HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Every time swimmers lined up for a breaststroke event at the Peyton Swope Memorial Invitational, one lane remained empty.
Lane 1 was left open in memory of Swope, a former Hagerstown YMCA Gators swimmer who died in a car accident in June 2018 at age 13 while traveling to a swim meet. Breaststroke was her favorite stroke.
The tribute was part of the fourth annual invitational, held Oct. 9-10 at the Hagerstown YMCA, where swimmers from four Maryland clubs competed while helping raise money for a scholarship established in Swope’s memory.
The Gators and Swope’s family established the memorial scholarship fund to honor Peyton RayAnn Swope. According to the meet announcement, the first $2,000 raised goes toward the scholarship endowment, with the remaining funds divided equally between the endowment and the Gators’ swimmers and equipment.
The scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating senior swimmer.
Swope’s memory remains part of the Gators’ identity throughout the year. Team members wear swim caps bearing her initials, PS, and a plaque at the YMCA recognizes the scholarship recipients.
In the pool, the Gators recorded 20 individual victories and 40 top-three finishes during the two-day competition.
Addie Philp, Isabel Garver, Eli Harsh and Caleb Lincoln each won three events for the Gators, while Oscar Wu, Haley Fuss and Charlotte Magaha won two events apiece. The Gators’ other champions were Lizzy Milloway and Cooper Rishell.
The following is a complete list of the Gators’ top-three individual finishers:
Addie Philp: First, girls 400 IM (5:14.63); first, 11-12 200 IM (2:35.40); first, 12-and-under 200 freestyle (2:14.44); second, 9-12 100 butterfly (1:06.83).
Isabel Garver: First, girls 12-and-under 50 freestyle (29.27); first, 9-12 50 backstroke (34.54); first, 9-12 50 breaststroke (38.28).
Eli Harsh: First, boys 500 freestyle (5:19.72); first, 13-and-over 50 freestyle (23.45); first, 13-and-over 100 breaststroke (1:05.71).
Caleb Lincoln: First, boys 11-12 200 IM (2:48.69); first, 9-12 100 butterfly (1:27.60); first, 12-and-under 200 freestyle (2:28.40).
Haley Fuss: First, girls 9-12 100 backstroke (1:07.53); first, 9-12 100 butterfly (1:06.70); second, 500 freestyle (6:08.89); second, 12-and-under 200 freestyle (2:14.47).
Oscar Wu: First, boys 13-and-over 100 butterfly (56.30); first, 13-and-over 100 backstroke (55.84); second, 500 freestyle (5:21.24); second, 13-and-over 50 breaststroke (29.69).
Charlotte Magaha: First, girls 1,000 freestyle (13:38.68); first, 9-12 100 breaststroke (1:22.06); third, 11-12 200 IM (2:54.08).
Lizzy Milloway: First, girls 13-and-over 100 breaststroke (1:14.52); second, 13-and-over 50 freestyle (27.49).
Cooper Rishell: First, boys 8-and-under 25 breaststroke (29.90).
Karsten Johnson: Second, boys 13-and-over 50 backstroke (29.40); second, 13-and-over 200 freestyle (2:01.61).
Riley Nipps: Second, boys 9-12 100 breaststroke (1:37.72); second, 9-12 50 breaststroke (44.17).
Logan Jardine: Second, boys 9-12 100 butterfly (1:53.45); third, 9-12 100 backstroke (1:32.59).
Carley Johnson: Second, girls 1,000 freestyle (14:15.79).
Madeline Lincoln: Second, girls 13-and-over 200 breaststroke (3:05.04).
Claire Shaffer: Second, girls 13-and-over 50 breaststroke (38.36).
Ella Staley: Second, girls 10-and-under 100 IM (1:39.80).
Michael Shaffer: Third, boys 13-and-over 100 backstroke (1:07.29).
David Li: Third, boys 11-12 200 IM (3:14.00).
Brayden Norfleet: Third, boys 9-12 50 breaststroke (48.71).
Photos by Sarah Lincoln
