FAST Dominates Meet of Champs, Capturing 45 Gold Medals and Shattering League Swim Records

The Fayette Area Swim Team (FAST) traveled to El Campo on June 27 to compete in the SALT League Meet of Champs, the league’s championship meet that concludes the regular summer swim season. The event brought together the league’s top swimmers from the Fayette Area Swim Team, Columbus Catfish, Schulenburg Sharks, and WAKE Aquatics for a day of elite competition.

Earning a spot at the Meet of Champs is an accomplishment in itself. Swimmers had to qualify based on their times throughout the regular season, with only the top six swimmers in freestyle events, top four swimmers in backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly, and the top three swimmers in the Individual Medley advancing to the championship meet.

FAST entered the meet with one goal—to finish the season strong—and the swimmers did exactly that.

When the final race was complete, FAST stood atop the podium with an incredible 45 first-place finishes, 32 second-place finishes, and 19 third-place finishes across the meet’s 73 events, showcasing the depth and talent that has defined the team throughout the summer. The championship meet also proved to be another historic day for the FAST program. Team members established five new FAST team records while also rewriting the SALT League record book with an astounding 14 new league records.

The coaching staff was proud not only of the medals earned but also of the way the swimmers competed.

“This meet brings together the very best swimmers in our league, so just qualifying is an accomplishment,” the coaches said. “To come away with 45 gold medals, 32 silver medals, 19 bronze medals, five FAST records, and 14 league records speaks volumes about the commitment these athletes have shown all summer. Their willingness to get up early, work hard, encourage one another, and trust the process has paid off in an incredible way.”

The coaches also praised the team’s sportsmanship and determination throughout the championship meet.

“We’ve watched these swimmers grow tremendously over the course of the season,” they added. “The records and championships are exciting, but what makes us most proud is seeing our swimmers support one another, overcome challenges, and compete with confidence. They represented FAST with tremendous class, and we couldn’t ask for a better group of athletes.”

With the SALT League championship complete, many FAST swimmers will now shift their focus to TAAF Regionals, the TAAF Summer Games, and the State Games of America. If their championship performance is any indication, the FAST swimmers are well prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

FAST & SALT League Record Breakers FAST Team Records

7-8 Boys 100 Yard Freestyle Relay – Thaddus Biles, Bryson Ulrich, Oliver Mao, and Grayson Gartman 9-10 Girls Medley Relay – Kendall Carlson, Violet Banks, Ketzally Barzenas, and Lilah Huette 11-12 Boys Medley Relay – Tyler Wyatt, Will Janda, Daniel Hromadka, and David Collins Eleanor Carey – 15-18 Girls 50 Yard Backstroke Adysen Janacek – 15-18 Girls 50 Yard Breaststroke (also set a new SALT League record)

SALT League Records

Avery Gabriel – 13-14 Girls Individual Medley 6 & Under Freestyle Relay – Kambryn Wolff, Osiris Calvert, Layla Patterson, and Everett Bounds 13-14 Boys 100 Yard Freestyle Relay – Andy Wyatt, Oliver Schmidt, Samuel Loehr, and Garrison Ulrich 7-8 Boys Medley Relay – Grayson Gartman, Bryson Ulrich, Jack Wied, and Thaddus Biles 13-14 Girls Medley Relay – Avery Gabriel, Makenna Emmel, CC Bartek, and Abigail Taylor 13-14 Boys Medley Relay – Oliver Schmidt, Andy Wyatt, Garrison Ulrich, and Samuel Loehr Kambryn Wolff – 6 & Under 25 Yard Freestyle Avery Gabriel – 13-14 Girls 50 Yard Freestyle Adalyn Emmel – 11-12 Girls 50 Yard Backstroke Avery Gabriel – 13-14 Girls 50 Yard Backstroke Andy Wyatt – 13-14 Boys 50 Yard Backstroke Adysen Janacek – 15-18 Girls 50 Yard Breaststroke (also a FAST team record) Gavin Cook – 15-18 Boys 50 Yard Breaststroke Adalyn Emmel – 11-12 Girls 50 Yard Butterfly Makenna Emmel – 13-14 Girls 50 Yard Butterfly The Meet of Champs was a fitting conclusion to an outstanding regular season for FAST. The team finished the summer with dozens of swimmers achieving personal-best times, 39 team records broken during the regular season, five additional FAST records at the championship meet, 14 new SALT League records, and a championship medal haul of 45 gold, 32 silver, and 19 bronze medals. The future remains bright as FAST swimmers now prepare to represent the team in postseason competition.