Neptune swim team hits the pool for Tri-State B-Finals

Saturday, August 13, 2016
The Nevada Neptunes swim team celebrates its recent showing at the Siloam Springs Tri-State B-FInals. (Submitted photo)

The Nevada Neptunes swim team had a successful run in the pool at the recently held Siloam Springs Tri-State B-Finals held at Hubb White Pool on the campus of John Brown University.

The two-day indoor event featured 12 tri-state teams, and approximately 317 swimmers, including 21 from Nevada. The Neptunes are coached by Karen Claypool and assistants Samantha Short, Shelby Thorns, Thomas Prewitt, and Tayler Matthews.

Neptune individual results

Molly Russell: Female 8-and-under, 100-yard Individual Medley - 1st; 25 Breast - 2nd.

Ryan Raney: Male 8-and-under, 100 IM - 1st; 25 Fly - 2nd; 25 Breast - 5th.

Andrew Russell: Male 8-and-under, 25 Fly - 3rd.

Sydnee Baldwin: Female (9-10), 100 IM - 2nd; 50 Free - 3rd; 50 Breast - 3rd; 50 Fly - 5th; 100 Free - 6th; 50 Back - 7th.

Peyton Eaton: Female (9-10), 50 Free - 2nd; 50 Back - 4th; 50 Breast - 4th; 50 Fly - 4th; 100 IM - 4th.

Mary Kate Russell: Female (9-10), 50 Back - 2nd; 50 Free - 7th.

Lauren Bloom: Female (11-12), 50 Back - 5th; 50 Free - 6th.

Kailyn Evans: Female (11-12), 50 Breast - 7th.

Franki Fine: Female (11-12), 50 Free - 2nd; 50 Fly - 5th; 100 IM - 7th; 100 Free - 8th.

Karter Evans: Male (11-12), 50 Breast - 2nd;100 IM - 5th; 50 Fly - 6th.

Hallie Short: Female (13-14), 50 Free - 4th; 50 Fly - 8th.

Alyssa Wilson: Female (13-14), 50 Fly - 3rd.

Brynn Wolfe: Female (13-14), 50 Fly - 4th; 50 Breast - 5th; 200 IM - 5th.

Tretin Raney: Male (13-14), 50 Fly - 1st; 100 Free - 2nd.

Braden Russell: Male (13-14), 200 IM - 1st; 50 Breast - 6th.

Peyton Claypool: Female (15-18), 50 Free - 1st; 50 Back - 1st.

Marissa Matthews: Female (15-18), 200 IM - 6th.

Neptune relay results

Female 10-and-under, first place in 100-yard Free Relay: Sydnee Baldwin, Mary Kate Russell, Molly Russell, and Peyton Eaton.

Female (11-12), second place in 200-yard Medley Relay: Franki Fine, Kailyn Evans, Avery Morris, and Lauren Bloom.

Female (13-14), second place in 200-yard Free Relay: Alyssa Wilson, Hallie Short, Morgan Smith, and Brynn Wolfe.

Female 10-and-under, fourth place in 100 MR: Mary Kate Russell, Allison McCaffree, Sydnee Baldwin, and Peyton Eaton.

Female (13-14), fourth place in 200 MR: Hallie Short, Brynn Wolfe, Alyssa Wilson, and Morgan Smith.

For Nevada, Sydnee Baldwin, 9, netted the High Point Award Trophy, taking first place in her age division.

The Neptunes also scored a team award, notching first place for highest percentage of improvement (76 percent).

Sydnee Baldwin, 9, with High Point Trophy in hand. (Submitted photo)

Short pleased with team

Second-year assistant coach and former Neptune swimmer, Samantha Short, said she has been impressed by the progress Neptunes swimmers have made throughout the season.

"We have a lot of good swimmers and several that are going to A-Finals in Monett," she said. "And we have a lot of really good B-Swimmers. So we have a chance to maybe bring home a trophy.

"Individually, we have a lot of standout swimmers. The season has progressed the way I think it should have, and the kids have done a nice job."

Short, who is the head coach of the Nevada High School girls swim team, said it's beneficial to be able to see the various Neptune age groups compete, as it gives her a better idea of what to work on with younger swimmers prior to entering high school.

"It's nice to be able to see the up-and-coming swimmers," she said, "where they're at, and how the Neptunes get those kids ready to swim at the next level.

"This is a great developmental swim program, so I enjoy that, and look forward to seeing some of the kids that are coming up."

Short added that the Neptune swim program is also advantageous to swimmers already in high school.

"The boys high school swimmers go right into their season (from the end of the Neptunes season)," she said. "It's nice to see that they're in shape and ready to go."

The NHS girls swim season takes place later in the year. "The girls are focusing on their events for high school too," she said.

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