Six U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials cuts achieved at the GATR Senior Shootout

William Wiebking

Hargrave Military Academy’s Onishi-Davenport Aquatic Center has returned to high level competition after an extensive upgrade. The center hosted the GATR Senior Shootout running December 4-6, 2015. The swimming meet was unique in both setup and execution, and challenged the full range of the center’s upgrades.

The meet featured nine teams (from Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Virginia) and 125 athletes. The singular goal was to lower times and achieve 2016 U.S. Olympic Trial cuts. Earning cuts at the meet allows athletes a greater degree of flexibility in their training and preparations.

The 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials for swimming runs June 26 to July 3, 2016. Athletes must earn cuts to participate, and the cuts are the fastest for American swimmers. 13 individual events are offered for both men and women. The two fastest male and female athletes in each event join the U.S. Olympic swimming team bound for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro later in the summer.

Athletes can win multiple Trial’s events, which allows them to participate in multiple events events at the Olympics. A great example is Michael Phelps‘ gold medal effort during the 2012 Beijing Olympics. With only two athletes allowed on the team per individual event, a maximum of 52 athletes can represent the United States in Olympic swimming. This makes the U.S. Olympic Trials exceptionally competitive.

By the end of the GATR Senior Shootout, six Trial cuts were earned by five athletes. Many athletes came close to earning a Trial cut, and the majority of athletes dropped time overall. Additionally, one Australian made two Australian Olympic Trials cuts.

Callie Dickinson, 16, of Virginia Beach’s Tide Swimming, secured her Olympic Trial cut in the Girl’s 200m Backstroke with a time of 2:15.00. She needed 2:16.59. Olivia Bray, 14, of the Virginia Gators went 2:15.03 and took second place. And while Bray lost an extremely close race to Dickinson, it was worthwhile. Both young women will meet again at the U.S. Olympic Trials where there is a good chance they’ll face off again. Both athletes overcame a state record of 2:17.22 established my SMAC’s Remedy Rule on July 1, 2011.

Bray secured an additional cut in the 100m Backstroke. Her final time of 1.03.35 just beat the cut of 1:03.39. As an additional Olympic Trials swim, it should provide her a great deal of confidence preparing for the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Clark Beach, 16, of Midlothian’s Quest Swimming, placed well under the 2:03.79 cut in the 200m Backstroke with a 2:02.00. He was joined by Ethan Beach, 16, of QSTS-VA who earned a 2:03.69 and second place. Both brothers burned up the lanes as they achieved their respective U.S. Olympic Trial cuts.

Emmy Muzzy, 15, of the Virginia Gators secured a U.S. Olympic Trial cut in the 400m Individual Medley with a 4:53.80. One of the harder events in the sport to prepare, the event demands mastery in all four competitive swimming strokes; Butterfly; Backstroke; Breaststroke; and Freestyle. She needed a 4:54.99 to qualify.

Twelve Virginia Swimming records fell during the course of the meet. Three records set in the Girl’s 13-14 age division were shattered by over a second. In the end, five females and two males set new marks. The oldest record, set by Olympian Katie Hoff in December 13, 2002, fell to Caroline Kulp of the Virginia Gators. Kulp’s time of 2:01.34 in the 200y Individual Medley crushed Hoff’s 2:03.80 record.

In the last several years, Hargrave has worked diligently to keep the Onishi-Davenport Aquatic Center up-to-date with the latest in rule and technical changes with the sport of swimming. Upgrades include: a new, longer lasting pool liner; new starting blocks; new lighting; new scoreboards; new race control systems; and new wave ‘eating’ lane lines. Total investment exceeded $600,000, and the center is now competitive with other state and regional competitive swimming venues.

“The Onishi-Davenport Aquatic Center is an incredible facility and a real opportunity for swimming teams like the Virginia Gators,” Aquatics Director Nathan Manley said. “The facility is available for competitions, training, camps and clinics as well as all of our other community programs. It’s a great place to race, play and learn.”

In addition to competitive swimming, the Onishi-Davenport Aquatic Center supports a variety of community programs for the Chatham area. Swimming lessons, exercise sessions, lap swimming and an age group swimming program provide great ways to enjoy the sport. Community members interested in participating in these programs should contact Coach Nathan Manley at 434-432-2681 or email [email protected].

Onishi-Davenport Aquatic Center