2022 Winter Junior Championships – East: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2022 WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – EAST

• December 7-10, 2022
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Short Course Yards (25 yards), Prelims/Finals
• Start Times
  • Prelims at 9 a.m. ET
  • Finals at 5 p.m. ET
• Meet Central
• Storylines to Follow
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream

DAY 4 FINALS HEAT SHEET

It’s been a jaw-dropping few days of racing at Winter Juniors – East. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and we’ve arrived at the final session of the meet. It’s not all bad news though, as if this morning’s swims are any indication, there’s going to be some more fast racing tonight.

Kaii Winkler is top seed in the boys’ 100 freestyle, after lowering his own 15-16 NAG in prelims with a blistering 42.21. He’s a full second clear of the rest of the field. After an eye-popping 100 fly on Day 3, Thomas Heilman played things closer to the chest in his prelim 200 fly than Winkler did. He still swam a lifetime best by about seven-tenths, posting 1:42.06. Luca Urlando owns the 15-16 NAG in 1:40.91, and we’re fully expecting Heilman to take a run at that mark tonight.

In the boys’ 200 back, Daniel Diehl swam a new lifetime best of 1:41.72, positioning himself well to chase the meet record .

On the girls’ side, we’ll see Summer McIntosh take on a tough 200 back/200 fly double. She’s been swimming spectacularly at her first yards meet, so look for that pattern to continue here. In the backstroke, she’ll get a good race from Charlotte Crush, day 3’s 100 back champion in 51.01, a new 13-14 NAG.

Alex Shackell has impressed throughout the meet, and she’s seeded first in the 100 freestyle, as she dipped under 48 seconds for the first time in prelims with a 47.80, which tied her for fifth all-time in the 15-16 age group. Watch for her to continue her ascent up the rankings in finals.

Watch:

Girls’ 1650 Freestyle – Timed Finals

• Meet Record: 15:56.39, Gabrielle Kopenski (2014)
• Pool Record: 15:13.30, Katie Ledecky (2014)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 15:52.84, Claire Weinstein (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 15:15.17, Katie Ledecky (2013)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 15:13.30, Katie Ledecky (2014)

Top 8:

1. Michaela Mattes (SYS) – 16:00.20
2. Maddie Waggoner (JW) – 16:01.98
3. Ava Topolewski (GW) – 16:33.18
4. Ava Sutphin (ABLY) – 16:35.74
5. Lexie Ward (CSC) – 16:38.37
6. Emma Resier (SA) – 16:39.57
7. Lolly Milbaum (SYS) – 16:41.03
8. Kylie McMurray (GPAC) – 16:44.07

Two girls separated themselves from the pack early: Jersey Wahoo’s Maddie Waggoner and Sarasota Sharks’ Michaela Mattes. Waggoner led from the start, but Mattes didn’t let her get too far ahead, flipping within four-tenths of her at the 500-yard mark.

By the 1000, Waggoner had swum away from Mattes, growing her lead to over two seconds. Waggoner eked the lead out to around 2.7 seconds, but by the 1200, Mattes made her move. 100-yards later, Mattes had brought the gap back under 2 seconds. With 150-yards to go, they were back together again as Mattes flipped only .35 seconds behind. She took the lead for the first time at the 1550 mark and didn’t give it back.

Mattes touched in 16:00.20, a best time by over six seconds and just missing breaking the 16 minute barrier. Waggoner finished second in 16:01.98.

Lexie Ward was the fastest swimmer from the afternoon session, clocking 16:38.37 which earned her fifth overall.

Boys’ 1650 Free Freestyle – Timed Finals

• Meet Record: 14:37.91, Michael Brinegar (2017)
• Pool Record: 14:12.52, Bobby Finke (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 15:05.83, Sean Green (2022)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 14:37.86, Liam Custer (2020)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 14:34.36, PJ Ransford (2015)

Top 8:

1. Tristan DenBrok (SA) – 14:58.81
2. Matthew Marsteiner (WAVE) – 15:02.90
3. Nathan Szobota (NOVA) – 15:04.11
4. Freddy Klein (MAC) – 15:08.04
5. Sam Flack (BAY) – 15:08.31
6. Luke Corey (NAAC) – 15:08.79
7. Amadeusz Knop (SYS) – 15:09.46
8. Luke Whitlock (FAST) – 15:11.42

In lane 3, New Wave’s Matthew Marsteiner broke away from the rest of the final early. He flipped at the 500 in 4:27.32, well ahead of the other swimmers in the race, who were mostly all together still. Though they began to separate a bit over the next few hundred yards, Marsteiner, an NC State commit in the class of 2024, steadily extended his lead.

