Swim Clubs based on high level of athlete performance, as well as organizational success.   For more information, please visit lansingcats.org. 

 

PRESS RELEASE Lansing Community Aquatic Team (LCATs)

Contact: Jack Corgel, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 607-257-4004, 16 Whispering Pines, Ithaca, NY 14850 

For Immediate Release

LCATs SWIM FAST AGAINST NATIONAL COMPETITION: ENTRIES EARNED FOR U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS 

LANSING, NY. May 18, 2011 – As summer 2011 approaches, competitive swimmers across America are intensifying their training with the goal of reaching the U.S. Olympic Trials held in Omaha during June 2012. A talented group of young athletes from the Lansing Community Aquatic Team (LCATs) recently traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan for national competition in a Grand Prix meet with Olympic Trial qualifying times in sight. One LCAT swimmer, Erin McElfresh (16), will receive an invitation to try out for the U.S. Olympic team next summer and other team members inched closer to the coveted ‘Trials’ qualifying times.

Ms. McElfresh scorched the University of Michigan pool with 1:01.49 and 2:15.00 swims in the 100 and 200 Meter Fly events. Her times surpassed the Olympic Trial qualifying times of 1:01.99 and 2:16.49, thus marking the first time in the 17-year history of the LCATs that a swimmer will compete at the Trials. “We are all extremely proud of Erin. It takes a good deal more than talent to achieve what she has. She’s worked very hard for a very long time and has done so with humility and grace.  She has set the bar a little higher for all of the other kids on our club and there are quite a few who are motivated by her successes. They know they’d like to get there (Olympic Trials) too and there are a few who have a decent shot – whether it’s in 2012 or 2016. It’s as special for them as it is for Erin,” remarked Coach Reed Dewey who accompanied swimmers to Michigan. Coach Bob Terry echoed those sentiments, adding “It’s very special for Erin, but equally so for the other kids, the coaches, the families on the club, and the Lansing community.”

Several other LCATs lowered their times while gaining valuable experience at the Michigan meet, competing in the same events as Olympians Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, and many others. Hans Roser (22), who continues to swim for the LCATs as student at Wright State University, moved closer to an Olympic Trials invitation by turning in 1:07.40 and 2:25.08 times in the 100 and 200 Meter Breaststroke events. These swims put Hans within only a few seconds of an invitation to Omaha. Matthew Heise (18), Emily O’Brien (17), and her sister Natalie O’Brien (15) also placed themselves in excellent positions to make runs at ‘Trials’ qualifying times during the next 13 months.

The LCAT long course (Olympic-style, 50-meter swimming) season has just begun for all swimmers, with many outstanding opportunities to compete against some of the best athletes in the Eastern U.S. The local team will represent Lansing as swimmers travel to the Rutgers, Buffalo, Penn State, Stanford, and Pittsburgh University pools this summer.

Contact: Jack Corgel, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 607-257-4004, 16 Whispering Pines, Ithaca, NY 14850 

For Immediate Release

LANSING CATS SWIM TEAM OPENS SEASON WITH ‘SUPER HEROICS’!

LANSING, NY. October 27, 2010 – Marvel Comics Super Heroes was the theme for the age-group swimming meet held this past weekend in the quaint village of Mexico N.Y. 25 minutes north of Syracuse. The Lansing Cats (LCATs) team accumulated enough points to earn the first place trophy; and in the process a number of the team’s 7-18 year olds demonstrated super hero-style individual performances.

Several meet records fell to LCAT swimmers including Emily O’Brien in the 100 I.M. and 50 Fly; Erin McElfresh in the 100 I.M., 50 Fly, and 50 Back; and John Nord in the 50 Breast. Also, the 8-Under Mixed 200 Free Relay team of Cyrus Browning, Valencia Gell, Wil Dewey, and Renat Urazghildiiev; and the 13-14 Mixed 200 Medley Relay team of Ronan Corgel, Natalie O’Brien, Adele Ferris, and Cecile Browning established new meet marks.

Trophies were awarded to individual swimmers who earned the most points within their respective age groups. The LCAT heroes awarded high-point hardware included Adam Hopson (10 and under boys), Joe Koch (11-12 boys), Natalie O’Brien (13-14 girls), Ronan Corgel (13-14 boys) and, Emily O’Brien (15 and over girls). Team coaches Reed Dewey and Bob Terry praised Faadhil Moheed for style and race intensity during his swims.

The LCATs host a meet at the Lansing High School pool on Saturday, November 20^th from 9 AM until 4 PM. Admission is free.  

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Contact: Jack Corgel, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 607-257-4004, 16 Whispering Pines, Ithaca, NY 14850
For Immediate Release

LANSING CATS SWIM TEAM EXCELS IN OPEN WATER

LANSING, NY. June 23, 2010 – The Lansing Community Swimming Team (LCATs) usually competes at meets in lane-divided, indoor pools. In a departure, the swimmers, ranging from age 7 to 21, participated this past weekend outdoors in an open water meet held in Whitney Point’s Dorchester Park capturing numerous awards. The meet featured a triangular course in a scenic man-made lake. Events ranged in distances from .5K to 5K. “Coach (Bob) Terry and I decided it was time to give the kids an opportunity to compete in open water swimming which is an Olympic event. The swimmers did exceptionally well and had a great time at the lake on a beautiful day” noted coach Reed Dewey.

