June 7, 2026

Tega Cay Sun

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YMCA of Upper Palmetto Rays Power to Top Finishes at State Championships

Thomas Hyslip

The YMCA of Upper Palmetto Rays (RAYS-SC) delivered a commanding performance at the 2026 SCLSC Short Course Age Group Championships held from February 12–15, 2026, at the Greenville County Aquatic Complex.

Competing against the state’s top age-group talent, the Rays established themselves as a premier program, securing a runner-up finish in the girls’ team standings, 4th in the boys’ teams standings, and 3rd in combined teams. The Rays collected 6 Event Championships, 13 Silver Medals, and 9 Bronze Medals, showcasing depth across sprints, distance, and stroke events.

Team Standings Highlights

  • Girls Team: 2nd Place (2,290.50 Points)

  • Boys Team: 4th Place (1,431 Points)

Championship Highlights

The Rays’ 13-14 Girls were a dominant force, led by Julia Corbi and Belle Gload. Corbi was a standout individual performer, capturing gold in the 400 Yard IM and 500 Yard Freestyle, while Gload sprinted to victory in the 50 Yard Freestyle and the 100 Yard Freestyle. The 13-14 Girls also displayed incredible teamwork, winning titles in both the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay and 400 Yard Medley Relay.

On the boys’ side, Nicho Giraldo was a consistent podium presence in the 13-14 age group, earning silver medals in the 100 Yard Butterfly, 200 Yard Butterfly, and 400 Yard IM.

Podium Finishers (Top 3)

Gold Medalists (State Champions)

  • Julia Corbi: Girls 13-14 400 Yard IM (4:31.72), Girls 13-14 500 Yard Freestyle (5:15.54)

  • Belle Gload: Girls 13-14 50 Yard Freestyle (24.36), Girls 13-14 100 Yard Freestyle (53.78)

  • Relay: Girls 13-14 200 Yard Freestyle Relay (1:40.05)

  • Relay: Girls 13-14 400 Yard Medley Relay (3:58.09)

Silver Medalists

  • Julia Corbi: Girls 13-14 100 Yard IM (1:01.31)

  • Nicho Giraldo: Boys 13-14 100 Yard Butterfly (55.60), Boys 13-14 200 Yard Butterfly (2:04.90), Boys 13-14 400 Yard IM (4:20.49)

  • Elise Chwastiak: Girls 11-12 50 Yard Breaststroke (33.62), Girls 11-12 100 Yard Breaststroke (1:13.01)

  • Blokely Hyche: Girls 11-12 200 Yard Backstroke (2:19.71)

  • Lydia Ghent: Girls 13-14 200 Yard Breaststroke (2:29.63)

  • Livvy Thorpe: Girls 13-14 200 Yard Backstroke (2:08.34)

  • Adele Heminger: Girls 10 & Under 50 Yard Breaststroke (38.39)

  • Relay: Girls 13-14 400 Yard Freestyle Relay (3:39.81)

  • Relay: Girls 11-12 200 Yard Medley Relay (1:59.35)

  • Relay: Girls 13-14 200 Yard Medley Relay (1:49.97)

Bronze Medalists

  • Flora Hadley: Girls 11-12 400 Yard IM (5:09.33)

  • Blokely Hyche: Girls 11-12 100 Yard Freestyle (56.70), Girls 11-12 50 Yard Backstroke (29.70)

  • Violet Fleming: Girls 11-12 50 Yard Butterfly (28.86)

  • Livvy Thorpe: Girls 13-14 200 Yard Freestyle (1:57.38)

  • Julia Corbi: Girls 13-14 100 Yard Butterfly (58.51), Girls 13-14 200 Yard Butterfly (2:14.67)

  • Wyatt Matz: Boys 13-14 400 Yard IM (4:20.64)

  • Relay: Girls 11-12 400 Yard Medley Relay (4:25.78)

Full RAYS-SC Results Listing

Girls 13-14

  • 50 Yard Freestyle: 1. Belle Gload (24.36); 21. Lydia Ghent (26.03); 25. Avery Savage (26.23); 40. MC Porter (27.27); 42. Addison Wise (27.35); 44. Isabel Barron (27.71).

  • 100 Yard Freestyle: 16. Maci Hightower (55.29 in prelims).

  • 200 Yard Freestyle: 3. Livvy Thorpe (1:57.38); 5. Lydia Ghent (1:59.49); 18. Maci Hightower (2:04.42).

