Arlington Knights of Columbus Holy Mackerels

Two Longtime Arlington Teams Face Off in Friendly Competition

7/2/2025

by DAVE FACINOLI

Midweek B swimming meets for the Arlington Knights of Columbus Holy Mackerels summer team are important building block events to develop swimmers and build team spirit. 

The meets include swimmers of all ages, as young as 5 and up to 18.

In those meets, no team scores are kept and only individual races are held, with no relays.

"Aren't the Wednesday B meets so fun?" Holy Mackerels parent Natasha Neely said. "So many more swimmers have the chance to compete, and there is so much going on."

One such meet was a July 2 all-Arlington evening event between the host Knights of Columbus and Fort Myer Squids. The event was packed with people, one of the biggest crowds at the facility any time of the year, and certainly larger than for a home Saturday meet.

The regular parking lot, as well as the overflow grass lot, was full. Only street parking was available for those who didn't arrive early.

The meet had more like an outdoor kind of summer festival atmosphere, with many canopies set up under the poolside tree area, music playing throughout the competition and eat, drink and chill available at the facilities' crowded snack bar named The Deep End.

People were using outdoor grills, the swing sets and playground areas were in full use, a big evergreen tree was a popular site that was being climbed by some swimmers and other youngsters. There was a pickup Wiffle ball game underway on an adjacent field.

There was something going on everywhere. Even the small baby pool locale was used as a setup venue to align swimmers for upcoming races.

And oh yes, in the big pool area, the meet was underway. Before the start, an instrumental version of the national anthem was performed by two young men, one playing a trumpet and the other a trombone.

The host Holy Mackerels had more than 30 individual race winners.

Double winners were Savigna Neely-Martin, Ryan Pedone, Elizabeth Pilot, Edith Kuhlman, Becca Schaller, Reid Moneymaker and Zeke Sibears.

Finishing first and second in races were George Giannakopoulos, Brianna Jordan, Durwood Kuhlman, Jack Parker, Brennan Gyor and Brennan Pilot.

Other winners were Lincoln Keyser, Teagan O'Reilly, Aubrey Larson, Sofia Gyor, Johnny Parformak, Leo Kitchen, Walker Moore, Mireille Parisi, Henry Hughes, Maria Garcia-McIntire, Sedona Springer, James Coleman, Will Coleman, Ava Moore, and McKenna Fredricks.

Those with two second-places were Luke Parker, Drew Morgan, Charis Piester and James Roy.

Finishing second in one race were Abby Duffy, Eve Kahle, Jane Pedone, Kathryn Farnum, Elena Arce, Appian Kitchen, Summer Springer, Nicholas Cervelloni, Rosie Schneider, Harper Vorndran, Connor Vorndran, Ryan Hearne, Nick Bartl, Jillian Carney, Nadya Gieryic, Marin Keyser, Grace Parker, Walker Moore, Stella Fredricks and Samantha Moneymaker.

Jane Pedone, Marin Keyser, Bartl, Cervelloni, Hughes, Parisi, Carney, Farnum, Garcia-McIntire and Arce also were among those finishing third in a race.

Others third were David Garcia-McIntire, Max McCammon, Analia Pagliano, Lukas Black, Susie Jordan, Tommy Coleman, Hayley McCammon, William Silver, Erin Duffy, Danny Duffy, Patrick Middleton, Ava Moore, Gianni Pagliano, Genevieve Katin, Nathan Garesche and Gwen Fairchild.

AKC Wins the Red Division, then CSL-Wide Relay Carnival

7/13/2025

by DAVE FACINOLI

Back on top.

For the third time in four years the Arlington Knights of Columbus Holy Mackerels are the champions of the Colonial Swimming League's highest Red Division.

The Holy Mackerels returned to the throne this summer with a 5-0 record, thanks to a convincing 300-151 home victory over the defending champion Ashburn Village Aqua Jets (4-1) July 12 in the final dual meet of the season. The teams entered the first-place showdown in Arlington with 4-0 marks.

The Holy Mackerels, division runner-ups last year, had a strong start in the meet, winning the opening race by a comfortable margin when Zack Black, Summer Springer, Will Coleman and Sedona Springer were first in the mixed age 200-meter medley relay in 2:12.69.

The Knights of Columbus then took control by winning seven of the first 10 individual races.

Overall, the Holy Mackerels were dominant this summer, winning each of its meets convincingly, averaging 309.2 points per event.

"This was a really talented team with a lot of spirit. Everyone always was cheering for everyone else," said 18-year-old Brennan Pilot, who is swimming his 11th and last season for the Holy Mackerels, starting at age 7. "It's a nice way for me for this to come to an end."

