Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA Swimmers Break Records at Championship Meet

This release was submitted by the Fanwood Scotch Plains YMCA.

The Fanwood Scotch Plains YMCA (“FSPY”) swim team recently competed in the YMCA Short Course National Championship Meet at the Greensboro Aquatics Center.  Competing against 215 teams from 17 states, FSPY finished seventeenth overall, fourth among New Jersey teams. 

Ryan Gajdzisz continued his assault on the FSPY record board by breaking a team record in each of his four individual freestyle events.  Ryan scored all of the men’s team points, finishing fourth in the 500 (4:30.01 (TR)), tenth in the 1650 (15:57.53 (TR)) and fourteenth in the 1000 (9:30.36 (TR)).  He swam the 200 free in 1:41.27, setting another team record.

Although they broke the existing national YMCA record, Savannah Llewellyn, Jodie Thompson, Molly Gaynor, and Sarah Cronin finished sixth (1:43.13 (TR)) in the blistering final heat of the women’s 200 medley relay. In individual events, Thompson touched seventh in the 100 breaststroke, setting a team record (1:03.67) in the preliminary round. Gaynor also set team records in both the 100 fly (55.13) and the 200 fly (2:05.21), finishing twelfth and twenty-first, respectively. Cronin set team records in the 100 free (50.99 (13th)), 200 free (1:51.05 (21st)), and 200 back (2:02.20 (27th)).  Sarah Davis, Gaynor and Cronin formed the twelfth-place 200 free relay with Thompson (1:35.29 (TR)) and the fifteenth-place 400 free relay with Llewellyn.  Making her presence felt at her first national championship meet, twelve-year-old Monika Burzynski shattered the age group (11-12) record for the 100 fly (58.93). 

Coach Chris Karelus was pleased with the team’s performance with the departing seniors finishing their careers with FSPY in top honors while recognizing that the future of the National team remained strong with the contributions of the younger members.

The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For information on membership or programs, or to request a schedule of classes, please call the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA at (908) 889-8880 or visit the Y’s website at www.fanwoodscotchplainsymca.org. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.