Members of Donner Swim Club’s Novice and Developmental Group that competed in last weekend’s FRST Invitational at Franklin, from left: Abhyud Ponnathpur, Emmerson Barrett, Emma Simms, Sydney Paulsen, Emily Meek, Hannah Schofield, Elle Winters, Yusei Sato, Reya Uppu and Leah Zhang.
Submitted photo
Donner Swim Club competed in two separate meets last weekend, with the senior group (ages 13-and-over) swimming in the Rivi Fall Invitational at IUPUI’s Indiana University Natatorium and the Novice, Developmental and beginning Age Group competing in the FRST Fall Invitational at Franklin.
Donner had 20 kids participate in the Rivi meet, and they completed 125 swims throughout the weekend, with more than 50% being lifetime-best times, and 100% being season-best times.
Mridula Muthukumaran led the senior group with 94 points and six new divisional cuts. Diego Cotero Tapia scored 67 points with four divisional cuts and two new Senior State Cuts. Jude Abdallah added 55 points with two divisional cuts and one new Senior State Cut.
In the 11-12 yr old group, Sanchita Ponnathpur led with 36 points and three new Divisional cuts. At the 10-and-under level, twins Cooper and Ella Bringman led the group with 111 and 70 points, respectively, and 17 combined new divisional cuts. Overall, the team achieved 67 new divisional cuts and three state cuts, along with two state relay qualifications.
At Franklin, Donner finished sixth overall and had 32 swimmers participate for a total of 144 swims, 108 of which were best times. From the Novice group, Leah Zhang led the team with 64 points, followed by Yusei Sato with 44 and Calvin Findley with 25.
The Developmental group was led by Emily Meek with 101 points and six new divisional cuts and very close to several age group state cuts, followed by Shabarirajan Thangaraj with 49 points and six divisional cuts, Gavin Ley with 47 points and five divisional cuts, Shinjan Bera with 49 points and two divisional cuts, Abhyud Ponnathpur with 40 points, Kennedy Greer with 39 points, Sydney Paulsen with 34 points and one divisional cut and Emerson Barrett with 37 points.
Meanwhile, four Columbus residents swimming for host Franklin Regional Swim Team helped that squad win the meet. Deuce Calloway scored 150 points and earned two divisional cuts. Tristan Davis scored 134 points with three divisional cuts. Ella Abney added 35 points, and Nora Guthrie had one point in their first-ever swim meets.
Speed Skating
Full Throttle Speed Skating opened its season Sunday in the Chicago Silver Skates meet, a regional ability meet featuring skaters from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri.
Maria Marimoto Taqueshi made her debut with the team by winning her age group after advancing to the A finals at 333m, 500m and 777m. Ethan Tan and Edward Meit finished second and third in their age groups after advancing to A finals at 222m, 333m and 500m.
Gabe Marimoto Taqueushi finished fourth in his age group, making the A finals at 333m, 500m and 777m. Vivian Gupta finished third in his age group after advancing to A finals at 500m and 777m and the B final at 333m.
Mikey Burdekin, who coaches the Full Throttle team along with his wife Taylor, finished second in his age group after advancing to the A finals at 500m, 1000m and 1500m.