  • 500 Yard Freestyle: 1. Julia Corbi (5:15.54); 6. Gwen Tanis (5:24.50); 9. Maci Hightower (5:29.68).

  • 100 Yard Backstroke: 4. Livvy Thorpe (58.15); 5. Avery Savage (1:01.12); 18. Gwen Tanis (1:04.01).

  • 200 Yard Backstroke: 2. Livvy Thorpe (2:08.34); 4. Julia Corbi (2:10.18); 8. Avery Savage (2:14.19).

  • 100 Yard Breaststroke: 4. Lydia Ghent (1:08.28); 22. Gwen Tanis (1:14.41); 25. Anna Peterson (1:14.89); 31. Addison Wise (1:15.93); 39. Mia Ford (1:16.85); 41. Lauren Wetmore (1:17.94).

  • 200 Yard Breaststroke: 2. Lydia Ghent (2:29.63); 20. Anna Peterson (2:42.71); 25. Lauren Wetmore (2:44.82); 26. Addison Wise (2:45.14); 29. Millie Wilkerson (2:47.04); 31. MC Porter (2:47.42); 32. Mia Ford (2:47.60); 40. Isabel Barron (2:53.22).

  • 100 Yard Butterfly: 3. Julia Corbi (58.51); 12. Avery Savage (1:00.83); 13. Lydia Ghent (1:02.12); 17. MC Porter (1:03.46).

  • 200 Yard Butterfly: 3. Julia Corbi (2:14.67); 7. MC Porter (2:20.92); 10. Maci Hightower (2:27.04); 16. Samantha Roelandts (2:31.22).

  • 100 Yard IM: 2. Julia Corbi (1:01.31); 4. Avery Savage (1:02.25); 12. Gwen Tanis (1:04.25); 17. Anna Peterson (1:06.47); 20. Maci Hightower (1:07.81).

  • 400 Yard IM: 1. Julia Corbi (4:31.72); 6. Avery Savage (4:46.98); 8. Livvy Thorpe (4:55.99); 15. Maci Hightower (4:59.56).

  • Relays:

    • 200 Free Relay: 1. RAYS-SC A (1:40.05); 10. RAYS-SC B (1:46.70); 14. RAYS-SC C (1:48.43).

    • 400 Free Relay: 2. RAYS-SC A (3:39.81); 8. RAYS-SC B (3:51.46); 15. RAYS-SC C (3:58.64).

    • 200 Medley Relay: 2. RAYS-SC A (1:49.97); 8. RAYS-SC B (1:55.69).

    • 400 Medley Relay: 1. RAYS-SC A (3:58.09); 5. RAYS-SC B (4:14.38); 15. RAYS-SC C (4:30.32).

Boys 13-14

  • 50 Yard Freestyle: 12. Lukas Hoerschgens-Ham (23.88); 35. Nate Mabus (24.96); 48. Blake Klinefelter (25.35); 49. Veli Dinev (25.40); 59. Tanner Bell (25.95).

  • 200 Yard Freestyle: 7. Wyatt Matz (1:52.47); 16. Lukas Hoerschgens-Ham (1:56.47); 18. Louden Palmer (1:57.30).

  • 1650 Yard Freestyle: 10. Carter Leaver (18:07.32); 11. Ashton Medlin (18:20.79).

  • 100 Yard Backstroke: 12. Lukas Hoerschgens-Ham (58.94); 17. Louden Palmer (1:00.48); 26. Nate Mabus (1:01.82); 33. Tanner Bell (1:02.61); 35. Blake Klinefelter (1:02.85); 53. Ryan Johnson (1:05.18).

  • 100 Yard Breaststroke: 6. Veli Dinev (1:03.35 in prelims); 29. Lukas Hoerschgens-Ham (1:10.94); 31. Jack Tyler (1:11.32); 45. Blake Klinefelter (1:13.90).

  • 200 Yard Breaststroke: 6. Veli Dinev (2:18.50); 13. Wyatt Matz (2:24.45); 28. Ayushman Paul (2:40.42).

  • 100 Yard Butterfly: 2. Nicho Giraldo (55.60); 7. Louden Palmer (57.51); 26. Lukas Hoerschgens-Ham (1:00.04); 34. Veli Dinev (1:01.44).

  • 200 Yard Butterfly: 2. Nicho Giraldo (2:04.90); 9. Wyatt Matz (2:11.63); 11. Louden Palmer (2:06.68); 16. Veli Dinev (2:14.02).

