The Fulton YMCA Speed Demons swim team celebrated a successful season at its 33rd annual awards banquet held recently in Fulton.
The 90 members of the team and their families enjoyed a Hollywood awards-themed meal, accepted awards and honored its departing seniors, Janelle Tallents and Courtney Beckwith.
Coach Dexter Hinman praised the team for placing 30 members in the YMCA State Meet held in March in Ithaca.
The 2013 States Team included Courtney Beckwith, Janelle Tallents, Kyle Buck, Koji Burdic, Miwa Burdic, Calinda Ceterski, Mallory Curtis, Andrew Distin, Ashli Dodge, Ross Gardner, Justin Grower, Abby Hinman, Josh Hotaling, Sage Hourihan, Michael Mankiewicz, Rimma Mankiewicz, Grant Marriner, Caitlyn McAfee, Tim McAfee, Lane Rawls, Jenna Ruzekowicz, Camille Stevenson, Ean Stevenson, Dakota Stoutenger, Jacob Strauss, Christina Tallents, David Tallents, Mark Tallents, Mallory Upcraft and Carolyn Zedack.
The following awards were given at the banquet:
The Ippolito Award was given to an outstanding E Boy swimmer, Lane Rawls. The award was named in honor of the late father of a former swimmer.
The LeVea Award was given to Koji Burdic and Hayden Williamson. This award was named in honor of the late father of a Speed Demon family and is given to good all-around D swimmers.
The Sportsmanship Award is presented to swimmers who demonstrated good sportsmanship, being a good role model and for cheering on their team.
This year’s recipients were Mallory Curtis, Ashli Dodge, Kayleigh Hotaling, Breanna Stoutenger, Sarah Tallents, Grace Trepasso, Alisa Trudell and Abbey Zych.
The Hardest Worker Award is presented to swimmers who show strong work ethic at practice and meets and is an example for others.
This year’s recipients were Luvlee Croci, Dakota Stoutenger, Sage Hourihan, Kaitlyn Trudell, Tim McAfee, Kody Harris, Patrice Hudson, Courtney Pierce, Camille Stevenson and Grant Marriner.
Second row left to right: Camille Stevenson, Luvlee Croci, Patrice Hudson, Tim McAfee.
Third row left to right: Dakota Stoutenger, Kaitlyn Trudell, Sage Hourihan and Grant Marriner.
The Most Improved Award is presented to swimmers who have shown the most growth this season in time, stroke, or attitude.
This year’s recipients were Jaden Patterson, Airyona Croci, Jase Crawford, Dawson Curtis, Andrew Dedich, Michael Mankiewicz, Kayla Dingman, Joshua Hotaling, Christina Thompson and Abby Hinman.
The Achievement Award is presented to swimmers who excel in their individual events.
This year’s recipients were Miwa Budic, Kyle Buck, Christina Tallents, Justin Grower, Mallory Upcraft, Jenna Ruzekowicz, Cali Ceterski and Alex Semchenko.
The Most Valuable Swimmer Award is presented to stand-out swimmers who are most valuable to the team and their age group.
This year’s recipients were Carolyn Zedack, Ross Gardner, Mark Tallents, Ean Stevenson, Andrew Distin, Rimma Mankiewicz, David Tallents and Jacob Strauss.
The team’s top two honors are the Teammate and Coaches’ awards.
Anna Guernsey won the Teammate Award, in which every team member votes for the person whom they feel has been the most outstanding teammate.
Courtney Beckwith and Janelle Tallents won the Coaches’ Award, given to outstanding team members by head coach Hinman and assistant coaches Raina Hinman and Daisy Ruiz.
They were given the award because they are natural leaders who help out with anything that is needed and encourage others to do the same. They are always cheering on teammates and stand out as good role models.
The Fulton YMCA Speed Demons is a community-based competitive swim team that emphasizes individual growth as part of a team.
Boys and girls ages 5 through 18 are eligible to join.
Prior experience is not needed.
Team members come from Fulton and surrounding communities such as Hannibal, Phoenix, and Mexico.
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