Occoquan Swimming Dominates 2024 East Coast WinterFest with Stunning Futures Cuts!

Numerous swift swims took place at the 2024 East Coast WinterFest, with Occoquan swimmers alone shattering 41 meet records over three days in Richmond, Virginia.

Tennessee commit Gabe Nunziata shined at the meet for Old Dominion Aquatic Club. Following his successful defense of the Winter Juniors — East 200 breaststroke title with a personal best of 1:54.36, which ranks 30th in the boys’ 17-18 age division, Nunziata primarily competed in secondary events. He achieved a personal record of 45.96 in the 100 freestyle prelims, qualifying second, before deciding not to compete in the final.

One of the most thrilling races of the meet occurred in the boys’ 200 IM final, where Nunziata went against Alex Grocholski. The 16-year-old Grocholski, a 2026 “BOTR” recruit and committed to Virginia Tech, had the advantage over Nunziata at the halfway point, having split 24.12/27.14 on the butterfly/backstroke segments. However, Nunziata was just two-tenths behind and used a strong second half (29.98/25.92) to surge ahead of Grocholski, clinching the victory in 1:47.32, while Grocholski placed second with a personal best of 1:48.47. Nunziata’s time was merely two-hundredths shy of the personal best he clocked earlier this month for a 13th-place finish at Winter Juniors — East.

The boys’ 200 IM was the only individual race that Occoquan Swimming’s Grocholski did not win. He triumphed in every freestyle event except for the sprints, achieving personal bests of 1:38.51/4:23.11 as he won the 200/500 freestyle and registered a season-best in the 1000 freestyle (9:15.17). He also saw enhancements in his stroke events, taking victory in the 200 breaststroke (2:01.51), the 200 butterfly (1:49.27), and the 400 IM (3:54.63), all in personal-best times.

Grocholski accumulated 137 points, earning the boys’ 15-16 high point honor at the meet. Nevertheless, demonstrating the dominance of Occoquan at the meet, securing top spots in the combined, girls’, and boys’ standings, Grocholski’s 137 points stand fifth on the team. Julian Francisco, 12, led the team with 194 points—and also the boys’ 11-12 high point—while Aubrey Rossi garnered 174 points, securing her the girls’ 11-12 high point award. Eight-year-old Katherine Payne accumulated 155 points, and Nicholas Wall, 10, brought in 148 points to complete Occoquan’s top four point scorers.

Andy Wen, 11, also delivered a remarkable performance at the meet. He clinched victory in five events with five personal bests, winning the 500 freestyle (5:25.69), the 50 breaststroke (32.11), the 100 breaststroke (1:08.15), the 200 breaststroke (2:32.92), and the 200 IM (2:18.64). Meanwhile, Tommy Watson dominated the 13&Over 100/200 breaststroke, achieving his Futures cut in the 100 breaststroke (55.94).

In the girls’ 13&O 100/200 breaststroke, Watson’s Williamsburg Aquatics teammate Jenny Hofer engaged in two closely contested races with Upper Main Line YMCA’s Paige Fisher. Fisher, 17, emerged victorious in both races, recording times of 1:03.02/2:17.28. Nevertheless, Hofer, 15, attained her Futures cuts in both competitions, swimming times of 1:04.85/2:17.87. Additionally, Elizabeth Gregory secured a Futures cut in the 100 fly, winning the 13&O race with a season-best of 55.41. She also triumphed in the 200 fly (2:03.78), 500 freestyle (4:55.36), and 1000 freestyle (10:12.62) in Futures cut times.