Sports

Ridgewood YMCA Breakers Make National Swim Championships

Five top swimmers from Bergen County competing in North Carolina in April.

The following was provided by the Ridgewood YMCA.

Five members of the Ridgewood YMCA Breakers Swim Team will compete at the 2013 YMCA National Short Course Swimming Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in North Carolina April 6-13, 2013.  

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Attended by representatives of over 200 YMCA swimming programs, members of the Breakers National Team qualified to compete in this year’s championships having achieved very competitive qualifying times in dual meet and invitational competitions leading up to this event.  

Head coach Bud Rimbault and Assistant Coach Patty Horton will lead the Breakers representatives in the four-day event that is expected to include approximately 1,500 swimmers.

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Members of the 2013 Short Course National Team for the Breakers include:

Bridget Horton, Glen Rock. At age 14, Bridget is the youngest Breaker on the National Team this spring.  She is attending her first YMCA Short Course National competition having qualified in the 200-yard backstroke and 400-yard individual medley events. A member of the Breakers for eight years, she competed in YMCA Long Course Nationals in the summers of 2011 and 2012 and holds Breaker team records in the 200-meter backstroke and 400-meter freestyle events for the 11/12 age group. Bridget is an eighth grade honor student at Academy of Our Lady and will attend Glen Rock High School in the fall where she looks forward to playing soccer.

Jesse Smith, New Milford. In his second year as a Breaker, Jesse travels to Greensboro for this first YMCA Short Course National meet to compete in the 200-yard butterfly and 400-yard individual medley events. A sophomore honor student at New Milford High School, he holds the team record for the 200-yard individual medley as a member of the varsity swim team. He competed in the 2012 Long Course Nationals. Jesse is active in the youth group at St. Joseph’s Church and is interested in college studies leading to a career as an airline pilot.

Nicole Salzano, Elmwood Park. A High Honor Roll and National Honor Society junior who attends Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro, Nicole has been a member of the Ridgewood Breakers for twelve years. In her third YMCA Short Course National Championship she will compete in the 100 and 200-yard backstroke and the 200-yard butterfly events. Nicole is active in community service and plans to swim competitively at the college level after she graduates next year.

Sara Nestrowitz, Washington Township.  Having qualified for eight events, Sara will represent the Breakers in the 100, 200, 500 and 1000-yard freestyle events in the 2013 Short Course Championship. Sara has been a member of the Breakers for nine years and is a coach and lifeguard at the Washington Township summer swim club. A junior at Immaculate Heart Academy, she was recognized in March as an Athlete of the Week by The Record. She is the 2012-13 Bergen County Champion in both the 50 and 100 yard Freestyle. Sara is interested in studying speech pathology or physical therapy and continuing her swimming career as she plans for college.

Evan Fischer, Ridgewood. In his thirteenth year as a Breaker, Evan will compete in the 500 and 1650-yard freestyle and 400-yard individual medley events in this year’s Short Course National Championship. He holds the Breaker team record in the 400-meter individual medley.  A senior at Ridgewood High School, Evan was recently named a most valuable swimmer for the 2012-2013 season. Active in community service, Evan also works as a lifeguard at the Hawthorne Municipal Pool during the summer. Evan will attend Connecticut College in New London this fall where he plans to study Chemistry and compete in the pool for the Camels.

The Ridgewood YMCA Breakers are a year round age group and senior competitive swimming program that encompasses all levels from developmental to national. The program offers instruction, training, and competition to young people of all abilities from ages six through high school. Swimmers learn to improve their skills and learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship.  

You can learn more about the Ridgewood YMCA Breakers Swim Team by visiting http://www.ridgewoodymca.org/breakers.


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