Forty-three swimmers from the Cougar Aquatic Team (CAT) traveled to Harvard University to attend the Christmas Countdown Swim Meet held from Dec. 2-4. Over 700 swimmers from 18 New England swim teams attended the morning preliminary trials and evening finals at Blodgett Pool. A total of 31 of the 43 CAT swimmers qualified for the finals that were held that weekend. In addition, 32 CAT team records were broken during this holiday swim meet.

Top heat finishers in the 8-and-under age group were Christopher Garrelts (Killingworth), placing second in the 50 freestyle (34.40), 100 free (1:20.53), and 50 breaststroke (49.40); third in the 25 free (15.75) and 25 breaststroke (22.25); and fourth in the 25 backstroke (19.87) and 50 butterfly (49.70); plus Kyle Mazziotti (Killingworth), who placed second in the 25 free (15.50) and the 25 butterfly (19:47.), third in the 50 free (37.19), and fifth in the 100 free (1:24.22).

In the 10-and-under age group, Marissa McNary (Westbrook) placed first in the 50 backstroke (34.99), 100 backstroke (1:14.54), and 100 free (1:05.20); second in the 50 butterfly (33.98) and 200 free (2:21.28), third in the 50 free (30.08), and fifth in the 100 IM (1:19) and 200 IM (2:49.74). Drew Donlan (Higganum) placed second in the 200 free (2:25.88) and 200 IM (2:52.88), fourth in the 100 free (1:08.60) and 50 butterfly (36.56), fifth in the 100 butterfly (1:24.36) and 100 IM (1:22.69), sixth in the 50 backstroke (38.65) and seventh in 100 backstroke (1:22.30).

For the 11/12 age group, Rachael Coady (Killingworth) placed second in the 200 free (2:10.78) and seventh in the 50 free (28.50) and 100 free (1:00.50). Cassie Garrelts (Killingworth) placed eight in the 200 free (2:17.64), Caitlin McNary (Westbrook) placed first in the 100 backstroke (1:03.12), 50 backstroke (29.79), 100 free (55.58), and 200 free (2:01.07), second in the 50 free (26.14) and 100 IM (1:04.64), and fourth in the 200 IM (2:19.60). Brooke Perrotta (Killingworth) placed first in the 50 butterfly (28.95), 100 IM (1:03.71), 50 free (25.68) and 100 butterfly (1:02.77), and second in the 100 free (56.31), 100 breaststroke (1:14.02), third in the 50 breaststroke (33.97), and sixth in the 200 IM (2:22.46).

For the 13/14 girls, Rica Generoso (Clinton) placed sixth in the 200 breaststroke (2:44.64). In the 13/14 boys' group top heat finishers were Matthew Dagenais (Middletown) placing first in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.24), second in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.76), third in the 200 IM (2:06.10), fourth in the 200 butterfly (2:10.34), sixth in the 50 free (24.02), and seventh in the 100 free (51.69). Jake Gibbons (Higganum) placed first in the 200 backstroke (1:59.76), second in the 200 IM (2:06.06), 100 backstroke (55.82), and 200 butterfly (2:04.59), and sixth in the 100 butterfly (58.05). Garrett Mazziotti (Killingworth) placed sixth in the 200 butterfly (2:12.01), Mason Revis (Higganum) placed first in the 200 butterfly (2:00.08), second in the 200 breaststroke (2:23.70), fourth in the 100 butterfly (56.63), fifth in the 200 IM (2:06.68), sixth in the 100 free (51.53) and seventh in the 50 free (24.05). Tristan Stritzel (Killingworth) placed fifth in the 100 free (51.50), sixth in the 200 breaststroke (2:26.44), and eighth in the 200 IM (2:10.73). James Whaley (Deep River) placed fifth in the 200 butterfly (2:11.47).

In the 15-and-over events, Theresa Goehring (Essex) placed first in the 200 IM (2:13.46), fourth in the 200 backstroke (2:09.17), fifth in the 100 backstroke (1:01.22), sixth in the 200 free (2:01.92) and 50 free (25.82), and seventh in the 100 free (55.06). Claire Hendershot (Wallingford) placed third in the 200 IM (2:17.03), Coral McNary (Westbrook) placed sixth in the 200 IM (2:21.99), and Maggie Purvis (Old Saybrook) placed fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:00.98). For the 15-and-over boys, Chris Meyers (Essex) placed third in the 200 breaststroke (2:17.20) and fifth in the 200 IM (2:06.05), and Ty Seymour (West Hartford) placed seventh in the 50 free (23.92).

The Cougar Aquatic Team (CAT), founded in 1985, is a recognized USA swim team that practices at the Haddam-Killingworth High School pool. CAT competes at several locations and colleges around Connecticut and New England. Under the sponsorship of the Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Department, CAT provides competitive training programs where individual needs and goals are given careful consideration. Swimmers are grouped based on ability, age, and objectives. Practices are available seven days a week with incorporated dry land training (strength training and exercises outside of the water), as well as periodic specialized clinics. For more information visit www.catswim.com. Information courtesy of Susan Waide