The twelve young swimmers from the BVI Barracudas Swim Club captured a total of 57 medals at the recently concluded Virgin Islands Swimming Federation (VISF) Long Course Championships in St Croix. Photo: BVI Barracudas Swim Club

Naya Bissoondutt (9) (left) and Gavril Copaceanu (9). Photo: BVI Barracudas Swim Club

Evelyn Freeman (10) (left) and Orla Turner (11). Photo: BVI Barracudas Swim Club

Laila Flax (10) (left) and Arun Bissoondutt (10). Photo: BVI Barracudas Swim Club

Hannah Kazembe (11) (left) and Rylee Hustins (12). Photo: BVI Barracudas Swim Club

Lily Carey (12) (left) and Harry Payne (12). Photo: BVI Barracudas Swim Club

Sophia Payne (13) (left) and Kyrique Matthew (13). Photo: BVI Barracudas Swim Club

Scenes from the 2025 Virgin Islands Swimming Federation (VISF) Long Course Championships. Photo: St. Croix Dolphins

Scenes from the 2025 Virgin Islands Swimming Federation (VISF) Long Course Championships. Photo: St. Croix Dolphins

The swim competition was held at the Dolphins Pool, where the team, according to Coach Rebecca M. Nockolds, did “phenomenally”, a marked improvement from the team of 10 that brought home 19 medals in 2024. 

“As their coach, these athletes continue to impress, excel and make me unbelievably proud. Against all odds and training difficulties, they achieve greatness at each and every meet,” she said in a post on the team's Facebook page. 

She added that the team was met with some challenging competition from the St Thomas Swimming Association Inc. and the St Croix Dolphines. 

The swimmers came from St George's School-Primary Division, Cedar International School, BVI Seventh-day Adventist⁵ School, and Century House Montessori.

Swimmers & their achievements

The team competed in 6 individual events on both days and 4 relays. Their achievements are as follows:

Girls 8& Under: Naya Bissoondutt (9) captured 1st 100m Freestyle (1:55.21 B), 1st 50m Backstroke (52.43 B), 2nd 50m Breaststroke (58.47 B), 2nd 100m Breaststroke (2:08.19 B), 3rd 50m Freestyle (42.49 B), and 3rd 100m Freestyle (1:41.55 B). 

Boys 8& Under: Gavril Copaceanu (9) captured 1st 200m Freestyle (3:53.88), 2nd 50m Freestyle (46.18), 2nd 100m Freestyle (1:40.57 B), 2nd 100m Breaststroke (2:18.26), and 3rd 50m Backstroke (1:11.34). 

Girls 9-10 Age Group: Evelyn Freeman (10) captured 1st 50m Freestyle (37.09 BB), 1st 200m Breaststroke (3:48.50 B), 1st 50m Breaststroke (48.39 A), 1st 100m Freestyle (1:26.42 BB), 1st 50m Backstroke (48.34 BB), and 1st 100m Breaststroke (1:50.11). 

Orla Turner (11) captured 2nd 200m Breaststroke (4:27.04), 2nd 100m Breaststroke (2:03.14 BB), 3rd 50m Breaststroke (57.77 B), and 3rd 50m Backstroke (57.79). 

Laila Flax (10) captured 3rd 200m Freestyle (3:58.01), 5th 50m Breaststroke (1:01.15 B), and 5th 100m Breaststroke (2:18.62 B)

Boys 9-10 Age Group: Arun Bissoondutt (10) captured 1st 50m Butterfly (41.33 BB), 1st 200 Individual Medley (3:42.51 BB), 2nd 100m Backstroke (1:44.34 BB), 4th 50m Freestyle (35.57 A),  4th 100m Freestyle (1:27.40 BB), and 4th 200m Freestyle (3:19.55 B)

Girls 11-12 Age Group: Lily Carey (12) captured 1st 50m Backstroke (42.45 B), 2nd 100m Breaststroke (1:41.63 BB), 2nd 50m Freestyle (34.91 BB), 2nd 200m Breaststroke (3:41.70 B), 2nd 50m Breaststroke (46.78 B), and 2nd 100m Freestyle (1:20.16 B). 

Rylee Hustins (12) captured 1st 200m Freestyle (3:29.24), 1st 50m Butterfly (43.61), 2nd 200 Individual Medley (3:53.17), 3rd 50m Breaststroke (51.59), 3rd 100m Freestyle (1:31.08), and 4th 50m Freestyle (38.46 B). 

Hannah Kazembe (11) captured 2nd 200m Freestyle (3:29.64), 2nd 50m Butterfly (58.29), 2nd 50m Backstroke (53.31), and 3rd 50m Freestyle (37.77 B). 

Boys 11-12 Age Group: Harry Payne (12) captured 1st 50m Freestyle (34.95), 1st 200m Breaststroke (3:45.98), 1st 50m Breaststroke (47.08), 1st 400m Freestyle (6:11.96), 2nd 100m Freestyle (1:17.43), and 2nd 100m Breaststroke (1:48.01). 

Girls 13-14 Age Group: Sophia Payne (13) captured 2nd 400m Freestyle (6:27.32), 3rd 50m Freestyle (33.18), 3rd 200m Breaststroke (3:52.53), 3rd 200m Freestyle (2:58.49), and 3rd 100m Breaststroke (1:45.30). 

Boys 13-14 Age Group: Kyrique Matthew (13) captured 1st 100m Freestyle (1:30.61), 2nd 50m Breaststroke (47.48), 2nd 200m Breaststroke (3:58.64), 2nd 100m Breaststroke (1:46.59), 3rd 50m Freestyle (35.28), and 3rd 50m Backstroke (48.21). 

Several personal bests achieved

The swimmers also achieved several personal best times, which were 20-30 seconds faster than their times from the 2024 championships. 

Together, the team achieved 30 new motivational goal times; 18 being B times, 10 BB times and 2 A times. “These being the first A times achieved for the BVI Barracudas Club,” Coach Nockolds said in the post, “showing the hard work, dedication and determination the athletes are putting into their swimming.”

The A times put the swimmers in the top 15% of their age group for the event and give them another step towards qualifying for larger regional swim meets.