Arrows Swim With Heart at Ashlee Sumrall Memorial Meet
Pride and emotion ran high at the Clinton YMCA Thursday evening as the Clinton Arrows Swim Team hosted Northwest Rankin and Warren Central for their annual home double‑dual meet. This year, the team renamed the event the Ashlee Sumrall Memorial Meet in honor of a beloved swimmer who spent six seasons with CAST before graduating last May. Ashlee’s legacy of kindness, grit, and leadership was felt throughout the night as swimmers rallied together in her memory.
Before the meet began, Coach Marcy Rushing, who coached Ashlee for more than ten years, shared that Ashlee lifted people up both in and out of the water and that her impact on CAST will continue to shine long after her time in the pool. Clinton athletes then gathered around a microphone to sing a beautiful version of the national anthem a cappella. Both women’s and men’s teams finished second, and several swimmers punched their tickets for additional events at the North State Swim Meet.
Women’s 200 Yard Freestyle: Avery Peacock, Kate Gilliam
Men’s 200 Yard IM: Reed Watts
Men’s 50 Yard Freestyle: Hayes Montgomery, Zion Johnson, Christian Bombich
Women’s 100 Yard Butterfly: Ellie Rushing
Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle: Zion Johnson, Aaron Smith
Men’s 100 Yard Backstroke: Hayes Montgomery
Women’s 100 Yard Breaststroke: Kate Gilliam
An impressive number of racers placed in the top three of their events:
Women’s 200 Yard Medley Relay Team
Men’s 200 Yard Medley Relay Team
Women’s 200 Yard Freestyle: Avery Peacock, Kate Gilliam
Men’s 200 Yard IM: Reed Watts
Women’s 50 Yard Freestyle: Ellie Rushing
Men’s 50 Yard Freestyle: Hayes Montgomery, Aaron Smith, Dillon Mayfield
Women’s 100 Yard Butterfly: Ellie Rushing
Women’s 100 Yard Freestyle: Allie Witsberger
Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle: Reed Watts
Women’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay Team
Men’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay Team
Men’s 100 Yard Backstroke: Hayes Montgomery
Women’s 100 Yard Breaststroke: Kate Gilliam
As the team honored Ashlee throughout the evening, her family felt that love. Ashlee’s mother Alyson reflected, “Ashlee was part of this swim family for six years, and tonight they reminded us that she will always be part of it. We are so grateful they are helping keep her light shining and encouraging others to Be the Light. It was especially meaningful to see her sister lead a group of swimmers in singing the national anthem in her honor—it was a moment our family will cherish forever.”
CAST hopes Clinton fans will come out to support them at their next home meet Saturday, September 12 at the Clinton Arrows Invitational also to be held at the YMCA Pool in Clinton.