He continued to hold a huge gap over the field through the rest of the race. He won the heat by almost six seconds, touching in 15:02.90, moving him to 17th all-time among 15-16 American boys. Though he won the heat, he finishes second in the event–in the afternoon session Tristan DenBrok cracked 15 minutes, dropping over 25 seconds and clocking 14:58.81.

Third, fourth, and fifth place also came from the afternoon heats, with Nathan Szobota going 15:08.04, Freddy Klein swimming 15:08.04, and Sam Flack swimming 15:08.31.

GIRLS’ 200 BACKSTROKE – Finals

• Meet Record: 1:50.16, Katherine Berkoff (2018)
• Pool Record: 1:47.91, Missy Franklin (2015)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:51.07, Missy Franklin (2010)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:48.30, Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:47.16, Regan Smith (2019)

Top 8:

1. Summer McIntosh (SYS) – 1:49.97 MEET RECORD
2. Charlotte Crush (LAK) – 1:52.75
3. JoJo Ramey (FAST) – 1:53.39
4. Lilla Bognar (TG) – 1:54.39
5. Catie Choate (DYNA) – 1:54.90
6. Sarah Rodriguez (NJBL) – 1:55.33
7. Berit Berglund (CSC) – 1:56.58
8. Haley McDonald (LAK) – 1:58.41

14-year-old Charlotte Crush took the race to Summer McIntosh early, blazing out in 25.28, with McIntosh flipping .61 seconds behind. That was as big as McIntosh let the gap get though; by the 100, she was only four hundredths behind Crush, flipping in 53.57 to Crush’s 53.53.

Over the next 50 yards, McIntosh took over the lead, and ended up earning the win in her first individual swim of the night. She touched in 1:49.97, bringing the meet record under 1:50 for the first time. Crush was second in 1:52.75, a new lifetime best for her. Florida commit JoJo Ramey rounded out the podium in 1:53.39.

BOYS’ 200 BACKSTROKE – Finals

• Meet Record: 1:40.79, Jacob Pebley (2011)
• Pool Record: 1:35.75, Shaine Casas (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:43.15, Michael Andrew (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.90, Ryan Murphy (2011)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:37.35, Ryan Murphy (2014)

Top 8:

1. Daniel Diehl (CUY) – 1:39.62 MEET RECORD
2. Will Modglin (ZSC) – 1:40.54
3. Ben Irwin (SA) – 1:41.86
4. Jonny Marshall (FAST) – 1:42.52
5. Caleb Maldari (MAC) – 1:43.34
6. Baylor Stanton (GA) – 1:43.89
7. Sean Sillivan (CSC) – 1:44.14
8. Johnny Crush (LAK) – 1:44.15

Daniel Diehl wasted no time in his 200-yard back. He posted a lifetime best this morning, and at the 100 he flipped in 47.77, about 1.6 seconds ahead of his prelims pace, extending that margin as the race went on. He took down Jacob Pebley‘s meet record with a new lifetime best, cracking 1:40 for the first time. That puts him at #4 in the 17-18 age group, and as he just turned 17, he has plenty of time to move up the rankings.

Will Modglin also got under the old meet record, finishing in 1:40.54. That’s a two second drop for the Texas commit from his lifetime best coming into the meet. SwimAtlanta’s Ben Irwin touched third in 1:41.86.

GIRLS’ 100 FREESTYLE – Finals

• Meet Record: 46.29, Abby Weitzeil (2014)
• Pool Record: 46.02, Maggie MacNeil (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 47.67, Claire Curzan (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 47.23, Claire Curzan (2020)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 46.09, Simone Manuel (2015)

Top 8:

1. Alex Shackell (CSC) – 47.44
2. Erika Pelaez (EA) – 47.91
3. Alexa Fulton (UMLY) – 48.69
4. Kennedi Dobson (EEX) – 49.07
5. Addison Sauickie (SYS) – 49.53
6. Elizabeth Tilt (GOLD) – 49.65
7. Sydney Gring (BYNS) – 49.78
8. Lily Christianson (IA) – 49.96

Alex Shackell continues to impress as she collected yet another event win in the girls’ 100-yard freestyle. In prelims, she dipped under 48 seconds for the first time with a 47.90, and she did so yet again in finals with a 47.44. That moves her to #2 all-time in the 15-16 age group behind only Claire Curzan, who holds the NAG in 47.23.

