Lowcountry Masters Swimmers Shine at Nationals
Following outstanding performances, five members of the Lowcountry Masters Swimming team (LOCO) based in Beaufort made their community proud on a national stage. They recently competed at the prestigious U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) Spring 2024 Nationals that took place from June 20 to June 24 at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis.
Nationals Attract Top Talent
This five-day event saw swimmers from all over the country vying for top honors in short course yards swimming events. Distances ranged from 50 yards to 1,650 yards, featuring all types of strokes. Out of 2,322 swimmers registered to participate, five hailed from the LOCO team. These sterling aquatic athletes were Ted Byrd, Irene David, Susan Korsedal, Jeff Styerwalt, and Stephanie Waninger.
LOCO’s Finest in Action
Ted Byrd’s hard work and efforts paid off as he placed in the top 20 for his age group (65-69), in all four events he participated in during the competition. Irene David made waves by placing this prestigious event, finishing seventh overall in her age group (80-84) in the 50-yard Freestyle. She brilliantly outperformed herself with a time of 58.59.
In an incredible show of strength and agility, Susan Korsedal placed in the top 10 for her age group (70-74) in an impressive four events. These included the 50-yard Freestyle, 200-yard Freestyle, 100-yard Butterfly, and 200-yard Backstroke. The pinnacle of her achievement was her fourth place in the 200-yard Freestyle where she clocked a time of 2:44.82. Additionally, she finished in the top 15 in all six of her events!
Jeff Styerwalt deserves special recognition for securing the ninth position in his age group (60-64) for the challenging 1,000-yard Freestyle, posting a time of 13:13.57. Stephanie Waninger, too, made her mark by placing in the top 10 for her age group (35-39) in two events – the 500-yard Freestyle and the 100-yard Backstroke. Her overall performance was excellent, and she finished in the top 20 for all her five events.
LOCO Makes A Splash at Nationals
Despite having only five participants at the event, LOCO put up a strong fight against the bigger teams. The team finished 134th out of a whopping 327 teams, proving the power of their cooperative and tireless commitment to the sport.
The Lowcountry Masters Swimming team, with a dedicated group of about 25 to 30 swimmers, routinely practices Monday through Friday from 6 to 7 a.m. at the Wardle Family YMCA. For those looking forward to learning about masters swimming or interested in joining, feel free to reach out to them via lowcountryswimming@gmail.com.
All Stakeholders Rejoice
These victories have stirred a wave of happiness and pride throughout the community, reinforcing the potential that resides within the Beaufort residents and offering a strong base to build future achievements upon. The determination and dedication of the Lowcountry Masters Swimming team clearly act as a testament to their motto: “Where there is a will, there is a wave!”.