Pilot's younger sister, Elizabeth, has been a Holy Mackerel swimmer since age 5. She won a race in the July 12 meet.

"It was really exciting to win the title," she said. "It really motivated us this year to win it all after last season. We have a lot of really talented young swimmers who helped lead us and we have good depth and great team spirit."

The Holy Mackerels won 28 individual races against Ashburn Village and nine relays. Black, Abby Duffy and James Coleman were triple winners. Double Winners were Will Coleman, Summer Springer, Mary Hecmanczuk, Brennan Gyor, Aubrey Larson and Sofia Gyor.

Single winners were Edith Kuhlman, JuJu Fairchild, Aubrey Larson, Ryan Pedone, Elizabeth Pilot, Sedona Springer, Walker Moore and Leo Kitchen.

Finishing second in multiple races were Drew Morgan, Nicholas Bartl, Sedona Springer, Summer Springer and Deegan Paska.

Others placing second were Hecmanczuk, Kuhlman, Larson, Rose Schneider, Sofia Gyor, Ellena Loutsios, Marcia Garcia-McIntire, Teagan O'Reilly, Rosemary Duncan, Vickie Gammell, Charles Moore, Ezekiel Sibears, Jack Parker, Brennan Gyor, Danny Duffy, George Giannakopoulos, Thomas Coleman, Ryan Pedone, Will Coleman and Ryan Hearne.

Duncan, Gammell and Danny Duffy were third in two races. Others finishing third were Fairchild, Sibears, Bartl, Giannakopoulos, Paska, Hearne, Brennan Pilot, Reid Moneymaker, Finn Lapham, James Roy, Allison Kahle, Kathryn Farnum, Griffin Wittenborn, and Tommy Coleman.

After winning the division crown, the next morning on July 13 in Sterling, the Holy Mackerels continued their championship weekend by placing first in the league-wide relay carnival at Sugarland Run Pool.

The 18 relays the Knights of Columbus entered in the all-star meet finished either first or second, with 10 winning races.

Adding to their performance, the Holy Mackerels broke five relay team yard records in that meet.

The records came in the mixed-age 200 freestyle in 1:52.14, the 11-12 boys 200 medley in 2:09.91, the 9-10 mixed-gender free in 2:07.62, the 11-12 mixed-gender free in 1:53.47 and the mixed-age 200 medley in 1:56.65.

The season is not over for the Holy Mackerels. Next is the Red Division divisional meet at Burke Centre pool on Roberts Parkway in Burke at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 19.

NOTE: The Holy Mackerels' overall record the last four years in the Red Division is 18-1, winning the title with a 4-0 mark in 2022 and 5-0 in 2023. They were second at 4-1 last summer. 

Holy Mackerels Dominate over Holiday Weekend

7/5/2025

by DAVE FACINOLI

Thanks to an overwhelming blowout road victory, the undefeated Arlington Knights of Columbus Holy Mackerels are in position to win a third Colonial Swimming League Red Division summer championship in four years.

In a July 5 meet, the Holy Mackerels routed the host Franklin Farm Froggers (2-2), 359-92, in Herndon. The point total was the team's highest since scoring 359.5 in a 2021 meet.

The victory leaves the Knights of Columbus tied for first in the division with the defending champion Ashburn Village Aqua Jets (4-0). Those teams are scheduled to meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 12 in Arlington in the Holy Mackerels' home pool in the final dual-meet of the season.

The winner will win the title, with the loser placing second.

The Holy Mackerels finished second in the division last summer after winning the titles in 2022 and 2023.

In that victory over Franklin Farm, Knights of Columbus swimmers dominated the competition, winning 33 individual races and all 12 relays. Also, the team swept the top three finishes in nine individual events.

Plus, Sofia Gyor swam a 31.10 in a butterfly girls race, breaking a team record set in 2002.

For the Holy Mackerels, Gyor, Abby Duffy, Will Coleman, Aubrey Larson, Sedona Springer and Zach Black were triple winners. Double Winners were Mary Hecmanczuk, Brennan Gyor and James Coleman. Single Winners were Jack Parker, JuJu Fairchild, Ryan Pedone, Danny Duffy, Elizabeth Pilot, Edith Kuhlman, Walker Moore, Summer Springer, and Durwood Kuhlman.

Leading the way with three second-place finishes were Edith Kuhlman and Lincoln Keyser. Placing second in two races each were Thomas Coleman, Finn Lapham, Nicholas Bartl, Summer Springer, and Victoria Gammell.

