Five Wave Runners to compete in national level swim meet

The Lakewood Ranch YMCA Wave Runners will be competing in their first-ever national level swimming competition this week.

Senior level swimmers Shannon McCarthy, Maya McCarthy, Alexia Austin, Sydney Panzarino and Kevin Berkenbusch all achieved qualifying times, allowing them to compete in the 2011 YMCA Short Course Swimming & Diving Championships April 5-8 in Ft. Lauderdale.

More than 170 YMCA’s and about 1,500 swimmers from across the country will be represented at the meet.

Shannon McCarthy will compete in the 50-yard freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke. Maya McCarthy will swim the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Berkenbusch, Panzarino and Austin will all swim the 50 and 100 freestyles.