Erika Pelaez also had a great swim, getting under 48 seconds for the first time in her career. She hit 47.91, lowering her lifetime best from 48.08. Further back, Texas commit Alexa Fulton rounded out the podium in 48.69, dropping .35 seconds from her best.

BOYS’ 100 FREESTYLE – Finals

• Meet Record: 41.23, Ryan Hoffer (2015)
• Pool Record: 40.90, Ryan Hoffer (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 43.51, Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 42.21, Kaii Winkler (2022)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 41.23, Ryan Hoffer (2015)

Top 8:

1. Kaii Winkler (EA) – 42.22
2. Brendan Whitfield (LY) – 42.86
3. Scotty Buff (GTAC) – 43.07
4. Roman Jones (FSPY) – 43.17
5. Lucca Battaglini (ECA)/Hudson Williams (NAAC) – 43.34
6. –
7. Jerry Fox (TAC) – 43.82
8. Aaron Shackell (CSC) – 43.96

He won the event, but Kaii Winkler looked visibly disappointed after finishing just a hundredth off the boys’ 15-16 NAG he set in prelims at 42.21. He was out faster in finals, splitting 20.17 to the feet; however, he was unable to come home sub-22, which he achieved in prelims with a 21.99. Instead, he came back in 22.05, which made the difference.

He still won the event by over half a second, as Brendan Whitfield claimed second in 42.86. They 18-year-old dropped nearly a second on the day, as he came into the meet with a best time of 43.80. Third place Scotty Buff also cut time from his lifetime best, hitting 43.07 to near the 43 second barrier.

GIRLS’ 200 BREASTSTROKE – Finals

• Meet Record: 2:06.02, Alex Walsh (2018)
• Pool Record: 2:03.86, Sophie Hansson (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 2:10.22, Allie Szekely (2012)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:06.45, Alex Walsh (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:05.68, Ella Nelson (2020)

Top 8:

1. Katie Christopherson (SA) – 2:07.81
2. Molly Sweeney (CSC) – 2:08.08
3. Addie Robillard (RAYS) – 2:08.40
4. Grace Rainey (MAC) – 2:08.69
5. Avery Klamfoth (MAC) – 2:11.37
6. Sofia Plaza (MAC) – 2:12.54
7. Samantha Armand (TAC) – 2:13.77
8. Elle Scott (NOVA) – 2:14.85

Molly Sweeney had the lead for the majority of the race, turning first at the 50, 100, and 150-yard marks. Katie Christopherson made her move on the final 50, pulling even with Sweeney as they came down the closing stretch. In the end, it was Christopherson who got the better of Sweeney, 2:07.81 to 2:08.09. That swim marks a 1.86 second drop for the UVA commit from her prelims time. She entered the meet was a time of 2:13.02, giving her a drop of over 5 seconds on the day.

Impressively, Sweeney had an even bigger time drop at this meet. She came into the meet with a lifetime best 2:14.47, which she’s cut 6.39 seconds from.

It was a tight race coming down the stretch, as not only Christopherson but also Addie Robillard and Grace Rainey pulled themselves into contention in the closing yards. At the wall, it was Robillard who grabbed the final spot on the podium in 2:08.40.

BOYS’ 200 BREASTSTROKE – Finals

• Meet Record: 1:52.12, Josh Matheny (2019)
• Pool Record: 1:51.26, Evgenii Somov (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:55.52, Reece Whitley (2014)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:52.37, Reece Whitley (2016)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.38, Josh Matheny (2020)

Top 8:

1. Ben Delmar (MAC) – 1:55.09
2. Will Heck (BSS) – 1:55.98
3. Will Scholtz (LAK) – 1:57.15
4. Will Modglin (ZSC) – 1:57.17
5. Grayson Nye (TAC) – 1:57.38
6. Ethan Schwab (BBD) – 1:57.57
7. Liam Heary (SYS) – 1:58.37
8. Brasen Walker (RSA) – 1:58.87

Much like the girls’ 200 breaststroke, the boys’ race saw a final 50 charge lead to an event win. Bolles’ Will Heck and SwimMAC’s Ben Delmar hit the 150-yard mark even, both turning for their final 50 in 1:25.01. On the final 50, it was Delmar who had more left in the tank, as he split 30.08 compared to Heck’s 30.97.

