The KIDS summer swim team placed fourth overall in the Suburban Swim League summer championship meet on Saturday, July 23.

This championship event was hosted by the KIDS Swim Club at the Gwen L. Whildin Natatorium in the Northampton Area Middle School. The Bethlehem Stingrays were the winning team in the championship event, with the Macungie Bears in overall second place and the Soleco Stingrays in third.

The KIDS team was ready for a great event as excitement was high to welcome the seven other Suburban Swim League teams to Northampton.

In his comments on Saturday morning, KIDS Head Coach Cullen Mentzell told his team, “We know this pool, this is our home pool, let’s have a great meet.”

The KIDS team obviously took those words to heart. With six individual first-place finishes, 15 individual top-three results, and two top-three relay finishes, the KIDS ended their summer season on a solid note.

Among the team’s top individual performances at the championship meet was Josiah Hippert in the boys 13-14 age group, who placed first in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 50 butterfly events.

Also in the boys 13-14 age group, Logan Saylor placed first in the 100 individual medley. In the girls 13-14 age group Maliya Walp took first place in the 50 backstroke, and in the boys 8 & under age group, London Sandt was first to the wall in the 25 backstroke.

In other highlights, Saylor placed third in the 50 breaststroke and the 50 butterfly events. Walp took third place in the 100 individual medley, Gigi Esteban placed second in the girls 13-14 100 freestyle and Ryan Franke placed third in the boys 15 & over 50 breaststroke.

Zua Esteban placed second in the girls 9-10 age group’s 25 butterfly and backstroke events and third in the 25 freestyle. In the boys 9-10 age group, Kole Sandt placed third in the 25 freestyle.

The KIDS’ top relay teams were both in the 9-10 age group, where the girls 100-yard medley relay team of Patricia Kuhns, Ava Hartzell, Zua Esteban, and Kinsley Walbert placed second. The boys 100 medley relay team of Colton Saylor, Ethan Busfield, Lance Armetta, and Nathan Bunda placed third.

The team’s overall success in this championship meet is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the swimmers and coaches.

The KIDS will now enjoy a little summer break for the month of August before the Fall season practices begin in September.