Bermuda doubles its CARIFTA swimming team

Bermuda will have 18 swimmers compete at the Carifta Swimming Championships in Jamaica.

The competition is from March 30 to April 3.

Bermuda only had nine competitors in 2012. This year’s team has many first timers with Jesse Washington, 13, and Shannon Hassell, 13, being the veterans even though they are barely in their teens.

Coach Ben Smith said he is “hopeful that we can surpass our strong result from last year that saw a record medal haul.  We have added some very strong young talent to the team this year and we hope to get some great results from these inexperienced Carifta competitors.”

Coach Richard Goodwin added: “I am very much looking forward to this year’s CARIFTA. I have every expectation of some exciting competition and some great performances by our team.”

Making the team were: Vaughn Rowse, Dejan Wellman, Sophie Froud, Philip Hagen, Shannon Botelho, Alex McCallum, Vanessa Esposito, Shannon Hassell, Jesse Washington, Madelyn Moore, Megan Lau, Josh Irvine, Evan Farrow, Ethan Daley, Alex Pilgrim, Emma Harvey, Ashley Irby and Alyssa Paynter.

Hassell won a gold, silver and bronze last year at Carifta but she will be moving up to the 13/14 age level.

Jesse Washington won the 11/12 age group championship with five golds and a silver and will also be moving up to the 13/14 age bracket.