Improvement the mantra for local Stingrays

BRIDGEPORT – When 8-year-old Kayla Westby finished the 25-meter breaststroke event at the B.R.A.T.S. Swim Meet in Bridgeport on Saturday, the first thing she wanted to know was how fast she went.

Though she won the race by a fair margin, Westby didn't seem as interested in how she did against the others in the pool as much as whether or not she beat her sister Megan's team record.

For about four decades or more, multitudes of Sidney youth have been benefitting from what is now called the Sidney Stingrays swim program. They compete in a league they call "B.R.A.T.S.," which is an acronym for the five teams involved. The teams are Bridgeport, Rushville, Alliance, Torrington, Wyo., as well as Sidney. This year, Hemingford has joined the group as the sixth team.

"I guess we'll have to think about changing our name now," quipped Charlotte Dorwart, who is one of the six coaches for the Stingrays.

Of the six teams, Sidney is the largest with about 80 swimmers who range in age from 5 to 18. Each of the teams host their own meet during the summer with an occasional exception. SinceIndependence Day – July 4 – is on a Saturday this year, Torrington won't host a meet this season. Sidney will hold its meet at the Cheyenne County Community Center pool on June 27 at 9 a.m.

"The focus of almost everybody in the league is you're not going to be an Olympic swimmer, but let's work on bettering yourself," said Dorwart, who has been with the program for more than a decade. "Even the little tiny ones we have up on the wall every week with how many seconds they've dropped from their previous best. We really, really work on the idea of 'did you get better?' "

The other coaches in the program are Tracy Dorwart, Rose Bowcut, Wesley Morgan, Christian Johnson and Anna Demro.

Prominently displayed at the Sidney pool after each meet is the list of swimmers who have established faster times in their combined events. For the Stingrays, that's the list of honor. It's the list that echoes the B.R.A.T.S. mission of each swimmer continuing to improve themselves. At Bridgeport the team improved by a total of 851.14 seconds – that's better than 14 minutes.

Among the girls who shaved off the most time were 9-year-old Taylor Runge (87.47 seconds) and 6-year-old's Reagan Nesbitt (49.05) and Rylee Runge (48.94). While the older swimmers tend to shave off less time since they've been doing it longer, Bailey Bagnell (15) still clopped off nearly 20 seconds.

Among the boys, Jonas Johnson, 13, swam his events 71.16 seconds better than he had ever done before. Eight-year-old Dru Weimer dropped 47.45 seconds and Kayson Houser (7) improved by 45.84.

As for Westby, she not only broke her own P.R., she did one better by topping her sister's seven-year old team record in the 8-and-under breaststroke. She also managed to set two other team records at Bridgeport. Westby now holds the Stingrays' record in the 100-meter individual medley and 25-meter freestyle in the 8-and-under group.

"My sister's record was 28.88, and I beat her by quite a lot with a 27.50," said Westby referring to the 25-breast. "My sister was like, 'What, it's only the second meet and you've already broken my record. That's crazy.' But she was happy for me even though she didn't expect it."

Among the Stingrays, family involvement is not unusual. Perhaps no family has been more familiar to the program over the last several decades than the Sweetser's. In fact, all 12 of Debbie and Gorden Sweetser's children have been through the program beginning with the eldest, Brandon.

"One of Brandon's friends got him interested when he was 8," Debbie said. "It was so good for him so when the rest of them turned five, I sent them with Brandon to the pool. They all really enjoyed it and it's something they're good at. Sometimes they say they don't want to get up in the morning, but who doesn't say that once in a while."

While Brandon is now in his early 40s, the tradition has been passed to the next generation. The youngest now involved is Debbie and Gorden's grandson, Brayton Sweetser, who began last year as a 4-year-old. Though the starting age is generally five, Brayton began a year early.

"But Brayton is a Sweetser," Dorwart said with laugh.

While the Sweetser's are among the many who have shown a strong aptitude for the sport, it's not so much about piling up victories against others that counts. It's more about beating yourself – which in the end can translate into being faster than others.

The program has been especially useful for the smallest of swimmers. Many overcome their fear of the water and even develop a passion for the sport. It wasn't long ago that 7-year-old Joshua Potts couldn't even make it across the pool. Of course, that has has changed dramatically.

"I love swimming, it's really fun," said the soon to be second-grader at South Elementary who showed nearly 19 seconds of improvement at Bridgeport. "And I like swimming with my friends."

At the end of the season is the most competitive meet of the year. It's what they call in the B.R.A.T.S. league the "medal meet." It's the only meet of the year that medals are issued based on performance.

"That's a really fun meet," Westby said. "There, we swim a lot of different strokes. I really look forward to that one."

