Two Richmond Hill swimmers made waves recently during the 2019 Short Course 14U state championship meet at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta.
Richmond Hill Middle School student Camryn Baraniak, 12, was the overall high point winner, taking first in the 100 IM, 200 IM, 400 IM, 50 butterfly, 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle. She placed second in the 50 freestyle, fifth in the 50 backstroke and third in the 400 freestyle relay.
Richmond Hill High School freshman Stephen Jones, 14, won the 100 butterfly and broke a six-year-old state record in the 200 butterfly. He finished third in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events.
Baraniak represented the Georgia Coastal Aquatic Team and is coached by Bill Forrester.
She will swim next at the Southern Premier meet March 1-3 at the University of Tennessee, then hopes to qualify for the Open Water Zone Championship in April in Fort Myers, Fla., representing Georgia.
Baraniak also swims for the South Bryan County Recreation summer swim team and Richmond Hill Middle school.
Jones represented the Savannah Swim Team and is coached by his father, Rob Jones.
Stephen Jones also swims for Richmond Hill High School. He has qualified and will compete in the 2019 Eastern Section Southern Zone Age Group Swimming Championships in Atlanta.
In addition, the Georgia Coastal Aquatic Team placed first in the Medium Sized Team Division. And The Savannah Swim Team placed fifth in the Small Team Division.
All swimmers from Richmond Hill represented the Georgia Coastal Aquatic Team coached by Forrester, Ben Umbreit and Anthony Racinelli or The Savannah Swim Team coached by Jones.
“I’m proud of all the local swimmers who competed at state last weekend. It shows just what a willingness to work combined with talent can accomplish. These athletes have put Richmond Hill and Bryan County on the map," Forrester said.
"Congratulations to the entire Savannah Swim Team as these results are reflective of an extraordinary team effort," said Rob Jones.
Other state qualifiers who competed at the championship meet:
Katherine Bezner, 11 — 50 fly, 100 fly, 50 free
Carson Goode, 11 — 50 breast, 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 fly, 1000 free
Aiden Gray, 14 — 200 free rely, 400 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Amelia Hendricks, 7 - 200 free relay, 200 medley relay
Cole Hendricks, 13 — 200 free relay, 200 medley relay
Jack Hendricks, 11 — 50 breast, 100 breast
Maleeya Islar, 10 — 50 free, 100 free, 50 breast, 50 back, 100 IM, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay
Reese Jones, 9 — 4th Place in 50 Breast, 5th Place in 100 breast, 50 fly, 100 fly, 50 free, 100 free, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 10U 200 mixed relay
Mia Lee ,10 — 200 free relay, 200 medley relay
Griffin Mets, 9 — 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay
Emily Padgett, 14 — 50 free, 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Ryder Racinelli, 11 — 200 free, 500 free, 1000 free, 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 back, 200 back, 200 breast, 200 fly, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 400 medley relay
Maddox Ray, 7 — 50 fly, 100 fly, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay
Anthony Whitney, 9 — 50 free, 100 free, 500 free, 50 fly, 100 fly, 200 IM, 100 back, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay, 200 mixed medley relay