Ranch swimmer makes Y history

Courtney Chapin became the first Lakewood Ranch YMCA Wave Runners swimmer to advance to a YNationals final. 

Chapin, who also swims for Lakewood Ranch High, was seeded 16th heading into the finals of the 100-meter backstroke. Chapin finished 12th with a new personal best time of one minute, 5.09 seconds. 

She also swam the 200 backstroke and the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles. 

Chapin was one of five Lakewood Ranch YMCA Wave Runners swimmers who qualified for YNationals, which were held Aug. 3 through Aug. 7, in Indianapolis. Ryan Walker, Kate Walker, Emily Loefgren and Sebastian Aguirre also competed for the Wave Runners. 

Prior to YNationals, Chapin won the 100 backstroke (1:05.38) at the Senior Championship Swim Meet July 25 and July 26, at Indian River College, in Fort Pierce. She also set new personal best times in the 200 backstroke and the 100 butterfly. 

Chapin is now working toward making the Junior National cut (1:04.59) and the Olympic Trial cut (1:03.39) in the 100 backstroke.