BRIDGEPORT INVITATIONAL SWIM MEET RESULTS FOR THE SIDNEY STINGRAYS

Top finishers for the Sidney Sting Rays

Boys 8 & Under 200 Meter IM

1. Dru Weimer, 8:04.75.

Boys 9-10 200 Meter IM

1. Jeffery Christian, 4:43.44.

Girls 9-10 200 Meter IM

1. Taylor Runge, 6:16.87.

Girls 11-12 200 Meter IM

2. Elizabeth Weimer, 4:40.41.

Girls 13-14 200 Meter IM

2. Kollyn Weimer, 3:47.93.

Mixed 8 & Under 100 Meter Medley Relay

1. Sidney Swim Team ‘A’ (Katelyn Davis, Kayla Westby, Zechariah Roggasch,

Reagan Nesbitt), 2:09.59. 4. Sidney Swim Team ‘B’ (Dakota Ahrendt, Kayson Houser, Kenzie Shoemaker, Aadhav Krishna,), 3:17.68. 5. Sidney Swim Team ‘C’ (Halle Sweetser, Brayton Sweetser, Andrew Portillo, Joshua Potts), 4:00.02.

Mixed 9-10 100 Meter Medley Relay

1. Sidney Swim Team ‘A’ (Joel Johnson, Jeffery Christian, Jayden Shoemaker,

Natalie Hausmann), 1:46.13. 4. Sidney Swim Team ‘D’ (Rishi Krishna, Xzavior Roggasch,LilyAnha Tafolla, Dru Weimer), 1:56.59. 6, Sidney Swim Team ‘B’ (Karsyn Leeling, Jeremiah Roggasch, Taylor Runge, Chance Houser), 2:14.71.

Mixed 11-12 200 Meter Medley Relay

4. Sidney Swim Team ‘B’ (Jonathan Spachek, Lyndsey Haddock, Ryan Rapp, Jakob Chacon), 4:09.54.

Mixed 13-14 200 Meter Medley Relay

1. Sidney Swim Team ‘A’ (Tyler Plant, Caitlyn Mueller, Kollyn Weimer, Timothy Nguyen), 2:52.79. 5. Sidney Swim Team ‘B’ (Jonas Johnson, Junior Lucero, Kendra Nesbitt, Madi Runge), 3:38.71.

Mixed 15-18 200 Meter Medley Relay

2. Sidney Swim Team ‘A’ (Caitlyn Deal, Caitlyn, Brody Morgan, Tiffany Sweetser, Jeff Deal), 2:35.17. 5. Sidney Swim Team ‘B’ (Jedediah Portillo, Bailey Bagnell, Zach Deal, Jack Johnson, Jack), 3:05.42.

Boys 8 & Under 50 Meter Freestyle

3. Zechariah Roggasch, 1:27.52. 4. Dru Weimer, 1:35.05. 5. Brayton Sweetser, 2:34.07.

Girls 8 & Under 50 Meter Freestyle

1. Kayla Westby, 56.52.

Boys 9-10 50 Meter Freestyle

3. Joel Johnson, 47.75.

Girls 9-10 50 Meter Freestyle

4. Natalie Hausmann, 50.20. 5. Taylor Runge, 1:02.42.

Boys 11-12 100 Meter Freestyle

4. Jakob Chacon, 1:51.48.

Girls 11-12 100 Meter Freestyle

3. LaineyHausmann, 1:41.72. 4. Kendal Nielsen, 1:43.03.

Boys 13-14 100 Meter Freestyle

3. Tyler Plant, 1:21.75. 5. Junior Lucero, 1:30.74.

Girls 13-14 100 Meter Freestyle

2. Caitlyn Mueller, 1:22.51.

Men 15-18 100 Meter Freestyle

4. Jack Johnson, 1:23.96. 5. Zach Deal, 1:35.01.

Women 15-18 100 Meter Freestyle

1. Tiffany Sweetser, 1:18.54. 3. Caitlyn Deal, 1:30.57.

Boys 8 & Under 25 Meter Butterfly

2. Andrew Portillo, 55.11. 3. Brayton Sweetser, 1:01.76. 4. Joshua Potts, 1:04.24. 5. Aadhav Krishna, 1:05.78. 6. Anderson Ball, 1:09.22.

Girls 8 & Under 25 Meter Butterfly

2. Katelyn Davis, 47.74. 3. Halle Sweetser, 53.44. 4. Kenzie Shoemaker, 58.68. 5. Dakota Ahrendt, 1:06.19. 6. Rylee Runge, 1:07.18.

