We sent 33 swimmers to the MAKOS Holiday Spirit Invitational swim meet that took place at Miami University’s natatorium from December 9^th – 11^th.  Our swimmers competed with age nine and over swimmers from four other states, including Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia.  This meet held preliminary competition during the morning and afternoon sessions with championship finals in the evening with the top nine swimmers from the 9 – 10 age group and the top 18 swimmers in the older age groups with both consolation and championship heats.

Two names were added to the NAAC record list: Alicia Donley and Miranda Donley.  Alicia set a new NAAC record in the 9-10 Girls 100 IM with a time of 1:10.87, beating the previous time of 1:11.04 that was set in 2006 by Rachel Jackson.  Miranda tied the previous record in the 11-12 Girls 50 Free-style with a time of 25.21 seconds that was also set by Rachel Jackson in 2008.  Congratulations to both Alicia and Miranda on their outstanding swims and for making the record books, again.

New Albany finished eighth overall among 25 teams and placed 15 individual swimmers in at least one evening final heat with many swimmers achieving finals in multiple events. 

Saturday evening’s finals included one swim for all swimmers that have qualified as an alternate and wondered why they should bother to show up for the race when there were no scratches.  It was the girls 11-12, 200 Freestyle where Jessica Zaper was listed as an alternate.  As the girls were called to the block for the consolation heat, lane 6 was open.  Jessica, who was at the blocks and ready, was called to fill the open lane.  She adjusted her cap and goggles, took her spot and won the heat, leading from start to finish in an inspirational swim.

The swimmers of the meet are as follows:

• Andrew Levine
• Kennedy Gabor
• Andrew Bernsdorf
• Andrew Donley
• Mia Lachey
• Carly Shocket
• Abby Yakam

Individual Age Group Top 18 finishers:

• Age 9-10 Girls: Alicia Donley 2nd , Mia Lachey 12th , Morgan Pankow 16th
• Age 9-10 Boys: Andrew Donley 1st , Thomas Lennox 18th
• Age 11-12 Girls: Miranda Donley 4th , Jessica Zaper 16th , Ally Wharton 17th
• Age 11-12 Boys: Pearson Spychalski  5th

 Individual Event Top 9 Finishes:

• Age 9-10 Girls:

-        Olivia Bergmann – 50 Fly 6^th and 100 Fly 8^th

-        Alicia Donley – 200 IM 2^nd , 200 Free 3^rd , 100 Back 3^rd , 100 Fly 1^st , 50 Breast 2^nd ,        100 Breast 2^nd , 100 IM 2^nd and 50 Back 5^th

-        Mia Lachey – 200 IM 5^th , 200 Free 7^th and 50 Fly 9^th

-        Morgan Pankow – 100 Fly 7^th , 100 IM 9^th and 100 Free 8^th

-        Abby Yakam – 50 Breast 5^th and 100 Breast 6^th

• Age 9-10 Boys:

-        Andrew Donley – 200 IM 1^st , 200 Free 1^st , 100 Back 1^st , 50 Free 1^st , 50 Breast 1^st , 100 IM 1^st , 100 Free 1^st , 50 Back 1^st

-        Thomas Lennox – 100 IM 8^th

-        Jake Stone – 50 Fly 7^th

• Age 11-12 Girls:

-        Miranda Donley – 200 IM 4^th , 50 Back 2^nd , 100 Fly 1^st , 50 Free 1^st , 50 Fly 1^st , 100 IM 2^nd and 100 Free 3^rd

-        Ally Wharton – 50 Breast 2^nd and 100 Breast 4^th

-        Jessica Zaper – 50 Breast 8^th , 100 Breast 8^th and 100 Back 9^th

• Age 11-12 Boys:

-        Pearson Spychalski – 200 IM 3^rd , 50 Back 3^rd 100 Fly 6^th , 200 Free 5^th , 50 Fly 5^th , 100 Free 4^th and 100 Back 3^rd

 Individual Event Ohio Junior Olympic Qualifying Times:

• Age 9-10 Girls:

-        Olivia Bergmann – 50 Breast 50 Fly and 100 Fly

-        Alicia Donley – 200 Free

-        Mia Lachey – 200 IM , 200 Free, 50 Breast and 50 Fly

-        Morgan Pankow – 100 Fly and 100 Free

-        Abby Yakam – 50 Breast and 100 Breast

• Age 9-10 Boys:

-        Thomas Lennox – 100 IM and 200 IM

-        Jake Stone – 50 Fly and 50 Back (Medley relay lead-off)

• Age 11-12 Girls:

-        Jessica Zaper – 50 Breast, 200 IM and 50 Back (Medley relay lead-off)

• Age 11-12 Boys:

-        Pearson Spychalski –  50 Back, 100 Fly, 200 Free and 100 Back

 Individual Event Central Zone Qualifying Times:

• Age 9-10 Girls:

-        Alicia Donley – 200 IM , 100 Back, 100 Fly, 50 Breast, 100 Breast, 100 IM and 50 Back 

• Age 9-10 Boys:

-        Andrew Donley – 200 IM, 200 Free, 100 Back, 50 Free, 50 Breast, 100 IM, 100 Free, 50 Back

• Age 11-12 Girls:

-        Miranda Donley – 200 IM, 50 Back, 100 Fly, 50 Free, 50 Fly, 100 IM and 100 Free

-        Ally Wharton – 50 Breast and 100 Breast

• Age 11-12 Boys:

-        Pearson Spychalski – 200 IM, 50 Fly and 100 Free