Y-Spartaquatics Photo
The Y-Spartaquatics women's swim team won the 2014 Speedo Winter Junior Nationals in Seattle, Wash. Pictured clockwise from left rear: Meredith Whisenhunt, Ali Galyer, Katrina Konopka, Makayla Brooks, Maegan Rudolph, Jessica Horomanski, Savanna Faulconer and Jessi Snover.
Ranked 16th in the nation from more than 5,000 teams, Y-Spartaquatics achieved USA Swimming Gold Medal status, a distinction reserved for the top 20 teams nationwide.
The team is based at the Middle Tyger YMCA in Duncan and has a branch at the Thomas E. Hannah Family YMCA in downtown Spartanburg.
Head Coach Ted Pierson and 15 swimmers, all greater Greer high school students, competed in the event.
“This was the epitome of a team win,” said Pierson. “As the meet came to its conclusion, and the swimmers realized that a victory was possible, their true character came out. When a team rallies like that, gets in each other’s corner with that kind of passion, it honors every YSSC swimmer, parent, coach that preceded them and sets the standard for future generations. What an incredible experience.”
The past season was a championship season. Y-Spartaquatics won the Short Course state championship combined team, boys and girls and won Y-Nationals after placing second for six years in a row.
The girls placed second at Long Course Speedo Junior Nationals in July, the first time the team has placed at a meet of this caliber.
Four of the seniors who competed have signed with universities to continue their swimming careers:
Heyward Brown, Texas Christian University
Katrina Konopka, University of Arizona
Jonathan Morse, Emory University
Meredith Whisenhunt, University of Kentucky
Swimmers who competed in Seattle are:
Maddie Baker
Sydney Baker
Makayla Brooks
Heyward Brown
Nathan Delahunty
Savanna Faulconer
Jack Frasier
Ali Galyer
Jessica Horomanski
Katrina Konopka
Michael Manucye
Jonathan Morse
Maegan Rudolph
Jessi Snover
Meredith Whisenhunt