Carroll Invitational: A family affair

WINFIELD - It was an evening of good times and 'good times' as 362 entrants from eight teams went up against the clock and each other at the 26th Carroll County Invitational Swim Meet on Wednesday at the Carroll County Swim Club in Winfield.

After a nearly an hour rain delay, the boys and girls aged six to 15 and over competed in the 100-meter individual medley, 25, 50 and 100-meter freestyle, and 25 and 50-meter backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke.

Karen Straehle, whose family began organizing the event 26 years ago said she was pleased with the turnout and the addition of a new team in the county.

The new Nottingham Swim Club joined the Carroll Swim Club, Westminster Riding Club, North Carroll Swim Club, Freedom Swim Club, Ridge Seals Swim Club, Carroll Aquatics Swim Club and Westminster Swim Team to round out the competition.

"The interest continues to grow especially with more family members taking up the sport," Straehle said. "Plus there's added interest with the Olympics this year, although not as much as there was four years ago."

Straehle is also looking forward to the Straehle Open hosted by the Four Seasons Swim Club in Hampstead on July 25th.

While very few meet records were shattered at the Invitational, the times were considered by one coach to be fairly respectable.

"We're seeing some very good times considering the rain delay," Westminster Riding Club coach Dave Benedictis. "The kids have really worked hard and it shows."

Benedictis said coaching the 125 member is "like a full-time job." But it's one he really enjoys especially when he can coach daughters Haley and Gabrielle along with his son Joseph.

"We go from 8:30 to noon every day," Benedictis said. "We also work out in the evenings."

Hard work paid off for one member of the Carroll County Swim Club. Allison Tomsuden put up a record-breaking performance in the Girls 9-10, 50-meter freestyle. The 10-year old from Eldersburg beat Rachel Graham's time of 31.93 set in 1999 with a time of 31.75.

"It feels really good to win," Tomsuden said. "And it's also a lot of fun just to be out here swimming."

Tomsuden isn't the only family member having fun. Her three brothers, Christopher, 8, Timmy, 14 and Matthew, 15, are all members of the Carroll Swim Club team and all came up winners in their various events.

Christopher won the Boys 8 and under 25-meter freestyle, Timmy the 13-14, 100- meter individual medley, while Matthew took first in the 15 and over 100-meter individual medley.

The Tomsuden's practice every day at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC) whose most famous member is multiple Olympic gold medal winner, Michael Phelps.

"We don't see him there too much," Matthew Tomsuden said. But his sister Allison noted that despite Phelps' busy schedule she was able to get his autograph.

All of the Tomsudens began swimming at an early age and are carrying on a family tradition. Both parents, Laura and Drew Tomsuden were college swimmers at Frostburg.

"It's something we all enjoy and look forward to," Drew said. "The kids are eager to practice everyday. They need very little coaxing."