It was close between third through sixth, as those athletes all finished within .42 seconds of each other. Will Scholtz claimed the final spot on the podium, touching in 1:57.15, .02 seconds ahead of Will Modglin for third. This was Modglin’s second swim of the session, as he took second in the boys’ 200 back to the tune of a lifetime best. He swam another best here, chopping almost two seconds off his prelims swim of 1:59.09.

GIRLS’ 200 BUTTERFLY – Finals

• Meet Record: 1:51.24, Regan Smith (2018)
• Pool Record: 1:51.11, Kelsi Dahlia (2015)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:55.29, Tess Howley (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:51.24, Regan Smith (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.04, Ella Eastin (2016)

Top 8:

1. Summer McIntosh (SYS) – 1:51.40
2. Alex Shackell (CSC) – 1:53.52
3. Hannah Bellard (CW) – 1:54.59
4. Sydney Gring (BYNS) – 1:57.90
5. Sophie Shao (KW) – 1:59.16
6. Samantha Chan (HSA) – 1:59.22
7. Emerson Callis (QSTS) – 2:00.84
8. Michaela Mattes (SYS) – 2:03.13

Alex Shackell used her excellent underwaters to keep herself close to Summer McIntosh for the first 100-yards of the race. After that though, McIntosh began to pull away, splitting 28.82/29.22 for a second 100 split of 58.04. The 16-year-old Canadian touched in 1:51.40, just off Regan Smith‘s meet record.

Like McIntosh, Shackell was also pulling a double, having won the 100 freestyle earlier in the session. It was another lifetime best for her, taking .74 seconds off her previous best of 1:54.26. Just over a second back, Club Wolverine’s Hannah Bellard rounded out the podium in 1:54.49.

BOYS’ 200 BUTTERFLY – Finals

• Meet Record: 1:40.91, Luca Urlando (2018)
• Pool Record: 1:38.64, Nicolas Albiero (2021)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 1:42.77, Thomas Heilman (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 1:40.91, Luca Urlando (2018)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 1:51.38, 1:40.39, Aiden Hayes (2022)

Top 8:

1. Thomas Heilman (CA-Y) – 1:40.86 MEET RECORD, 15-16 NAG
2. Gibson Holmes (RAYS) – 1:42.34
3. Aaron Shackell (CSC) – 1:44.24
4. Henry McFadden (JW) – 1:44.30
5. Gregg Enoch (CSC) – 1:46.11
6. Felipe Baffico (SYS) – 1:46.45
7. Josean Massucco (BAY) – 1:48.85
8. Matthew Marsteiner (WAVE) – 1:51.92

Continuing his electrifying meet and one day removed from his 100 fly 15-16 NAG, Thomas Heilman took down another two records in the boys’ 200 fly. His 1:40.86 breaks both the meet record and 15-16 NAG, both of which Luca Urlando set at 1:40.91 in 2018. Heilman was out in 48.31 and came back in 52.55 to get his hands on the wall .05 seconds under the records. He cut 1.91 seconds off his lifetime best on the day: he came into the meet with. a1:42.77 which he’d lowered in prelims to 1:42.06.

Gibson Holmes earned second about 1.5 seconds back in 1:42.34. That shaves .61 seconds off the Stanford commit’s lifetime best. Third and fourth were separated by just six hundredths, as Aaron Shackell edged out Henry McFadden for third with a 1:44.24.

