CAST Dives into 2026 Season at First Meet
Dawn of August 15 brought the Clinton Arrows Swim Team’s kickoff of their first squad meet of the season, facing Madison Central, Germantown, Northwest Rankin, and Ridgeland at the Malcolm McArthur Meet at the Cypress Lake swimming pool in Madison. Despite the intense heat and challenging conditions, the Arrows represented Clinton with grit and teamwork. The women’s team finished fourth, and the men’s team earned third, marking a strong start to the season.
Our swimmers delivered standout performances. Twelve athletes and four relays secured qualifying times for the North State Swim Meet to be held October 3 in Cleveland:
Women’s 200 Yard Medley Relay Team
Men’s 200 Yard Medley Relay Team
Women’s 50 Yard Freestyle: Ellie Rushing, Allie Witsberger, Arwen Blomgren
Men’s 50 Yard Freestyle: Aaron Smith, Dillon Mayfield
Men’s 100 Yard Butterfly: Hayes Montgomery
Women’s 100 Yard Freestyle: Avery Peacock, Kate Gilliam
Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle: Reed Watts, Dillon Mayfield
Women’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay Team
Men’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay Team
Men’s 100 Yard Backstroke: Reed Watts
Women’s 100 Yard Breaststroke: Ellie Rushing
Five swimmers and two relay teams placed in the top three of their events:
Men’s 200 Yard Medley Relay Team
Women’s 50 Yard Freestyle: Ellie Rushing
Men’s 100 Yard Butterfly: Hayes Montgomery
Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle: Reed Watts
Men’s 200 Yard Freestyle Relay Team
Men’s 100 Yard Backstroke: Reed Watts
Women’s 100 Yard Breaststroke: Ellie Rushing
Mom Vicki Rundlett, whose three children – senior Pace, sophomore Finn, and seventh grader Eli – competed Saturday, shared her enthusiasm: “It was a hot but great first meet! Watching a swim meet is an eye‑opening experience – it moves fast and there are a lot of working parts at all times. These kids are racing fiercely and race in multiple events. It is so impressive to me! I was not exposed to competitive swimming until my oldest daughter began swimming her freshman year. It is such an inclusive sport, and Coach Marcy does a fabulous job inviting kids to try something new and then she molds them into great athletes.”
“I love that I can watch a sporting event when all three of my kids are involved. At this meet, my 7th grade daughter and my senior daughter both swam in the same event and the same heat in side‑by‑side lanes! There are not many sports that will offer that kind of opportunity for siblings. I’m thankful for CAST and hope everyone can come support these swimmers at our two home meets!”
Coach Marcy Rushing and CAST hope Clinton fans will come out to support the Arrows as they take on Madison Central again next Saturday, August 29, at the GRIT in Flowood.