Boys 9-10 25 Meter Butterfly

4. Chance Houser, 42.46. 5. Trevor Haddock, 43.55. 6. Rishi Krishna, 50.20.

Girls 9-10 25 Meter Butterfly

1. Jayden Shoemaker, 23.00. 6. LilyAnha Tafolla, 47.20.

Boys 11-12 50 Meter Butterfly

3. Hunter Ahrendt, 1:15.48. 4. Jonathan Spachek, 1:25.49.

Girls 11-12 50 Meter Butterfly

2. Lyndsey Haddock, 1:08.93.

Boys 13-14 50 Meter Butterfly

2. Tyler Plant, 43.29. 6. Junior Lucero, 54.37.

Girls 13-14 50 Meter Butterfly

2. Kollyn Weimer, 44.30.

Men 15-18 50 Meter Butterfly

1. Brody Morgan, 34.29. 3. Jeff Deal, 36.06. 4. Zach Deal, 53.11. 5. Jedediah Portillo, 57.47.

Women 15-18 50 Meter Butterfly

1. Tiffany Sweetser, 36.44.

Boys 8 & Under 25 Meter Backstroke

3. Zechariah Roggasch,, 36.23. 4. Aadhav Krishna,, 43.18. 5. Kayson Houser,, 46.41. 6. Andrew Portillo, 1:05.92.

Girls 8 & Under 25 Meter Backstroke

4. Reagan Nesbitt, 34.69.

Boys 9-10 25 Meter Backstroke

5. Jeremiah Roggasch, 38.03. 6. Caysen Plant, 41.40.

Girls 9-10 25 Meter Backstroke

2. Karsyn Leeling, 25.82. 3. Jayden Shoemaker, 26.14. 6. Natalie Hausmann, 30.38.

Boys 11-12 50 Meter Backstroke

2. Jonathan Spachek, 1:01.10. 6. Ryan Rapp, 1:33.53.

Girls 11-12 50 Meter Backstroke

4. Kendal Nielsen, 57.53.

Boys 13-14 50 Meter Backstroke

2. Jonas Johnson, 55.51. 4. Tristan Ahrendt, 1:06.33.

Girls 13-14 50 Meter Backstroke

2. Caitlyn Mueller, 45.76.

Women 15-18 50 Meter Backstroke

3. Caitlyn Deal, 45.98. 6. Bailey Bagnell, 56.08.

Boys 9-10 100 Meter Freestyle

1. Jeffery Christian, 1:55.73. 2. Joel Johnson, 2:06.28. 3. Jeremiah Roggasch, 2:31.53. 4. Caysen Plant, 2:48.40.

Girls 9-10 100 Meter Freestyle

1. Natalie Hausmann, 1:59.09. 3. LilyAnha Tafolla, 3:16.82.

Girls 11-12 200 Meter Freestyle

1. Lainey Hausmann, 3:54.06. 3. Elizabeth Weimer, 4:22.25.

Girls 13-14 200 Meter Freestyle

1. Caitlyn Mueller, 3:11.95. 2. Kollyn Weimer, 3:25.71.

Boys 13-14 200 Meter Freestyle

1. Junior Lucero, 3:17.29. 2. Jonas Johnson, 4:06.68.

Men 15-18 200 Meter Freestyle

2. Jack Johnson, 3:12.26. 4. Zach Deal, 3:47.95.

Women 15-18 200 Meter Freestyle

1. Tiffany Sweetser, 2:59.39.

Boys 8 & Under 25 Meter Breaststroke

3. Dru Weimer, 41.25. 4. Kayson Houser, 42.26. 5. Zechariah Roggasch, 42.63.

Girls 8 & Under 25 Meter Breaststroke

1. Kayla Westby, 27.50.

Boys 9-10 25 Meter Breaststroke

3. Joel Johnson, 31.28. 5. Jeremiah Roggasch, 38.36. 6. Caysen Plant, 38.48.

Girls 9-10 25 Meter Breaststroke

1. Jayden Shoemaker, 27.40. 6. Karsyn Leeling, 41.35.

Boys 11-12 50 Meter Breaststroke

4. Jonathan Spachek, 1:07.22. 5. Ryan Rapp, 1:07.29. 6. Jakob Chacon, 1:15.08.

Girls 13-14 50 Meter Breaststroke

2. Caitlyn Mueller, 50.19. 4. Kendra Nesbitt, 58.48.

Men 15-18 50 Meter Breaststroke

1. Brody Morgan, 39.31. 2. Jeff Deal, 44.00. 5, Jack Johnson, 53.45. 6. Jedediah Portillo, 53.72.

Women 15-18 50 Meter Breaststroke

4. Bailey Bagnell, 51.97.

Boys 8 & Under 100 Meter IM

3. Dru Weimer, 3:40.36.