The LCATs won the overall team competition. In the .5K event, 8-year old Wil Dewey placed 2nd and 7-year old Cyrus Browning placed 3rd in their age group while Grace Ferris took 2nd place among 11-12 year old swimmers. The Lansing swimmers were well represented in 1K event. Annika Browning won the 9-10 age division, John and Mike Koch came in 2nd and 3rd in the 11-12 division, and Chelsea Boles and Gabriella Gomez placed 2nd and 3rd in the 13-14 age group. Joe Koch won the 11-12 competition in the 2K event, while Kenna Hartman and Isabelle Corgel came in 2nd and 3rd in the 13-14 group.

The 3K event was swept by the LCATs. Adele Ferris, Ella Graffin, and Lucas Zelehowsky each took 1^st in their respective age divisions. Also, Anna Conte, Alex Conte, and Erin O’Brien placed in the top three in their divisions.

The 3.2 mile 5K event required over an hour of continuous swimming and some hazards not encountered during indoor meets. One LCAT swimmer commented, “Now I know why my mother told me to pack suntan lotion in my swim bag.” The Lansing team swept the first two age groups in the event. Among 13 and 14 year olds, LCAT Ronan Corgel placed first and the Browning sisters, Karinna and Cecile, took second and third. Adam Zelehowsky won the 5K in the 15 and 16 division while Erin McElfresh and Emily O’Brien earned second and third positions. Finally, Clement Towner took third in the 17 and over group.

The LCATs travel to Buffalo this coming weekend for competition within the Niagara District, which includes teams from Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and other parts of Central and Western New York, as well as teams from Canada, Ohio, Michigan, and beyond.

Click here to view event images.

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Contact: Jack Corgel, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 607-257-4004, 16 Whispering Pines, Ithaca, NY 14850
For Immediate Release

LANSING CATS SWIM TEAM ANNOUNCES ACTIVE SUMMER MEET SCHEDULE

Local club will compete throughout New York, East Coast, and California

LANSING, NY. May 12, 2010 – The Lansing Community Swimming Team (LCATs) announced today its summer meet schedule that includes a home meet at Lansing High School, a meet at Ithaca High School, meets at Cortland State, and competitive swimming as far away as Rutgers University, Washington D.C., and Irvine, CA. Summer swimming seasons for youth clubs sanctioned by USA Swimming are devoted to long course events in 50 meter pools. Due to the limited availability of 50 meter, Olympic-size pools, the LCAT summer events represent a mixture of long-course and short-course (25 yard) swimming for the 75 swimmers ranging in age from six year old beginners to returning 20 year old college athletes.

The LCAT coaching team of Reed Dewey and Bob Terry assembled a summer schedule that fosters full participation by club members. All swimmers compete in local Southern Tier Swimming League (STSL) meets and most will attend Niagara District meets. Because of qualifying time standards, only the most experienced LCATs travel to invitational meets.

The LCAT summer 2010 schedule is as follows (see attached PDF file )

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Contact: Jack Corgel, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 607-257-4004, 16 Whispering Pines, Ithaca, NY 14850
For Immediate Release

LANSING CATS SWIM TEAM IN TOP FORM AT TWO MEETS LANSING, NY.

February 12, 2010 – The Lansing Community Swimming Team (LCATs) recently divided into two groups for competition against swimmers from around the Northeast. Coach Bob Terry led one group of LCATs to Owego High School for a 2-day ‘qualifier’ meet sanctioned by the Niagara District, which includes over 75 swim clubs from the western half of New York State. A second group traveled with Coach Reed Dewey to the CeraVe Invitational meet on the campus of Rutgers University in New Jersey to compete against some of the best swimmers in the U.S. including Olympian Elizabeth Bisel.

The young LCATs turned in many outstanding performances at the Owego meet. This qualifying meet provided swimmers the opportunity to record times that enable them to enter faster meets later in the season. Several LCATs achieved these faster standards including Christina Bong, James Lovette, and Adelaide Smallidge in the 10 and under age group; Neal Ruparelia in the 11 and 12 age bracket; and Anna Conte, Gabriella Gomez, and Clement Towner among 13 and older swimmers. Others registered multiple first place finishes. Both 11 year old Serina Moheed and 10 year old Edward Kiefer placed first in five events. “The kids set goals for times they want to achieve by the end of the season and the surprising thing was that nearly all of the kids at this mid-season meet met at least one of their personal goals,” according to Coach Terry.

At Rutgers University pool, the LCATs held their own with some of largest and fastest swim clubs in the Northeast U.S. Coach Dewey notes that “Our swimmers thrive on the competition and seem to do their best in big meets. They had very solid swims at the meet, especially for a long course (50-Meter, Olympic-sized pool) meet in the middle of the short course (25-Yard pool) season.” The 14-and-under women swam exceptionally well. Erin McElfresh set a meet record in the 13-14 200 Fly with a time of 2:20.03, placing her among the fastest 13-14 women in the U.S. Natalie O’Brien earned her first Speedo Championship Meet cut time with a stellar swim in the 100 Freestyle and will attend that meet in mid-March. The LCAT’s 13-14 women’s’ relay of Isabelle Corgel (Backstroke), Natalie O’Brien (Breaststroke), Erin McElfresh (Butterfly), and Kayla Sherwyn (Freestyle) set a Niagara District record in the 13-14 400 Medley Relay.

The LCATs travel to meets in Rochester, Schenectady, Binghampton, Buffalo, and Austin, TX during the upcoming weeks.