MONROE - Brenda Ritschard said the Green County Family YMCA trio of Marissa Berg, Rachel Root and Will Fenner faced "fierce" competition and "had a really good time" at the YMCA Short Course National Swimming Championships last week in Greensboro, N.C.
"Any time you swim against better swimmers, you get better yourself," said Ritschard, aquatics director at the Green County YMCA and co-coach of the swim team.
Overall, Ritschard said, "I think they were probably a little disappointed with their swims. The first day, none of the kids swam that well. But as the week went on, they swam better."
Berg, a sophomore from Monticello, had the nation's top qualifying time in the 50-yard freestyle at 23.15 seconds and finished 11th at nationals in 23.71. She was 10th in the same event in 2011.
Berg was the top 15-year-old finisher in the 50 free and only one younger competitor, 14-year-old Katrina Kanopka of Middle Tyger, S.C., finished ahead of her. Kanopka won the title in 22.69.
"Marissa really wanted to get in the top 10 in the 50 free," Ritschard said. "But she got a personal best in her (100) butterfly and she was very close to one in her 100 free."
Berg finished 12th in the 100 freestyle in 51.35, well below her qualifying time of 52.03. She was 34th in the 100 butterfly (57.47) and 62nd in the 200 freestyle (1:54.90).
Root, a junior from Monroe, competed in four events with a top finish of 83rd in the 100 backstroke (59.58). She was 90th in the 200 backstroke (2:09.65), 151st in the 100 butterfly (1:02.23) and 155th in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.40).
"Rachel got better as the week went along," Ritschard said. "Just being (at nationals) speaks for itself."
Will Fenner, a senior from Monticello, finished 144th in the 100 backstroke in 56.70.
The YMCA Short Course Nationals are for swimmers age 13-18 and there are no age divisions.
"Any time you swim against better swimmers, you get better yourself," said Ritschard, aquatics director at the Green County YMCA and co-coach of the swim team.
Overall, Ritschard said, "I think they were probably a little disappointed with their swims. The first day, none of the kids swam that well. But as the week went on, they swam better."
Berg, a sophomore from Monticello, had the nation's top qualifying time in the 50-yard freestyle at 23.15 seconds and finished 11th at nationals in 23.71. She was 10th in the same event in 2011.
Berg was the top 15-year-old finisher in the 50 free and only one younger competitor, 14-year-old Katrina Kanopka of Middle Tyger, S.C., finished ahead of her. Kanopka won the title in 22.69.
"Marissa really wanted to get in the top 10 in the 50 free," Ritschard said. "But she got a personal best in her (100) butterfly and she was very close to one in her 100 free."
Berg finished 12th in the 100 freestyle in 51.35, well below her qualifying time of 52.03. She was 34th in the 100 butterfly (57.47) and 62nd in the 200 freestyle (1:54.90).
Root, a junior from Monroe, competed in four events with a top finish of 83rd in the 100 backstroke (59.58). She was 90th in the 200 backstroke (2:09.65), 151st in the 100 butterfly (1:02.23) and 155th in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.40).
"Rachel got better as the week went along," Ritschard said. "Just being (at nationals) speaks for itself."
Will Fenner, a senior from Monticello, finished 144th in the 100 backstroke in 56.70.
The YMCA Short Course Nationals are for swimmers age 13-18 and there are no age divisions.
