On July 26-29, 2018 11 members of the Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team traveled to Des Moines, Iowa for the Amateur Athletes Union (AAU) 2018 Junior Olympic Games (JO’s). The Hurricanes scored 454 points to place 8th out of 20 teams in the competition. The event had 355 swimmers competing from all over the country and internationally as well. The Hurricanes’ Junior Olympic team more than doubled in size from last year’s team that went to Detroit.
Chase Kenter continued to lead the team with 158.5 points, medaling in all 11 events that he swam (the maximum allowed in the meet), including 6 personal records (PR’s), silver medals in the 50 and 100 meter butterfly and 200m freestyle relay and a gold for his share of the 200m medley relay. Kenter was the top scoring American 9 year old at the event.
Conner Hughes scored 109.5 pts for the team and also scored in all 11 events that he swam. Hughes had 6 PR’s, a bronze medal in the 100m butterfly, a silver medal in the free relay, and a gold in the medley relay.
Aniah McKim scored 74.5 pts scoring in all 9 events that he swam including 4 PR’s, a silver medal in the free relay and a gold in the medley relay.
Masyn Smith scored 66 pts including 6 PR’s , and two bronze medals for the 50m and 100m butterfly.
Jack Sumner scored 18 pts including 2 PR’s and a gold medal in the medley relay. Layla Babac scored 17 pts including PR’s in all 4 events that she swam and a 5th place medal in the 50m breaststroke. Lauch Young scored 10.5 pts including 3 PR’s in all 3 individual events that he swam, and a silver medal in the free relay.
Anna McKibben had 3 PR’s, Elias McKim had 2, Jelehna McKim tied for 16th place in the 100m Breastroke, and honorary member of the team Blake Kenter swam the 50m freestyle. The team is already looking forward to next year’s games in Greensboro, NC.
The Highlands Hurricanes Swim Team is a Highlands Recreation Park Swim Team that practices at the Highlands Recreation Park Pool in the evenings during the week and on Saturday mornings. Attendance at all practices is not required. The only requirement to join is the ability to swim 25 yards (1 pool length) unassisted. For Further information please call Steve Hott, Head Coach at 828-421-4121 or the Highlands Recreation Park Pool at 828-526-1595.
Highlands Hurricanes finish 8th place at Junior Olympics
