Elgin YMCA Pelicans exceed expectations at swimming championship
After a fun and successful fall season, the Elgin Pelicans finished the summer season strong with an 11th-place finish (out of 30 teams) in the YMCA Long Course Championship.
The Y's Pelicans swim team's goal is to provide Fox Valley area youth and families with a competitive Y value driven instructional swimming program that instills a sense of accomplishment and pride in each swimmer while building friendships, sportsmanship, swimmer self-esteem, and experiencing success.
The YMCA Pelicans compete in both YMCA and USA Swimming meets.
Participation in USA Swimming is optional. There is an additional fee for USA Swimming registration and meet entries.
Top finishes for the YMCA Pelicans included:
• First place: Gracelin Turschman, 50-meter butterfly; and Hannah Johnson, 400-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle, and 100-meter freestyle
• Second place: Gracelin Turschman, 200-meter freestyle; and Hannah Johnson, 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter butterfly
• Third place: Gracelin Turschman, 200-meter individual medley
• Fourth place: Gracelin Turschman, 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle; and Hannah Johnson, 100-meter butterfly
• Fifth place: Marco LoPiccolo, 200-meter butterfly
• Seventh place: Gracelin Turschman, Lyla Turschman, Nadia Johnson and Maeve Manganiello, freestyle relay; Marco LoPiccolo, Alexzander Sotelo, Joules Apura and Jack Van Weil, 400-meter freestyle relay;
• Eighth place: Gracelin Turschman, Nadia Johnson, Maeve Manganiello, and Tessa Iverson, medley relay; Hannah Johnson, Emma Laporte, Claire Saligumba and Elaina Rezabek, freestyle relay; and Marco LoPiccolo, Alexzander Sotelo, Joules Apura and Jack Van Weil, 200-meter medley relay
• Ninth place: Hannah Johnson, Emma Laporte, Claire Saligumba and Elaina Rezabek, medley relay
With her outstanding performance, Hannah Johnson qualified for the Illinois Long Course Championships, where she placed ninth in the 400-meter freestyle and the 200-meter freestyle.
After a short break, the YMCA Elgin Pelicans Swim Team will begin the 2018-19 fall season Monday, Sept. 17.
Registration for the upcoming fall/winter swim season begins Thursday, Sept. 6, for all returning swimmers.
On Friday, Sept. 14, the coaches will hold a registration and evaluation day for all new swimmers from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Coaches will evaluate swimmers' levels and place new swimmers in the appropriate swim team groups. All registration forms and schedules are posted on the YMCA Elgin Pelican's website at www.elginypelicans.org.
For more information, contact Brigitta Kempken, YMCA Pelican's head coach, at bkempken@gcfymca.org or (224) 760-7013.