UD Aquatic Club Finishes Winter Season with Regional, National Honors

The Upper Dublin Aquatic Club wrapped up the 2010-2011 short course season with a long list of accomplishments.  The athletes worked hard all season, training in and out of the pool, for the final championship meets.

On March 10-13 UDAC sent a total of 21 swimmers to the Middle Atlantic Junior Olympic Age Group Championships at the Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Sewell, NJ.  The team of six girls and 15 boys qualified for a total of 141 events.  The team’s combined final score ranked UDAC 12th of 70 Middle Atlantic clubs who competed this year.

The Red Dragons 2011 Junior Olympic swimmers include: Elizabeth DeGroat (13), Jenna Johns (11), Jillian Kenny (13), Bryn McLaughlin (10), Casey O'Neill (13), Julia Rodriguez (14), Tom Bantley (15), Chris Devlin (14), John Easton (12), Matthew Jensen (9), Michael Jensen (13), Adam Kong (14), Ogden Leyens (12), Scott Luttmann (13), Devon Polak (12), Robert Roak (12), Jake Sannem (12), Allen Tang (14), Andy Thomas (11), Michael Thomas (13), and Cooper Tollen (14).

The Middle Atlantic Senior Championship Meet was held on March 24 – 27 at the Graham Aquatic Center in York, PA.  Nine women and six men represented UDAC at Senior Champs this year, qualifying to swim in 118 events.  The Red Dragons 2011 Senior Meet qualifiers include:  Brittany Bond (18), Elizabeth DeGroat (13), Emeline Leyens (16), Elizabeth McKenna (16), Carolyn Meier (17), Casey O’Neill (14), Julia Rodriguez (14), Alex Wheatley (17), Sam Wheatley (15), Bob Bantley (15), Zach Brech (17), Chris Devlin (14), Eric Jensen (16), Tom Kane (17) and Ashton Leyens (18).

Cooper Tollen, who did not attend the Senior Champs meet because he qualified for the 2011 Speedo Championship Series Meet at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center, hosted by Virginia Swimming.  In addition, Cooper and teammate, Julia Rodriguez, represented UDAC at the 2011 Eastern Zones Short Course Age Group Championship on March 31-April 2 in Webster, NY.

In addition to qualifying for these Championship meets, 11 Red Dragons achieved a top ten ranking within the Middle Atlantic region .  UDAC’s Top Ten list (events in yards/ranking):   Michael Jensen, 13 (50 free/10th, 100 free/6th, 50 fly/6th, 100 fly/5th, 200 fly/10th, 100 back/7th); Jenna Johns, 11 (50 free/4th, 100 free/3rd, 1650 free/7th, 50 back/4th, 100 back/9th, 50 fly/2nd, 100 fly/3rd, 100 IM/1st, 200 IM/3rd); Ogden Leyens, 12 (1650 free/9th); Bryn McLaughlin, 10 (50 back/9th); Carolyn Meier, 17 (50 free/10th, 100 free/4th); Casey O’Neill, 13 (400IM/10th); Sean Regan, 15 (200 free/5th, 200 back/7th, 100 fly/6th, 200 fly/2nd); Julia  Rodriguez, 14 (200 fly/9th); Andy Thomas, 10 (50 free/8th); Michael Thomas, 13 (100 back/8th, 200 back/6th, 200 IM/7th, 400 IM/6th); Cooper Tollen, 14 (200 breast/3rd).

USA Swimming’s National Age Group Recognition Program identifies the fastest 10 boys and girls across the nation in each single age group, from 11 to 17. Special recognition goes to Jenna Johns who is nationally ranked 4th for 50 fly in the 11 year old girl’s age group.  Jenna also ranks 14th nationally in 200 free.

At the close of the season, the USA Swimming Virtual Club Championships (VCC) ranks UDAC 15th in the Middle Atlantic region (out of 106 clubs), and 338th in the nation (out of 2800+ clubs).

The Red Dragons have achieved this high level of success due to a number of factors, including hard work and the drive to succeed.  However, the incredible dedication and commitment of the UDAC coaching staff plays a huge role in this success story.

"This has been a great year for UDAC and Upper Dublin competitive swimming & diving across-the-board, said Mark Luttmann, UDAC President. “Our accomplishments this season are unprecedented, in all age groups, on both the individual and team level. These achievements are due to the hard work and commitment of the athletes and their families, guided by UDAC's dedicated and skilled coaching staff who continue to build this program on a foundation of competitive swimming fundamentals, technique and conditioning in addition to emphasis on community pride.”

Luttmann is assisted by coaches Kate Scheuer, Geoff Scheuer, Marianne Miller, Brian Affleck, Dave Caruso, Joe Gerrard, Craig Hinkle, Michelle Keillor, Liz Meier, Brian Palmé, Brandon Pierce and Chelsea Torresani.

The team takes a much-deserved break from the pool for a few weeks before they start the 2011 Long Course Swim Season. Visit http://www.udac.us for more information regarding Upper Dublin Aquatic Club’s competitive swimming and diving programs.  Registration for UDAC’s Spring Clinics and the upcoming long course season is available online now.