Girls’ 4×100 Freestyle Relay — Timed Finals

• Meet Record: 3:16.62, SwimMAC Carolina (2015)
• Pool Record: 3:08.54, Stanford (2015)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 3:21.90, Nation’s Capital Swim Club (2019)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 3:19.17, Gator Swim Club (2019)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 3:16.62, SwimMAC Carolina (2015)
• 15-18 NAG Record: 3:15.38, Carmel Swim Club (2015)

Top 8:

1. Sarasota Sharks ‘A’ – 3:16.25 MEET RECORD
2. Carmel Swim Club ‘A’ – 3:17.74
3. Carmel Swim Club ‘B’ – 3:22.22
4. Bolles School Sharks ‘A’ – 3:23.09
5. Dynamo Swim Club ‘ A’ – 3:23.32
6. Windermere Lakers ‘A’ – 3:23.38
7. Upper Main Line YMCA ‘A’ – 3:23.56
8. TAC Titans ‘A’ – 3:23.72

Carmel’s ‘B’ relay took over heat 1 on the second 100, grabbing the lead from Life Time Swim Team. They controlled for the rest of the race, as Lynsey Bowen (51.07), Vivian Wilson (49.74), Lexie Ward (50.87), and Grace Dougherty (50.54), combined to swim 3:22.22. After all the heats, that time stood up as the third fastest, earning Carmel two spots on the podium.

Thanks to a huge 47.88 lead-off leg from Summer McIntosh, the Sarasota Sharks established the lead early in heat 2 and never surrendered it. With McIntosh, Addison Sauickie (48.91), Maeve Eckerman (49.80), and Gracie Weyant (49.66) combined for 3:16.25. That’s a new meet record, breaking the mark that SwimMAC set in 2015.

Alex Shackell didn’t cede the race to them by any means though, she anchored Carmel’s relay in a monster 47.28, pulling her squad much closer to Sarasota. Carmel’s ‘A’ relay touched in 3:17.74, earning second place overall .

Boys’ 4×100 Freestyle Relay — Timed Finals

• Meet Record: 2:55.89, Bolles School Sharks (2012)
• Pool Record: 2:45.69, NC State (2018)
• 13-14 NAG Record: 3:07.45, Cavalier Aquatics (2021)
• 15-16 NAG Record: 2:59.57, Rose Bowl Aquatics (2021)
• 17-18 NAG Record: 2:15.35, Spartan Swim Club (2021)
• 15-18 NAG Record: 2:53.18, Allegheny North Swim Club (2018)

Top 8:

1. New Albany Aquatic Club ‘A’ – 2:58.42
2. Bolles School Sharks ‘A’ – 2:58.65
3. Cavalier Aquatics ‘A’ – 2:58.73
4. Carmel Swim Club ‘A’ – 2:58.86
5. Mason Manta Rays ‘A’ – 2:59.95
6. SwimMAC Carolina ‘A’ – 3:00.15
7. Lakeside Swim Team ‘A’ – 3:00.19
8. SwimAtlanta ‘A’ – 3:00.28

Fresh off his 15-16 NAG in the 200 butterfly, Thomas Heilman lead off Cavalier Aquatics’ relay in 42.96, giving them a big lead headed into the second leg. Incidentally, that’s a new best time for Heilman, and his first time under 43 seconds.

Cavalier Aquatics maintained their lead until the final 25-yards of the race, when New Albany’s Hudson Williams and Bolles’ Kayden Lancaster both pulled even with Max Moore. Moore couldn’t hold them off down the stretch, as they split 42.71 and 44.17, respectively, compare to his 46.94.

New Albany took the win, .23 seconds ahead of Bolles. Along with Williams’ 42.71 anchor, the winning squad was made up of Tuckor Lambert (45.34 lead off), Chase Swearingen (44.84) and Josh Smith (45.53).

Final Scores – Top 10

Girls:

1. Carmel Swim Club – 519
2. Sarasota Sharks – 442
3. SwimMAC Carolina – 334
4. TAC Titans – 205
5. Dynamo Swim Club – 162
6. SwimAtlanta – 154
7. Bolles School Sharks – 119
8. Upper Main Line YMCA – 103.5
9. Fishers Area Swimming Tigers/Michigan Lakeshore Aquatics – 98

Boys:

1. Bolles School Sharks – 367.5
2. Carmel Swim Club – 301
3. SwimMAC Carolina – 297
4. SwimAtlanta – 246
5. Cavalier Aquatics – 218
6. New Albany Aquatic Club – 218
7. Lakeside Swim Team – 193
8. Mason Manta Rays – 180
9. TAC Titans – 154
10. Zionsville Swim Club – 101