  • 100 Yard IM: 6. Nicho Giraldo (57.97); 12. Lukas Hoerschgens-Ham (59.78).

  • 400 Yard IM: 2. Nicho Giraldo (4:20.49); 3. Wyatt Matz (4:20.64); 14. Veli Dinev (4:34.38); 19. Louden Palmer (4:43.93); 23. Carter Leaver (4:50.03); 24. Ashton Medlin (4:50.90); 27. Blake Klinefelter (5:00.86).

  • Relays:

    • 200 Free Relay: 6. RAYS-SC A (1:38.94); 9. RAYS-SC B (1:39.04).

    • 200 Medley Relay: 6. RAYS-SC A (1:47.83); 13. RAYS-SC B (1:53.57); 17. RAYS-SC C (1:55.24).

    • 400 Medley Relay: 4. RAYS-SC A (3:52.01); 17. RAYS-SC B (4:15.76).

Girls 11-12

  • 50 Yard Freestyle: 3. Blakely Hyche (26.74 prelims); 10. Anna Caroline Hilton (28.07 prelims); 15. Elizabeth McNulty (28.27 prelims); 21. Vienna Randar (28.43); 22. Violet Fleming (28.44); 24. Eden Fulton (28.59).

  • 100 Yard Freestyle: 3. Blakely Hyche (56.70); 9. Anna Caroline Hilton (1:01.03); 10. Elizabeth McNulty (1:01.10); 26. Macyn Castle (1:03.59).

  • 200 Yard Freestyle: 2. Blakely Hyche (2:06.14 prelims); 7. Flora Hadley (2:10.61 prelims); 11. Anna Caroline Hilton (2:13.00); 12. Macyn Castle (2:15.51).

  • 500 Yard Freestyle: 5. Macyn Castle (5:40.81); 9. Flora Hadley (5:50.16); 19. Anna Caroline Hilton (6:05.60); 22. Vienna Randar (6:09.53); 24. Mollie Hanks (6:15.13); 27. Lyla McArdle (6:17.96); 30. Abbie Luck (6:23.98).

  • 1650 Yard Freestyle: 4. Macyn Castle (19:36.04); 14. Mollie Hanks (21:40.55).

  • 50 Yard Backstroke: 3. Blakely Hyche (29.70); 4. Violet Fleming (30.81); 7. Vienna Randar (31.60); 16. Anna Caroline Hilton (32.59).

  • 200 Yard Backstroke: 2. Blakely Hyche (2:19.71); 6. Flora Hadley (2:26.51); 9. Macyn Castle (2:28.24); 10. Anna Caroline Hilton (2:28.27); 11. Violet Fleming (2:30.39); 15. Mollie Hanks (2:33.32); 18. Elizabeth McNulty (2:35.20); 22. Abbie Luck (2:38.33); 28. Lyla McArdle (2:41.36); 34. Ellie Hogan (2:45.70).

  • 50 Yard Breaststroke: 2. Elise Chwastiak (33.62); 11. Eden Fulton (35.85); 15. Elizabeth McNulty (36.88); 18. Ellie Hogan (37.56); 21. Grace Barron (37.87); 26. Abbie Luck (38.45).

  • 100 Yard Breaststroke: 2. Elise Chwastiak (1:13.01); 9. Elizabeth McNulty (1:17.90); 18. Abbie Luck (1:22.29); 19. Vienna Randar (1:22.42); 22. Eden Fulton (1:22.63); 27. Ellie Hogan (1:24.32).

  • 200 Yard Breaststroke: 4. Elise Chwastiak (2:44.35); 10. Elizabeth McNulty (2:54.31); 13. Ellie Hogan (2:54.89); 15. Abbie Luck (2:57.39); 20. Lyla McArdle (3:02.87); 21. Eden Fulton (3:03.14); 23. Grace Barron (3:07.61); 27. Mia Hartnett (3:11.97).

  • 50 Yard Butterfly: 3. Violet Fleming (28.86).

  • 100 Yard Butterfly: 6. Violet Fleming (1:06.60); 9. Flora Hadley (1:08.05); 26. Elise Chwastiak (1:15.45); 27. Lyla McArdle (1:15.72); 28. Eden Fulton (1:16.45).

