The Emporia Aquatic Club just concluded its fall season, but not without some impressive performances from its members.
The best showings came from 9-year-old Maggie Hatfield, who was the only club swimmer that attended the Level I championship meet in Wichita on Dec. 8-9.
In the highly competitive meet, Hatfield finished fourth in the 10-and-under 50-yard backstroke (35.78 seconds) and 19th in the 50-yard freestyle (32.89 seconds).
Hatfield also finished with strong marks at the Level II meet in Newton. She finished runner-up in the 10-and-under backstroke (1:24.95) and also took second in the 50-yard freestyle (31.96 seconds).
Other events she competed in were the 100-yard breaststroke (4th place, 1:35.99), 50-yard breaststroke (4th, 43.36), 50-yard butterfly (6th, 40.61) and 200-yard freestyle (7th, 2:59.60).
Ten-year-old Jordan Metz also cut time from four of her events at the Level II championship meet. She finished 21st in the 100-yard freestyle (1:33.21), 21st in the 100-yard individual medley (1:44.37), 25th in the 50-yard butterfly (50.75) and 28th in the 50-yard backstroke (48.34).
Several other EAC swimmers qualified for the Level II meet but did not compete. They included Regan Hastert (10-and-under 50-yard back, 100-yard back, 50-yard breast, 50-yard fly, 100-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle), Jessi Loucks (10-and-under 50-yard free, 100-yard free, 50-yard breast, 100-yard breast, 50-yard fly), Elizabeth Heit (10-and-under 50-yard free, 100-yard free, 50-yard breast and 100-yard breast) and Kathryn Scherich (senior 50-yard free, 100-yard free, 200-yard free, 100-yard back, 100-yard breast and 100-yard fly).
Swimmers are scored in A, B and C divisions based on their entry times for each event. The following swimmers earned first-place finishes in their respective events and divisions at qualifying meets:
* Hatfield (B,100-yard back at Fort Leavenworth; B, 50-yard back at Manhattan; B, 50-yard back at Hutchinson; B, 100-yard breast at Hutchinson; B, 100-yard back at Hutchinson; C, 100-yard free at Hutchinson)
* Hastert (C, 50-yard fly at Hutchinson)
* Loucks (C, 100-yard breast at Hutchinson)
* Metz (C, 50-yard back at Hutchinson)
The EAC swims at the EHS pool Monday through Friday at 5:45 p.m. during the school year.