Katie Drabot, Sean Grieshop, Lauren Case, and Dean Farris each took home the high point trophy in their respective categories at this weekend’s 2015 Speedo Winter Junior Championships- East and West.
WEST WOMEN
Katie Drabot was the winningest swimmer of the weekend, taking home 137 points for Ozaukee Aquatics in the west division. Her top individual finishes include: first in the 500 free (4:40.49), first in the 200 IM (1:56.05), first in the 50 free (22.49), first in the 400 IM (4:08.67), first in the 100 fly (52.37), first in the 100 free (48.32), and second in the 200 free (1:44.46). She also helped lead her relay teams to three firsts, one second, and one fourth place finish, including an exciting tie for first with Palo Alto in the 200 free relay (1:31.63).
Drabot boasts almost unparalleled versatility, succeeding across the board in sprint, distance, and stroke events alike. She was #6 on our list of recruits for the 2016 season (although, after performances like these, one could argue that she deserves a higher spot), and she has verbally committed to swim for Stanford next season.
Scottsdale Aquatics’s Taylor Ruck came in second in the high point rankings with 91 points, followed by Palo Alto’s Grace Zhao‘s 65.
WEST MEN
Nitro Swimming’s Sean Grieshop took home the high point award on the men’s side at West Junior Championships with 114 points. His top individual finishes included: first in the 500 free (4:15.53), first in the 400 IM (3:44.30), first in the 200 free (1:36.52), first in the mile (14:45.88), second in the 200 IM (1:46.64), and second in the 200 breast Grieshop also led Nitro Swimming to one relay first in the 800 free relay. In addition, although it was an exhibition event which didn’t count toward the point total, Grieshop posted the fastest time in the 1000 free with 8:51.27.
Grieshop recently aged up into the 17-18 division. He currently holds the 15-16 NAG record in the 1650 free. Last year, he was the men’s high point winner for what was an east/west combined Speedo Winter Junior Nationals meet.
The Sierra Marlins’s Bryce Mefford took the second slot in the high point standings with 87 points, followed by Scottdale’s Ryan Hoffer‘s 80 points.
EAST WOMEN
Lauren Case took the high point honors at the East Junior Championships, scoring 90 points for her Chattahoochee Gold team. Her top finishes include second in the 500 free (4:40.28), third in the 100 fly (53.04), third in the 200 free (1:46.77), third in the 200 fly (1:56.12), and fourth in the 200 free (1:45.83).
Case, the 18th-ranked recruit in her class, has verbally committed to swim for the Texas Longhorns next season.
The high point competition was more contentious at the east meet on both the women’s and men’s sides. Lakeside’s Asia Seidt came in second with 72 points, followed by Gator Swim Club’s Isabel Ivey with 70 points.
EAST MEN
Metro Atlanta’s Dean Farris took home the title in a tight race for the East Junior Championships high point trophy with 89 points. His top finishes included second in the 200 free (1:37.22), second in the 100 back (47.36), second in the 100 free (44.27), third in the 200 IM (1:47.84), fourth in the 50 free (20.33), and fourth in the 100 fly (47.75).
Farris has verbally committed to Harvard for the upcoming college season.
Upper Dublin’s Michael Jensen took the second slot with 77 points, followed by Cardinal’s Nicolas Albiero with 72.5.
Full results for 2015 Speedo Winter Junior Championships- East are linked here, and full results for 2015 Speedo Winter Junior Championships- West are linked here.