Tiger Sharks have ‘banner day’ at state
Published 10:25 pm Monday, July 29, 2013
The Troy Tiger Sharks took just nine swimmers to the 2013 Alabama Recreation and Parks Association State Swim Meet. But it is safe to say that all nine left their mark on the event.
Tiger Sharks head coach Shane Tatum said that the meet was one of the better days in team history.
“It really was a banner day for us,” Tatum said. “All of our swimmers cut time off their seeds, and they all performed their best. I can’t be any prouder of this group of athletes.”
Every one of Troy’s representatives placed in the top 30 in the state, with Sarah Cathryn Snellgrove picking up a pair of fourth place finishes in the 50 yard freestyle and 50 yard backstroke.
Tatum said that the Snellgrove was just factions of a second from being on the podium in both events.
“She finished the 50 free just one-tenth of a second from third, and the backstroke was just two-tenths,” Tatum said. “Her fourth place finishes were the highest ever for the program at state.”
In addition to Snellgrove’s performances, Lily Ryan finished nineteenth in the 25 yard freestyle, twenty-eighth in the 25 yard backstroke and nineteenth in the 50 yard freestyle.
Kirill Kobelev finished twenty-fifth in the 25 yard freestyle, twenty-seventh in the 25 yard backstroke and sixteenth in the 100 yard freestyle.
Nicklaus Chrysson finished twentieth in the 50 yard freestyle.
Bryce Taylor, Charlie Rawls, Nathan Taylor and Cole Coppage finished ninth in the 200 free relay. Taylor, Coppage, Rawls and Nathan Paramore competed in the medley relay.
Coppage also finished tenth in the 50 yard butterfly and ninth in the 50 yard backstroke.
Tatum feels that the weekend can be used as a foundation to build the future of the team.
“We set many new personal bests over the weekend, Tatum said. “We have good momentum and good spirits headed in to the winter season, and are excited about the future of our team.