by David Mehlbaum
contributing writer
The Annual Interclub Championship for the Syracuse Area Swim League (SASL) was held recently at Cavalry Club in Manlius, where wave after wave of some of the area’s best swimmers took to the water to compete in the final meet of the season. While the Cavalry Club team won in overall points, four of the five featured swimmers in the event were from the Cazenovia team.
The SASL is comprised of seven member clubs from around the area including Beaver Meadows Golf Club, Bellevue Country Club, Cavalry Club, Cazenovia Country Club, Drumlins Country Club, Lakeshore Yacht and Country Club and Onondaga Golf and Country Club. Teams compete in dual meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights throughout July, giving swimmers a chance to work on their strokes ahead of the league’s final meet at Interclub.
The all-day Interclub meet, held Saturday, Aug. 6, was the culmination for over 350 swimmers who started their summer season as soon as school let out in June.
“Summer swimming is all about learning, having fun, and making great friends” said meet organizer Dan Siedberg.
When not swimming, the kids cheer on their teammates, have fun with their friends or congregate under tents spending as much time as they can to get ready for their next race. Parents, friends and swim team alumni surround the pool cheering on their loves ones competing.
Kristen Robinson was in attendance observing friends as well as her son Jack who was acting as meet director. Kristen swam for Cavalry as a child, coached the team when she grew up and has had children who did the same. “That’s what happens [with summer league], you grow up here and then you coach here, they are all a big family. I still keep in touch with people I swam with here over 30 years ago. It was the best part of my childhood.”
At Interclub, the top 16 swimmers score points for their teams, with the top three winning medals just like at the Olympics. A ceremony immediately following the meet allows kids a chance to step on the podium and receive their medals in front of cheers from swimmers and proud parents snapping pictures.
This year’s meet featured five swimmers who each won four individual gold medals. Cazenovia’s Morgan Kingsley (11/12 girls), Erich Omans (13/14 boys), Cara Campbell (13/14 girls) and Quinn Smith (11/12 boys) joined Cavalry’s Ashley Seidberg (8 and under girls) stood out as the top individual performers at the meet.
Some of the biggest cheers of the day were reserved for the age 8 and under freestyle relay, won by Cazenovia for both the girls and boys event.
Even the coaches got in on the action, competing in a medley relay of “over the hill” swimmers following the meet. Cavalry won, with several members of their coaching staff currently being members of college swimming programs.
As for the overall team results, defending champion Cavalry kept the trophy for another year, finishing with 2,202 points ahead of Cazenovia’s 1,962 for second place overall.
