The BVI Barracudas Swim Team kicked off their 2024-25 season with a phenomenal performance at the STSA 2024 Season Opener Swim Meet in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands on Saturday, September 21, setting the tone for an exciting year ahead.
With a record-breaking 31 top-3 finishes, the Barracudas made their presence felt, achieving 11 first-place, 9 second-place, and 11 third-place finishes, marking one of the most successful starts in the team’s history.
A total of 16 swimmers, ranging from ages 6 to 15, represented the BVI Barracudas, including four new members, in what turned out to be an impressive showcase of talent and determination. Out of the 54 swims completed by the team, 48 resulted in new personal bests, demonstrating the hard work and dedication these athletes have put into their training.
Notable Achievements and New Motivational Times
Five swimmers achieved new motivational times in their events, a fantastic indicator of their growth and potential. These swimmers include:
- Lily Carey (11-12): Achieved a ‘B’ time in the 50m Breaststroke.
- Evelyn Freeman (9-10): Demonstrated outstanding performance with ‘B’ times in the 50m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle, along with ‘BB’ times in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke.
- Arun Bissoondutt (9-10): Secured ‘B’ times in both the 50m Backstroke and 100m Freestyle, in addition to ‘BB’ times in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke.
- Orla Turner (9-10): Achieved her first ‘B’ times in her debut meet as a 9-10 swimmer in both the 50m and 100m Breaststroke.
- Skylar Steer (8 & under): Made her mark by achieving her first ‘B’ time in the 10 & under age category in the 50m Freestyle, a fantastic milestone for this young swimmer.
Top Performers of the Meet
Skylar Steer (Girls 8 & Under) was a standout, securing four first-place finishes, with wins in the 50m Freestyle (43.43 B), 100m Freestyle (1:47.74), 25m Breaststroke (28.73), and 25m Butterfly (23.66).
Evelyn Freeman (Girls 9-10) also delivered an exceptional performance, taking home first place in the 50m Breaststroke (53.67 BB), 100m Breaststroke (1:48.92 BB), and 50m Backstroke (52.71 B), while securing second place in the 50m Freestyle (41.07 B).
William Vergel (Boys 8 & Under) made an impact with his victory in the 25m Backstroke (25.43) and 25m Breaststroke (29.18) and earned two second-place finishes in the 100m Freestyle (1:55.74) and 25m Freestyle (21.27).
Other notable top finishers included Arun Bissoondutt (Boys 9-10), who placed first in the 50m Breaststroke (51.66 BB), second in both the 50m Backstroke (49.43 B) and 100m Freestyle (1:32.81 B), and third in the 50m Freestyle (36.65 BB).
Kyrique Matthew (Boys 11 & Over) took first in the 100m Breaststroke (1:57.37) and third in the 50m Breaststroke (52.53), while Amaury Rosan-Jones (Boys 11 & Over) claimed two second-place finishes in the 50m (48.93) and 100m Breaststroke (1:58.12), along with a third-place in the 50m Freestyle (33.17).
New Swimmers Make a Splash
Newcomers Maxime Gutmann and Dicaprio Donovan had excellent first meets, achieving respectable times in their respective events, showcasing their potential as valuable additions to the Barracudas squad.
The team saw incredible time improvements, with swimmers like Rylee Hustins dropping a staggering 10.07 seconds in her 50m Breaststroke and 8.35 seconds in her 50m Freestyle, demonstrating the remarkable progress made by the swimmers.