Others with runner-up finishes were Fairchild, Hecmanczuk, Savigna Neely-Martin, Samantha Moneymaker, Beatrix Alveario, Jane Pedone, Grace Parker, Danny Duffy, James Coleman, Brennan Gyor, Drew Morgan, Charles Moore, Brennan Pilot, Ryan Pedone, Reid Moneymaker, and William Silver.

NOTE: Following the regular season, the Holy Mackerels will participate in a July 13 league-wide all-star relay carnival, a divisional meet July 19 and an individual all-star meet July 26. 

Holy Mackerels Continue Winning Streak

6/28/2025

by DAVE FACINOLI

A cloudy morning to begin their third meet of the summer swimming season didn't dim the performance of the host Arlington Knights of Columbus’ Holy Mackerels.

The undefeated team (3-0) recorded another bright showing with a convincing 289-162 victory over the Burke Centre Stingers in a Colonial Swimming League Red Division meet in Arlington.

The Holy Mackerels are tied for first in the division with the defending champion Ashburn Village Aqua Jets. Those teams face off in Arlington in the final meet of the regular season on Saturday, July 12.

The Holy Mackerels finished second in the division last summer after winning the title the previous two seasons.

Against the Stingers, the Knights of Columbus were led by 28 individual race winners and nine first-place relays.

James Coleman, Abby Duffy, Will Coleman, and Zach Black were triple winners for the Holy Mackerels. Double winners were Aubrey Larson, Mary Hecmanczuk, and Sedona Springer. Single winners were Lincoln Keyser, George Giannakopoulos, Vickie Gammell, Elizabeth Pilot, Edith Kuhlman, Tommy Coleman, Summer Springer, Brianna Jordan, Walker Moore, and Sofia Gyor.

Tommy Coleman, Summer Springer, Larson, and Gyor all had first-, second-, and third-place finishes for the team. Placing second and third were Brennan Gyor, Leo Kitchen, Drew Morgan, Danny Duffy, and Finn Lapham.

Also finishing second in races for the Holy Mackerels boys were Thor Keyer, Lincoln Keyser (in two races), George Giannakopoulos, John Parformak, Luke Parker, and Durward Kuhlman. Third in two races were Reid Moneymaker and Jack Parker and third in one was William Warden, Henry Hughes, Ryan Hearn, Conall Mason, and Alexander Bartl.

For the girls, second in two races were Gammell, Eliza Roberson, Edith Kuhlman, Julia Fairchild, and Summer Springer. Second in one race were Sedona Springer, Sofia Gyor, Kathryn Farnum, Beatrix Alveario, and Hecmanczuk. Deegan Paska and Savigna Neely Martin were third in two races each for the Knights of Columbus.

Others also placing third were Allison Kahle, Samantha Moneymaker, Eve Kahle, Ava Moore, Elliott Reilly, Margaret Riccio, Elizabeth Pilot, and Nadya Gieryic.

The next meet for the Holy Mackerels is on the road, Saturday, July 5 at 8 a.m. in Herndon against the Franklin Farm Froggers (2-1) in Red Division action.

NOTE: Dating back to the 2022 season, the Holy Mackerels' overall record is 16-1, with the lone loss against Ashburn Village in a close meet.

AKC Holy Mackerels Defeat Penguins for Second Win of the Season

6/21/2025

by DAVE FACINOLI

For the second straight week, the Arlington Knights of Columbus Holy Mackerels enjoyed a fast start in a convincing victory against a Colonial Swimming League Red Division opponent.

Holy Mackerels' swimmers won the first six races in their 290-161 June 21 road win over the Burke Centre Penguins to remain undefeated at 2-0 early in the summer campaign.

In three of those six races, Holy Mackerels swimmers finished first, second, and third. Overall in the meet, the Knights of Columbus won 26 individual races and were first in 10 of the 13 relays, winning the first eight of those events. Longtime Holy Mackerels coach Caroline Heeter has discussed how the depth of the team has been a key factor in the team's opening two meets.

Leading the Knights of Columbus were triple race winners James Coleman, Abby Duffy, Will Coleman, Sedona Springer and Mary Hecmanczuk. Double winners were Jack Parker and Tommy Coleman. Single winners were JuJu Fairchild, Aubrey Larson, Finn Lapham, Edith Kuhlman, Summer Springer, Zach Black and Vickie Gammell.

The majority of those swimmers also participated on winning relays during the meet. Parker, Black, Fairchild, Summer Springer, Ryan Hearne, Will Coleman and Sofia Gyor each swam on two winning relays.

