The CCRI Club swim program made a return to competition for the first time since 2002 when they traveled to Harvard University in Boston, MA to compete in the New England Masters Swim Championships. It was an unsanctioned meet for Masters level competitors with no team scoring but there were sixteen new CCRI swimming records set and many personal best efforts from their seven swimmers.

The seven swimmers competing were Josh Hernandez (Cranston), Ryan Theriault (Warwick), James Zhu (Cranston) and Antonio Gonzalez (Cranston) on the men’s side. For the Lady Knights there was Kelsey Treanor (Smithfield), Julianna Wright and Courtney Ludovici (Burrillville). Everyone contributed to CCRI making a big splash into the Northeast Club swimming circuit.     

 Leading the way for the Knights’ men was Hernandez who the anchor person on all relay teams while putting forth three school records in individual events. Hernandez had a personal- best in the 50 yard Freestyle in a CCRI record time of 22.33 seconds to place 2nd. Hernandez returned to finish 2nd in the 100-yard freestyle in a CCRI record time of 49.44 seconds. He finished his individual events in the 200-yard freestyle which he won in a CCRI record time of 1:54.03. In addition to his individual events Josh also anchored the 200-yard freestyle relay which finished second and set a new CCRI record of 1:38.21 with Josh contributing a split of 21. 84 seconds. He anchored the 200-yard free which finished second in a CCRI record time of 3:36.28 with his split being 48.70. Hernandez finished his day by anchoring the 400-yard medley which finished in third place in a CCRI record time of 4:07.36 with his split being 49.04 seconds. Head Coach Bob Bouchard commented about Hernandez’s record setting day, “Josh had a tremendous meet, excelling in ALL the Freestyle events.”

The next Knight setting records was Theriault who swam the most events and was the Knights’ most versatile swimmer. Theriault competed in the 100-yard Butterfly and finished 4th in a CCRI record time of 1:02.31. Ryan returned for the 50 breaststroke and finished 3rd in a CCRI record time of 31:17 seconds. Theriault set a NEW CCRI record while winning the butterfly in 2:23.17. He was not done there as he set a new school record in the butterfly finishing 4th in 27:70 seconds. He also set a personal best by winning the breaststroke in 2:26.18. The last two events he competed in were the 100-yard breaststroke where he finished 4th in 1:07.13 and 200 IM finishing 5th in 2:18.26. He was also a member of the three record setting relays: 200 free relay (25.31), 400m free relay (55.90) and 400-yard medley where he swam the butterfly (1:02.34).

The next CCRI competitor was James Zhu who was also a member of the three record setting relays. In addition, Zhu had four personal best efforts in his individual events. He finished 7th in the 50 free in 24:96 seconds and 5th in the 100 Individual Medley in 1:04:14. James also finished 2nd in the 100 backstroke in 1:05.02 and 2nd in the 50 free in 24:81 seconds

Antonio Gonzalez was another CCRI competitor who had many personal bests on the day, six in total beginning with 8th place in the 50 free in 26:20 seconds and 4th place in the 50 breaststroke 32:72 seconds. Gonzalez placed 5th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.71 and 9th in the 100 free in 57.67 seconds. Gonzalez rounded out his day with a 7th place finish in the 200 free in 2:14.24 and third place finish in the 200 breaststroke 2:35.81.  Antonio was also a member of the three CCRI record relays. Coach Bouchard commented about Gonzalez in his first meet: “Antonio is very new to the sport of swimming and has come a long way in a very short time.  He works very hard every day at practice which you can tell by his results.” 

The Lady Knights were led by Kelsey Treanor who set five new school records on the day. Treanor began her day by setting a new CCRI school record by finishing 4th in the 50 free in 28:36 seconds and followed it up with an 8th place finish and CCRI record in the 100 free in 1:01.37. Treanor finished 4th in the 500 free in 6:13.33) the only event in which she did not send a record. Kelsey returned to form to set another CCRI record with a 2nd place finish in the 100 butterfly in 1:12.20 and a school record with a 4th place finish in the 200yd IM in 2:36.96. Treanor’s last event was the 50 butterfly which she finished 7th in a CCRI record time of 30.64 seconds. Coach Bouchard raved about the Lady Knights’ leader, “Kelsey is the most experienced and versatile female swimmer. Her work ethic is outstanding.”

The final Lady Knight to have a record setting day was Julianna Wright who set three school records. Wright began her day finishing 6th in the 50 free in 31:07 seconds then set a new school record finishing 7th in the 50 backstroke in 35:48 seconds. Wright finished 5th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:37.00 and 11th in the 100yd Free in 1:11.87. Julianna competed her record setting day with a 9th place finish in the 100 IM in a CCRI record time of 1:25.03 and 3rd in the 50 breaststroke in 42.50 seconds. Coach Bouchard commented about Wright, “If I had to give an award for ideal teammate it would go to Julianna. She will do anything for all her teammates.”

The final competitor for CCRI was Courtney Ludovici who competed in four events. Ludovici competed in the 50 free finishing 8th in 35.59 seconds and 4th in the 100 free in 1:22.49. She rounded out her day in the 100 backstroke finishing in 1:45.00 and 50 breast in 59:29 seconds. Coach Bouchard commented on Ludovici, “Courtney is a newcomer to the sport of swimming. Her skill level is good and if she continues to work on her endurance she will improve tremendously.”

This will be the only event of the year for the CCRI Club Swim Program. They will look to make another big splash next year when they compete for CCRI.