Successful swimmers

The Mimosa Dolphins swam their way to the top in the divisional swim meet, capping off a four-year stretch of being undefeated.

The coach of the invincible team, Joy Stewart, had this to say about them,

“They’re just a really great team. It takes a strong team, not individuals, to keep this track, and they each really are. By their cooperation and enthusiasm, you can tell how much they love what they do.”

The team began their practice in early May, five days a week, and began the swim season in early June.

“They hardly ever miss a practice, which shows how dedicated they are,” says Stewart.

Several first place wins helped the Dolphins take the top spot.

Rhett Comeaux came in ahead of Metairie Country Clubs’ Phillip Endom in the 25-yard freestyle event in the boys 6-and-under division with a finals time of 18.71.

Ashley Cheramie took her team to the top in the girls 7-8 25-yard freestyle, beating Metairie’s Hannah Morris with a time of 16.68.

Mimosa’s Jaden Bellina swam faster than the rest in the 9-10 girls 50-yard freestyle event, followed by Gabrielle deBruler in the 9-10 girls 50-yard backstroke. deBruler beat Bellemeade’s Emily Preen with a time of 45.10.

The club also placed first in the 7-8 girls 100-yard freestyle relay with Hannah Bellina, Hannah Borne, Mique Lauve and Ashley Cheramie displaying teamwork.

The 9-10 boys proved they were a force to be reckoned with in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team consisted of Caleb Karling, Jay Madden, Mason Candies and Matthew Champagne.

Cheramie also proved her skill when she took the top spot in the 7-8 25-yard breaststroke event, followed by fellow teammate Hannha Bellina in second place.

Dolphin Brandon Davison seeded in the 7-8 25-yard backstroke event with a time of 27.48 and took first with a finals time of 26.00.

The 9-10 50-yard girls backstroke was taken by Jaden Bellina with a finals time of 39.78, followed by the 200-yard relay team placing first. Team members included Gabrielle deBruler, Logan Tauzin, Jaden Bellina and Ashley Cheramie.

Blaise Wise placed first in the 11-12 boys 50-yard freestyle with a time final time of 28.50 followed by Devin Candies in the 13-14 boys 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.87. Candies beat our Ormond Country Club’s Matthew Arceneaux by over a minute.

Wise continued his victory in the 50-yard breaststroke with a winning time of 37.87, trumping Ormond to second and third place.

Jordan P. Unger kept the boys on top with a win in the 15-18 boys 50-yard freestyle.

Candies continued to show his ability to be a winner when he finished first in the 13-14 boys 50-yard backstroke with a time of 30.43.

Paul Stewart brought it home for the Dolphins when he out swam Ormond Country Club’s Garrett Dipuma in the 13-14 boys 50-yard backstroke with a final time of 27.74.

As a team, the Dolphin boys took first in the 15-18 boys 200-yard freestyle relay.

Relay members included Paul F. Stewart, Hunter Robinson, Dillon Tauzine and Jordan P. Unger.

Vincent Tamplain finished the 11-12 boys 50-yard butterfly with a finals time of 35.81 followed by another first place victory for Paul F. Stewart in the 50-yard butterfly for the 15-18 boys division.

Blaise Wise lead the 13-14 boys 200-yard medley relay team to the top spot over Ormond with the help of fellow swimmers Sean M. Finn, Devin Candies and Kyle Canterbury.

Mimosa closed of the invitational with a first place spot in the 15-18 boys 200-yard medley relay which also consisted of Stewart, Robinson, Tauzin and Unger.

Overall the Mimosa Dolphins claimed 21 first places and numerous second and third spots in the competition.

Ormond Country Club’s Matthew Lewis placed first in the 9-10 boys 50-yard freestyle followed by Avery Bourdonnay in the 6-and-under girls 25-yard backstroke.

Ormond’s Claire Dantin took the top spot in the 7-8 girls 25-yard backstroke, as did Luke Powers for the boys in the same event.

Noah Wilkins came out ahead with a finals time of 37.93 for Ormond in the 9-10 boys 50-yard backstroke. Jack Collins finished 45.00 for the East Bank club in the 9-10 boys 50-yard breaststroke.

OCC’s Claire Dantin beat out Mimosa’s Hannah Bellina in the 7-8 girls 25-yard butterfly with a finals time of 21.93.

The OCC relay team swam effectively, racking up a finals time of 2:18.18 in the 11-12 girls 200-yard freestyle relay. Relay members included Megan Garretson, Ashley Carter, Maddie Sellers and Lauren Robicheaux.

The 11-12 boys freestyle relay team also came in first. The group included Cole Grieshop, Michael Genovese, Reid Detillier and Zachary Dantin.

Ormond placed first in the 13-14 boys 200-yard freestyle relay with the help of Zachary Sellers, Christopher Powers, Zachary Dantin and Matthew Arceneaux.

Lauren Robicheaux came through for her team in the 11-12 girls 50-yard backstroke, finishing first over Metairie.

Natalie Kern helped Ormond beat Bellemeade in the 15-18 girls 50-yard backstroke with a finals time of 37.13 followed by a first place rank for Mike Roy in the 15-18 boys 50-yard breaststroke.

Kern also showed effective swimming in the 15-18 girls 50-yard butterfly with a finals time of 32.12.

OCC beat out Mimosa in the 11-12 boys 200-yard medley relay. Relayers were Michael Genovese, Cole Grieshop, Zachary Dantin and Reid Detillier.

Willowdale Country Club earned a first place spot when Shannon Briner finished with a finals time of 34.22 in the 15-18 girls 50-yard backstroke.

Tyler Massimini beat out OCC’s Zachary Sellers with a finals time of 32.70 in the 13-14 boys 50-yard breaststroke.

Massimini also placed first in the 50-yard butterfly in his age group.

Overall, Mimosa placed first, while Ormond Country Club came in second.

Metairie Country Club and the Bellemeade Sharks rounded out third and fourth places, while Willowdale finished fifth.

To celebrate, the Mimosa Dolphins will have a pool party at the club on Aug. 4.

St. Charles Herald-Guide Editorial Intern, Lea Trusty, contributed to this story.