Sports
UPCOMING EVENTS
07
07 2021
GRAL swimming: Milestone at Federal Club 6:00 p.m.
07
07 2021
GRAL swimming: Goochland YMCA at Old Church 6:00 p.m.
| Youth, High School, College, Recreational & Professional
GRAL teams emphasize fun and training By Rob Witham for The Local MECHANICSILLE – Whether the meet is actual or virtual, whether the swimmer is a novice or most experienced, at Greater Richmond Aquatic League events Wednesday night, a choir of coaches around the area echoed the same theme: Have Fun. In two meets which showcased four Hanover teams, Ashcreek defeated Ashland in a virtual meet 1036-952, while, in person, Hanover Country Club fell to Atlee 1109-663. But the more important story is how area youth are enjoying the opportunity to experience both more of a sense of normalcy than in last year’s abbreviated campaign, and simple childhood fun. “That’s always the thing for my swimmers is to try their best and go out there and just have fun, which is what I always preach to them,” noted Ashcreek head coach Kaelin Jernigan. In this, the fourth week of the six-week regular season, competitors are setting their sights on reaching cut times to qualify for Champs, the GRAL’s annual championship event scheduled for July 26 and 27. Atlee head coach Lacey Kramer noted as much when reviewing her team’s performance against Hanover. “We had some incredible time drops, so that was really Kramer said. There were three for Hanover cool to see, and it was really nice Atlee earned 12 quadruple and one for the Crocodiles. to see everyone get up, race, and race winners while Ashland had Highlights include leave everything in the pool,” 10 in their meet with Ashcreek. Ashcreek’s Drew Ericson, win-
26
The Mechanicsville Local
July 7, 2021
Dave Lawrence The Local
AshCreek teammates Sadie Ericson (foreground), Kaylee Jones (under water) and Grace Cherry compete in the 11-12 girls 50-meter breaststroke in a Greater Richmond Aquatic League virtual meet with Ashland Wednesday.
ning the 8-and-under 25-meter breaststroke, shaving over a second off his best time winning in 30.10, just .14 away from a var-
sity cut time. Ericson’s 23.97 in already earned a senior varsity the 25-meter freestyle was sec- cut time. ond to Ashland’s Gavin Yonce, who finished in 18.78, having see GRAL, pg. 27
