KINGSTON, NY — Onteora High’s Grace Young finished seventh in the 100-
yard freestyle in the New York State High School Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday at the Webster Aquatic Center just outside of Rochester.
Young was joined at the state meet by her sister Julia Young and Rondout Valley High’s Clara Samko. The trio trained and swam with Kingston High’s girls swimming team as part of the school’s shadow program.
Grace Young earned a spot on the podium with her seventh-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle. She was also 24th in the 100-yard backstroke.
Samko finished 13th in the 50-yard freestyle and 16th in the 200-yard freestyle. Julia Young took 27th place in the 50-yard freestyle. Top-10 finishers earned a place on the podium and top-20 finishers took home a medal.
“I am very proud of these girls,” Kingston High girls swimming coach Chris Sammons said. “Having to taper and re-taper in a matter of 10 days is not easy.”
Taper means to gradually reduce training volume while allowing the athlete more rest and creating ‘easy speed’ during the last days of training before a big meet, Sammons said. “In certain practice reps, we are essentially simulating ‘race speed,’” Sammons explained.
All three competitors will return to Kingston next season.
“The great thing about it is that Clara and Grace are in 11th grade and Julia is in ninth grade,” Sammons said. “They will be even better next year.”
