One of the nation’s most successful club programs, and one of the nation’s best individual training sites, has added another young-gun to its training group in the last week.
14-year old Isabella Rongione, along with her family, has decided to train at the Georgetown Prep site of the Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP) as of this past weekend, and will make her first trip with the team to this coming weekend’s Austin Grand Prix. The move was confirmed by Rongione, her parents, and NCAP CEO Tom Ugast.
Rongione had been training with the FISH swim team in Virginia under coach Ray Benecki.
She is the 11-12 National Age Group Record holder in both the 800 (8:55.43) and 1500 (16:48.12) long course meter freestyles. She turned 14 in mid-September, after most of the long course season, but as a 13-year old she had long course bests of:
- 2:04.60 – 200 free
- 4:15.79 – 400 free
- 8:39.09 – 800 free
- 16:27.23 – 1500 free
- 4:56.13 – 400 IM
Early this season, she’s also put in a 16:12.22 in the 1650 yard free, and was a 4:47.0 in the 500 yard free in December of 2012.
She joins a group that includes some of the country’s biggest name in junior swimming, including the fastest distance swimmer in history Katie Ledecky and another NAG Record breaker Carsten Vissering.
Rongione currently ranks 10th in the all-time 13-14 rankings in the 800 free in long course and 7th in the 1500 free, with a whole summer to chase Becca Mann’s National Age Group Records.
Wow.
Not sure why a 14-year old would leave a program that is working for her. The idea that careers are made-or-broken at the age of 14 I thought was a thing of the past.
Don – come on now. This kid is good. No worries on moving the family for a new team. It will all work out with jobs housing and swimming.
They have nothing to worry about!
Train with ledecky make Rio that’s gotta happen if they make the whole family commit.
Gotta happen!
Only a 20 minute drive for them to practice so no real logistical issues that people think of when moving to a new club. Katie is great to train with and pushes most of the boys along in the group as well on a daily basis with her consistently strong work ethic and focus. Isabella has been a teammate with several of the NCAP swimmers at various levels for years including the Junior US National Team in Dubai. Her parents get along well with all the NCAP parents as well, so I think it is a good fit all around and we are very happy that Isabella has joined the group.
1/2 the USA Olympic 4×200 relay in Rio?
I think it might be a little early for that prediction. Was Ray Benecki ( Kate Ziegler’s old coach) in charge of her training at Fish?
Great for her to train with Miss Ledecky!