On July 11, 31 swimmers from Eagle Ridge competed in the Southern Wake Invitational Meet (S.W.I.M.) held at Lochmere.

The team swam 94 races without disqualification and amassed 846 points, finishing the meet in sixth place out of 13 teams.

The team swam hard, and many swimmers medaled (first-third place) or received ribbons for placing fourth-16th.

The 7-8 Boys Medley Relay team, Max Rucker, Zachary Chaplin, Alex Alfaro and Chace Chaplin, finished in sixth place.

The 7-8 Girls Medley Relay team, Lauren Taylor Carillo, Davin Sarkus, Jaelin Sarkus and Erin Sarkus, finished in fourth place.

The 9-10 Boys Medley Relay team, Gerard Chamra, Payton Nugent, Zakary Stewart and Scott Barbeau, finished in fourth place.

The 11-12 Girls Medley Relay team, Rhiannon Rucker, Kaitlin Dowling, Alexis Kocurek and Hannah Alfaro, finished in fourth place.

The 13-14 Boys Medley Relay team, Bilva Sanaba, Sean Dowling, Zack Leischner and Matt Smothers, finished in third place.

The 15-18 Girls Medley Relay team, Lauren James, Mila Korobkina, Hunter Nugent and Courtney Weaver, also finished in third place.

In freestyle, the following swimmers placed in the top 16: third – Chace Chaplin (age 5), fifth – Max Rucker (6), third – Erin Sarkus (6), 15th – Zachary Chaplin (7), 16th – Alex Alfaro (7), sixth – Anna Sparrow (8), ninth – Jaelin Sarkus (8), 12th – Davin Sarkus (8), 14th – Lauren Taylor Carillo (7), fifth – Zakary Stewart (10), 10th – Scott Barbeau (9), 16th – Gerard Chamra (10), 13th – Peyton Leischner (9), third – Zack Leischner (12), ninth – Rhiannon Rucker (12), 10th – Matt Smothers (13), 12th – Bilva Sanaba (13), 10th – Mila Korobkina (13), 15th – Lauren James (13), 16th – Hunter Nugent (14).

In backstroke, the following swimmers placed in the top 16: third – Chace Chaplin, fourth – Max Rucker, fourth – Erin Sarkus, 14th – Zachary Chaplin, ninth – Lauren Taylor Carillo, 15th – Anna Sparrow, 16th – Davin Sarkus, 14th – Gerard Chamra, 15th – Zakary Stewart, 10th – Peyton Leischner, sixth – Rhiannon Rucker, eighth – Matt Smothers, 10th – Bilva Sanaba, 13th – Sean Dowling (13), 11th – Hunter Nugent, 14th – Lauren James.

In breaststroke, the following swimmers placed in the top 16: 13th – Alex Alfaro, fifth – Jaelin Sarkus, sixth – Davin Sarkus, fifth – Scott Barbeau, 10th – Gerard Chamra, 15th – Peyton Nugent (10), fourth Zack Leischner, 15th – Hannah Alfaro (11), 16th – Alexis Kocurek (11), seventh – Matt Smothers, ninth – Sean Dowling, second – Mila Korobkina, 11th – Lauren James.

In butterfly, the following swimmers placed in the top 16: 14th – Alex Alfaro, 15th – Zachary Chaplin, 11th – Jaelin Sarkus, 13th – Lauren Taylor Carillo, seventh – Zakary Stewart, 11th – Peyton Leischner, second – Zack Leischner, 11th – Alexis Kocurek, 12th – Rhiannon Rucker, ninth – Bilva Sanaba, 12th – Mila Korobkina.

Finishing up the meet with the freestyle relays, Eagle Ridge placed sixth in the 7-8 Boys, second in the 7-8 Girls (Carillo, Sparrow, D Sarkus, J Sarkus), fifth in the 9-10 Boys, fifth (Kocurek, Alfaro, Nicole Kirkpatrick, Rucker) and eighth (Mackenzie Scully, Dowling, Leischner, Erin Kirkpatrick) in the 11-12 Girls, second in the 13-14 Boys, and second in the 15-18 Girls (James, Nugent, Korobkina, Mallory Horvath).

Overall it was a very successful day for Eagle Ridge, reflecting the hard work and good coaching that has taken place in ER swim practices and in year-round swimming programs such as Marlins of Raleigh.