Abbey Gardner wins 4 gold medals

HARDYSTON — Abbey Gardner of Branchville recently competed in the 11/12 NJ YMCA State Swim Championships held at the Ocean County YMCA as a member of the Sussex County YMCA Swordfish swim team.
Gardner took home gold in four individual events as well as two silvers and 5th-place finish. Gardner achieved her personal best times in all seven events she competed in and set team records in all of them.
Gardner won the 200 Individual medley with a time of 2:14.45, 200-yard fly (2:12.58), the 200 yard backstroke with a time of 2:10.21 and rounded out her successful weekend with her final gold medal in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:17.69.
Gardner also teamed up with Abbey Panzarella (Ogdensburg), Clare Schwartz (Newton) and Trinity Hartung (Hamburg) to break two team records while competing in the 200 freestyle relay (1:52.47) which placed them 12th overall, and the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 2:09.70 which placed 15th. The Boys 11/12 200 medley relay comprised of Henry Bysshe (Sparta), Ayden Alexander (Hamburg), Alessio Orlando (Hardyston) & JJ Kane (Sparta) also set a team record finishing 16th with a time of 2:06.82.
These swimmers were among 11 members of the YMCA who competed in the meet. The swimmers were from all over parts of Sussex County: Montague, Vernon & Stillwater to name a few. The Sussex YMCA team consist of over 85 swimmers.
Anyone looking to join the team or would like more information about it can contact Ray Gaffney, Competitive Aquatics Director at 973 209 9622 or rgaffney@metroymcas.org
http://www.metroymcas.org/sussex-county-ymca