The Whitehall Waves summer swim team competed in its fourth meet of the season, hosting Soleco on June 24.

“We have so many new kids this year, and I’m so grateful that our team is growing. We’re almost like a family, we always have each others’ backs, and everyone is so down to help,” said first-year head coach Grace Urick, regarding her team of 82 swimmers. “Something about coaching that I love is watching all the swimmers progress over time, watching them go from little to being big, and even going from being a not-so-great swimmer to something amazing. I love seeing the passion in kids.”

In team scores, Soleco’s girls topped Whitehall’s, 241-55, and Soleco’s boys also won, 178-107.

“Our top three swimmers are Aaron Stinner, Ian Thomas, and Kendall Bashore,” Urick said. “We’re gonna keep trying and keep working, and that way we can get better for Championships in July.”

First-place finishers in individual events for the Waves were Kendall Bashore in Girls 13-14 50 freestyle (26.99) and 50 butterfly (28.95), Aaron Stinner in Boys 15 & Over 50 free (23.22), 50 fly (25.09), and 100 free (52.58), Spencer Reed in Boys 9-10 25 breaststroke (23.63), Cory Sommers in Boys 11-12 50 breast (44.56), Ian Thomas in Boys 15 & Over 50 breast (29.32) and 100 IM (58.47), Derek Bashore in Boys 11-12 50 fly (36.71), Micah O’Brien in Boys 11-12 50 backstroke exhibition (48.01), Greta O’Brien in Girls 15 & Over 50 back (33.84), Quinn Doyle in Boys 15 & Over 50 back (29.52), Cheyenne Dondero in Girls 9-10 25 free exhibition (24.37), and Daniel Young in Boys 11-12 50 free exhibition (36.27).

Whitehall’s Boys 11-12 100 medley relay team of Cory Sommers, Mazin Makhoul, Derek Bashore, and Xavier Makhoul took first place in 1:07.20.

Quinn Doyle, Ian Thomas, Aaron Stinner, and Gabe O’Brien also took first place in Boys 13 & Over 200 medley relay in 1:50.87.

The Waves will travel to Bethlehem to take on the Tides, a new team in the Suburban Swim League of the Lehigh Valley, on June 27.