Doorfins National Championship Results

National Champion Max McHugh

From the eight-under girls winning the YMCA state championship to the six state records, 14 state champions, 19 YMCA national championship cut times, and four national relay cut times, the Door County YMCA Doorfins had a very memorable year.

At the national competition, held March 30 – April 3 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the Doorfins continued to excel. Their first race at Nationals was the 200 breaststroke. Max McHugh placed sixth in the prelims, and moved up to fourth in the finals with a personal best time of 2:02.0. He was just out-touched for third by 1/10th of a second. The 200 free relay placed 17th, one spot out of finals; it was their best time of the year.

The 400 free relay placed 23rd, and the 200 medley swam beautifully, but disqualified on a false start. The time would have placed them 11th going into finals.

Macoy Neinas had a tremendous meet, swimming all three relays with best times in every race. Neinas and McHugh teamed up for a great start in the 200 medley; Neinas swam his best time in the back and McHugh swam the fastest split in the meet (24.77) in the breast.

Ryan Ehlinger had a great meet with best times in the 200 butterfly, placing 51st with a 1:56.4, and 111 in the 100 butterfly with a time of 53.06.

The Doorfins also finished in the 100 butterfly with Jared Klika (42nd-51.42) and Ryan Scripp (65th-51.89). Scripp also placed 64th in the 200 free.

The best swim for the team was on Thursday night in the 100 breaststroke. Max McHugh was seeded second going into finals against the 200 breast national champion (this swimmer was also the Wisconsin high school state champion in the 100 breaststroke). The race was very quick, with six swimmers posting faster times than prelims. McHugh led from the start of the race, swimming the fastest front 50 and fastest second 50 for 54.89. He dropped more than one second from prelims, and won the race. His time is the fifth fastest time in history, with Conner McHugh (Max’s brother) having the top two times and national record. Max is also 15, the youngest men’s national champion in history. The next 15-year-old swimmer placed 39th. No brothers have ever repeated as national champions back-to-back in history.

The Doorfins placed 18th as a team for the meet.