  • 100 Yard IM: 8. Flora Hadley (1:09.20); 15. Elizabeth McNulty (1:11.17); 17. Vienna Randar (1:12.00); 18. Anna Caroline Hilton (1:12.35); 25. Elise Chwastiak (1:13.38); 29. Ellie Hogan (1:13.58); 30. Macyn Castle (1:13.77).

  • 400 Yard IM: 3. Flora Hadley (5:09.33); 4. Blakely Hyche (5:14.13); 5. Elise Chwastiak (5:16.89); 15. Ellie Hogan (5:42.73).

  • Relays:

    • 200 Free Relay: 4. RAYS-SC A (1:50.69); 8. RAYS-SC B (1:54.11); 17. RAYS-SC C (2:00.85).

    • 400 Free Relay: 4. RAYS-SC A (3:59.47); 11. RAYS-SC B (4:13.63).

    • 200 Medley Relay: 2. RAYS-SC A (1:59.35); 8. RAYS-SC B (2:07.66); 16. RAYS-SC C (2:15.29).

    • 400 Medley Relay: 2. RAYS-SC A (4:25.78); 7. RAYS-SC B (4:41.48); 15. RAYS-SC C (4:53.88).

Boys 11-12

  • 100 Yard Freestyle: 16. Grayson Groff (59.30); 23. Caleb Dorr (1:00.78); 28. Alex Naumchenko (1:02.23).

  • 200 Yard Freestyle: 8. Grayson Groff (2:07.53); 16. Brady Lee (2:13.50); 17. Alex Naumchenko (2:14.15).

  • 500 Yard Freestyle: 5. Grayson Groff (5:39.18); 7. Caleb Dorr (5:42.27); 24. Caleb Leaver (6:23.36); 25. Jack Bansen (6:24.14).

  • 50 Yard Backstroke: 7. Alex Naumchenko (30.93); 14. Caleb Dorr (31.93); 33. Jack Bansen (34.06); 39. Andrew Mabus (35.92).

  • 200 Yard Backstroke: 5. Caleb Dorr (2:22.84); 9. Alex Naumchenko (2:25.97); 10. Zeke Feldman (2:28.12); 14. Jack Bansen (2:30.41).

  • 50 Yard Breaststroke: 20. Grayson Groff (37.02); 26. Zeke Feldman (1:13.52 – 100 IM prelim? No, 50 Breast prelims listed Groff at 36.95, Feldman not in top 20 final).

  • 100 Yard Breaststroke: 17. Grayson Groff (1:19.44); 23. Brady Lee (1:23.16); 27. Zeke Feldman (1:24.40); 28. Weston Clinebelle (1:25.23).

  • 200 Yard Breaststroke: 12. Caleb Dorr (2:50.51); 18. Brady Lee (2:57.95); 23. Weston Clinebelle (3:04.56); 29. Andrew Mabus (3:06.50); 33. Caleb Leaver (3:16.88).

  • 50 Yard Butterfly: 24. Alex Naumchenko (31.85); 40. Andrew Mabus (33.97).

  • 100 Yard Butterfly: 17. Brady Lee (1:11.09).

  • 100 Yard IM: 15. Grayson Groff (1:08.68); 16. Caleb Dorr (1:08.84); 21. Brady Lee (1:12.08); 26. Zeke Feldman (1:13.52); 32. Andrew Mabus (1:17.22).

  • 400 Yard IM: 6. Zeke Feldman (5:24.29); 8. Andrew Mabus (5:31.62).

  • Relays:

    • 200 Free Relay: 7. RAYS-SC A (1:50.79); 16. RAYS-SC B (2:02.31).

    • 400 Free Relay: 6. RAYS-SC A (4:02.77); 16. RAYS-SC B (4:32.33).

    • 200 Medley Relay: 7. RAYS-SC A (2:05.26); 17. RAYS-SC B (2:19.30).

    • 400 Medley Relay: 9. RAYS-SC A (4:42.27); 11. RAYS-SC B (4:48.88).

10 & Under Highlights

  • Adele Heminger: 2nd in 50 Breast (38.39); 4th in 50 Back (35.11); 6th in 100 Free (1:09.08); 7th in 100 IM (1:17.81).

  • Brynnleigh Clinebelle: 9th in 100 IM (1:19.21); 10th in 100 Back (1:23.46).

  • Wyatt Gladfelter: 4th in 500 Free (6:34.76).

  • Castle Sugden: 12th in 200 Free (3:02.57).

  • Harper O’Neal: 16th in 50 Back (38.74).

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