BASS takes to open water

The Battlefield Area Star Swimmers competed in the Virginia Open Water State Championships held at Chris Greene Lake near Charlottesville on Saturday. More than 100 swimmers, of which 21 were from BASS, competed for half-mile (10 & under), one-mile (11-12 years) and 2-mile (13 & older) titles.

Five BASS swimmers, including three Culpeper residents, won medals.

Josh Thompson won the gold medal for Boys 10 & under. Owen van Krimpen won the silver medal for Boys 11-12 years and Annie Boone won the bronze medal for Girls 11-12 years.

Nick Montes de Oca of Orange County won the bronze medal for Boys 15 & Older and Zack Switser of Fluvanna County won the gold medal for Boys 13–14.

The next swim meets will be the Summer Awards (July 17-19), Senior Champs (July 23-26) and the Virginia Age Groups Championships (July 30 –Aug. 2).

Already four BASS swimmers, including three from Culpeper, have qualified for the Eastern Zones Age Group Championships Aug. 12-15 at Penn State University. Montes de Oca, Josh Thompson, Austin Tate and van Krimpen will all represent Virginia in the Eastern Zones.