John Whiteside, a record-setting member of the Westport Weston Family YMCA Water Rat Swim Team and a senior at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, has verbally committed to swim for the University of Virginia next fall.
Whiteside is coming off a break-out season. Last spring, he helped lead the Water Rat Men’s team to a second-place finish at the 2015 YMCA Short-Course National Championships, placing 5th in the 200 Backstroke, 6th in the 200 Freestyle and 8th in the 100 Free. He was also part of Water Rat relay teams that contributed significant points to the team total.
Along the way, Whiteside set new Water Rat marks in the 200 Backstroke, 100 Backstroke and 100 Freestyle (relay).
“It’s great to see all the effort that John has put in the water pay off in the college decision-making process,” said Ellen Johnston, Water Rat Head Coach and the YMCA’s Director of Competitive Swimming.
“It’s also nice to see him get the spotlight this season, having watched so many of his fellow Water Rats graduate over the past several years and go off to continue their swimming careers at the collegiate level,” Johnston adds.
“My goal this short course season is to really develop more power in my freestyle and backstroke,” Whiteside told SwimSwam, a website that covers the world of competitive swimming.
The Water Rats’ annual Freestyle Frenzy was renamed four years ago for Maura Marden, a Family Y swimmer, coach and Water Rat volunteer who lost a courageous battle with leukemia in 2010 at age 53.
“We are honored to be able to keep Maura’s effervescent spirit alive with this meet,” said Head Coach Johnston.
“Aside from her many accomplishments as a competitive swimmer, coach and swim instructor, Maura’s three sons grew up in our program, and as a devoted Water Rat parent, she spent many November weekends volunteering at the Freestyle Frenzy – including timing the meet for 13 seasons. Maura’s boundless energy, spirit and determination will forever be etched into the hearts of the Water Rats Swim Team.”
Last year’s meet, the first multi-sessional swim meet in the YMCA’s new facility, attracted more than 700 athletes from teams across the region.
For current schedules and more information about the Water Rat Swim Team, please visit www.westporty.org.