By PAULA Schumann, Contributor
The River Place Rapids swim team finished its best season to date and earned its first team trophy at the league’s All Star Invitational on June 20. The Rapids finished fifth all around in total team points.
Thirty-eight Rapids swimmers participated in the event and five swimmers won individual trophies: Lily Griego, Sabrina Steber, Lucy Griego, Gwynna Simmons, Genevieve Gaertner, and Gretchen Steber.
The 2021 theme “Wanna Race?” rang true this year for swimmers who were eager to get back into the pool after the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 season. Taking precautions, yet having fun was the new normal.
The 2021 Rapids’ roster included 96 swimmers, ages 5 to 14. The primary goal was to make sure each swimmer had fun while improving his or her stroke techniques and speed.
The team was fearlessly led by Jonny Songer, head coach. Assistant coaches were Julia Roberto, Grant Brown, Joel Songer, Sarah Devaney, and Aaron Kalivas. They spent countless hours coaching the kids through a challenging but exciting season.
The swim team practiced five days a week for nine weeks, trained hard and enjoyed fun practices and drills.
The Rapids, sponsored by River Place Country Club, swim in the Austin Hills Swim League. The team competed in five in-person meets plus the Invitational meet at the end of the season. The season ran from late April to the end of June.
Highlights of this year’s season included the coach relays at meets, the Rapids Fun Day of games, Kona Ice and pizza, and of course, the popsicles at the swim meets.
The regular season ended with a medal meet where swimmers win medals instead of ribbons, a luau dance party and awards ceremony. The Annual Dunnovan Healy Love and Courage Award was presented to swimmer Patrick Engesser this year. The award honors Rapids swimmer Dunnovan Healy who passed away after battling cancer. The award recognizes one swimmer who demonstrates love for teammates and courage in the sport.
2021 River Place Rapids
Drew Andruss 7
* Garrett Behrens 7
* Mo (or Morgan) Behrens 7
Brayden Bodnar 5
* Cinnamon Brunner 13
‡ Lainey Cassens 12
Blake Countway 10
Anne Countway 7
Aria Crockett 7
* Eric Crockett 8
* Connor Crossley 10
Gray Crossley 8
Cambrie Dartt 7
Boden Drew 10
Saige Drew 7
* Izzy Drury 12
Aspen Dzubinski 11
Eli Dzubinski 7
Ava Easley 10
Alex Easley 8
Owen Elder 7
* Matthew Engesser 10
* Patrick Engesser 13
Jackson Flanagan 6
Grace Freeman 8
* Corinne Gaertner 11
* Genevieve Gaertner 9
* Will Garcia 14
* Jacob Garcia 13
Dean Garcia 9
Sean Gildenblat 6
Zachary Giroux 7
* ‡ Aiden Giroux 12
* ‡ Alexa Giroux 11
* Lainey Griego 10
* Lucy Griego 8
* Lily Griego 6
* Joe Hobson 9
Miles Hobson 11
Rishad Hyder 10
Rayhan Hyder 7
Rhett Jones 10
* Julianne Jones 8
* Annie Jones 6
Jamie Kalir 6
Emmy Kalir 5
Avery Kirtland 5
* Gavin McLellan 10
Kaia McLellan 6
Ryan Mohan 9
Doss Murray 9
Grey Murray 7
Nash Murray 5
* Campbell Myers 8
* June Myers 6
JJ Naik 5
* ‡ Susie Orth 10
‡ Kaelyn Owens 11
* ‡ Alexander Paulson 11
Ty Pottichen 9
Drew Pottichen 5
Easton Prewitt 9
Ellie Rackl 8
Sidhartha Rao 8
Sofia Rasul 6
Jack Ruschitzko 9
Maggie Ryan 8
* Christine Sampson 11
Max Sampson 8
Thi Schalscha 8
Khai Schalscha 6
* Maxwell Schumann 10
* ‡ Lilah Schumann 12
Baran Shafaei 10
Ava Shafaei 6
Maya Showers 8
Isabella Simmons 7
* ‡ Gwynna Simmons 10
* Kessen Smith 12
* Hadley Smith 7
* ‡ Grayson Smith 11
* Alexandra Steber 9
* Sabrina Steber 6
* ‡ Gretchen Steber 11
Sophie Stevens 9
Benjamin Stevens 7
Brooke Stevens 5
Audrey Taylor 11
Jackson Taylor 12
Alexandra Tellez 7
Miriam Vogler 9
Ava Weaver 10
* Justin Weaver 11
* ‡ Christian Wilson 14
* Hunter Young 7
*All-Star Invitational
‡ 5 year plus on Rapids
Swim team events are great for meeting neighbors and forming lasting friendships for both kids and parents. Those interested in the 2022 season, go to www.riverplace.swimtopia.com.