Girls 8 & Under 100 Meter IM

1. Kayla Westby, 2:13.59.

Boys 9-10 100 Meter IM

2. Jeffery Christian, 2:03.11.

Girls 9-10 100 Meter IM

1. Jayden Shoemaker, 2:07.35. 3, Taylor Runge, 3:01.67.

Boys 11-12 100 Meter IM

1. Jonathan Spachek, 2:24.31. 4. Ryan Rapp, 2:55.50.

Girls 11-12 100 Meter IM

2. Lainey Hausmann, 2:09.93. 4. Lyndsey Haddock, 2:25.28.

Boys 13-14 100 Meter IM

2. Tyler Plant, 1:32.06. 4. Timothy Nguyen, 1:56.94.

Men 15-18 100 Meter IM

1. Brody Morgan, 1:22.96. 2. Jeff Deal, Jeff, 1:30.64. 4. Jedediah Portillo, 1:46.77.

Boys 8 & Under 25 Meter Freestyle

3. Zechariah Roggasch, 33.31. 4. Kayson Houser, 34.66. 6. Aadhav Krishna, 40.73.

Girls 8 & Under 25 Meter Freestyle

1. Kayla Westby, 24.36.

Boys 9-10 25 Meter Freestyle

1. Joel Johnson, 22.41. 3. Chance Houser, 28.13. 4. Michael Kepler, 28.43. 5. Jeremiah Roggasch, 29.34. 6. Caysen Plant, 34.22.

Girls 9-10 25 Meter Freestyle

3. Natalie Hausmann, 21.34. 4. Karsyn Leeling, 23.65.

Boys 13-14 50 Meter Freestyle

2. Tyler Plant, 35.55. 5. Timothy Nguyen, 38.05.

Girls 13-14 50 Meter Freestyle

6. Anja Nguyen, 53.91.

Men 15-18 50 Meter Freestyle

2. Brody Morgan, 32.84. 3. Jeff Deal, 33.85. 5. Jedediah Portillo, 38.07. 6, Deal, Zach, 39.58.

Women 15-18 50 Meter Freestyle

1. Tiffany Sweetser, 33.98. 6. Caitlyn Deal, 40.94.

Mixed 8 & Under 100 Meter

Freestyle Relay

2. Sidney Swim Team ‘A’ (Reagan Nesbitt, Zechariah Roggasch, Katelyn Davis, Kayla Westby), 2:17.21. 5. Sidney Swim Team ‘B’ (Kenzie Shoemaker, Aadhav Krishna, Dakota Ahrendt, Halle Sweetser), 3:40.44. 6, Sidney Swim Team ‘C’ (Brayton Sweetser, Andrew Portillo, Joshua Potts, Anderson Ball), 4:30.70.

Mixed 9-10 100 Meter Freestyle Relay

1. Sidney Swim Team ‘A’ (Jeffery Christian, Natalie Hausmann, Joel Johnson, Jayden Shoemaker), 1:28.91. 4, Sidney Swim Team ‘B’ (Jeremiah Roggasch, Michael Kepler, Chance Houser, Karsyn Leeling), 1:58.89. 6, Sidney Swim Team ‘C’ (Madelin eBall, LilyAnha Tafolla, Trevor Haddock, Taylor Runge), 2:19.35.

Mixed 11-12 200 Meter Freestyle Relay

2. Sidney Swim Team ‘A’ (Jakob Chacon, Lainey Hausmann, Elizabeth Weimer, Kendal Nielsen), 3:15.42.

Mixed 13-14 200 Meter Freestyle Relay

1. Sidney Swim Team ‘A’ (Caitlyn Mueller, Junior Lucero, Timothy Nguyen, Tyler Plant), 2:29.54. 6. Sidney Swim Team ‘B’ (Anja Nguyen, Tristan Ahrendt, Kollyn Weimer, Kendra Nesbitt), 3:03.60.

Mixed 15-18 200 Meter

Freestyle Relay

1. Sidney Swim Team ‘A’ (Caitlyn Deal, Tiffany Sweetser, Jeff Deal, Brody Morgan), 2:20.29. 4, Sidney Swim Team ‘B’ (Bailey Bagnell, Jack Johnson, Zach Deal, Jedediah Portillo), 2:45.12.

Boys 9-10 200 Meter Freestyle

2. Jeffery Christian, 4:15.53.

Girls 11-12 400 Meter Freestyle

2. Elizabeth Weimer, 8:49.79.

Girls 13-14 400 Meter Freestyle

2. Kollyn Weimer, 7:26.72. 3. Anja Nguyen, 10:01.52.

Men 13-14 400 Meter Freestyle

2. Timothy Nguyen, 8:17.17.

Men 15-18 400 Meter Freestyle

2. Jack Johnson, 7:05.25.