Placing second in two individual races for the Holy Mackereks were Gyor, Danny Duffy and Maria Garcia-McIntire.

Other AKC boys placing second in races were Hearne, Lapham, Tommy Coleman, William Silver, Ryan Pedone, and Leo Kitchen

Finishing third in three races for the boys was Durward Kuhlman, with Black third in two events. Also third were Pedone, Hearne, Luke Parker, James Roy, Charles Moore, Lincoln Keyser, and Brennan Gyor.

Second in races for the AKC girls were Gammell, Savigna Neely Martin, Elizabeth Pilot, Edith Kuhlman, Summer Springer, Elliott Reilly, and Aubrey Larson.

Fairchild and Deegan Paska each were third in two races. Also third were Larson, Neely Martin, Gammell, Kuhlman, Pilot, Gyor, Summer Springer, Marin Keyser, Ava Moore, Kathryn Farnum, and Rosemary Duncan.

Eve Kahle, Brianna Jordan, Reid Moneymaker, Max McCammon and Luke Wilkinson were among swimmers on winning relays.

The Holy Mackerels are tied for first in the division with the defending champion Ashburn Village Aqua Jets. Ashburn Village finished 5-0 last summer, with the 2023 division champion Knights of Columbus going 4-1.

Those teams meet Saturday, July 12 in Arlington in the final of five regular-season dual meets.

But first, the next action for the Holy Mackerels is a Saturday, June 28 home meet against the 0-2 Burke Centre Stingers.

Arlington Knights of Columbus Holy Mackerels defeat Armfrield Farm Stingrays

6/14/2025

by DAVE FACINOLI

In multiple manners, the opening meet of the summer swimming season was a big success and made large splashes for the Arlington Knights of Columbus Holy Mackerels.

The team won big in that first meet, routing the visiting Armfield Farm Stingrays of Chantilly, 308-136, in Colonial Swimming League Red Division action in Arlington.

The week-one victory was the team's third dating back to the 2022 campaign.
In this year's strong opener, the Knights of Columbus had 26 individual winners and 11 first-place relays for longtime coach Caroline Heeter's team. There were also many second- and third-place finishers.

Many of the team's top-seeded swimmers, won or placed high in races.

"A lot of our younger swimmers did well and came through with strong swims,"Heeter said. "Our girls also did well and are strong this season with a lot of the top swimmers at the top of their age groups."

Leading the squad were triple individual race winners James Coleman, Abby Duffy, Will Coleman, Sofia Gyor and Sedona Springer.

Single winners were Julia Fairchild, Aubrey Larson, Lincoln Keyser, Danny Duffy, Vickie Gammell, Edith Kuhlman, Tommy Coleman, Summer Springer, Zach Black, Mary Hecmanczuk and Leo Kitchen.

Finishing second in two races for the Holy Mackerels boys were Jack Parker and Charles Moore. Runner-ups in singles races were Black, William Warden, Tommy Coleman, William Silver, Danny Duffy, Lincoln Keyser, Finn Lapham and Nicholas Cecil.

Third for the boys were Brennan Gyor in three races; Silver and James Roy in two; along with one each by Tommy Coleman, Black, Keyser, Lapham, Brennan Pilot, Ryan Pedone, Griffin Wittenborn, Durwood Kuhlman, Ryan Hearne and Reid Montgomery in one each.

Placing second in two races for the Holy Mackerels girls were Fairchild, Savigna Neely Martin, Summer Springer, Maria Garcia-McIntire and Elizabeth Pilot. Second in single races were Edith Kuhlman, Hecmanczuk, Gammel, Larson, Elliott O'Reilly, Ella Foltz and Rosemary Duncan.

Third in two girls races were Duncan, Ava Moore and Claire Sargent. Third in single events were Edith Kuhlman, Gammell, Pilot, Larson, Marin Keyser, Teagan O'Reilly, Kathryn Farnum, Eve Kahle and Summer Springer.

Swimming on two winning relays were Will Coleman, Abby Duffy, Sofia Gyor and Deegan Paska and Larson.

The Holy Mackerels finished second in the Red Division last summer with a 4-1 record, after winning the championship in 2022 and 2023 with undefeated marks.

Heeter said the team has the potential to challenge for another division title this summer.

"We have a great team atmosphere and there will be some tough meets. But if we have our top swimmers at every meet we should do well," Heeter said.

Next for the Holy Mackerels this season is an away meet on Saturday, June 21 at 8 a.m. against Burke Centre Penguins (1-0) in another Red Division showdown. The Holy Mackerels defeated the Penguins, 286-165, last season on the road, when the Burke squad finished with a 1-4 record.