The North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC) made waves at the Maryland 14 & Under Championships, showcasing the talent of its young swimmers. Among the standout performers were Philip Scharper and Jude Burkhart, who left their mark with impressive times and achievements.
Scharper, aged 11, demonstrated remarkable consistency, securing eight personal bests. His performance in the 400 IM was particularly noteworthy, as he shaved off nearly six seconds from his previous best, finishing with the third-fastest time overall at 4:39.77. Teammate Henry Knott, aged 12, also impressed, winning the 400 IM with a substantial 10-second improvement on his best time, clocking 4:33.19.
Scharper's prowess extended to the 200 backstroke, where he claimed second place, improving his time by over four seconds to 2:10.15. This performance was only bested by Ocean Pines' Patrick Murphy, who dominated the event with six individual wins.
Scharper's versatility was further highlighted by his lifetime bests in various events, including the 200 free (1:59.40), 500 free (5:16.49), 50 back (28.97), 100 back (1:01.22), 200 fly (2:16.53), and 200 IM (2:14.16).
Burkhart, aged 14, dominated the meet with a flawless nine-for-nine record, including nine career-best swims. His performance in the 1650 free was exceptional, as he claimed the 11-12 National Age Group Record with a time of 15:35.98, moving him up to a tie for the 38th fastest 13-14 age group performer in history. Burkhart's previous best came at the ISCA East Coast Elite Showcase in April 2025, at 15:49.26.
The 14-year-old also shattered his 1000 free record, climbing to 52nd place in the 13-14 age group with a significant 5.5-second improvement to 9:21.90. His 200 IM performance was equally impressive, as he trimmed over a second and a half from his previous best, finishing in 1:52.88.
Burkhart's dominance continued across all freestyle events, from the 100 free to the 1650, where he swam career bests in each, touching in 47.04 in the 100 free, 1:41.09 in the 200 free, and 4:34.16 in the 500 free.
Other notable performances included Alyna Cox from Bayside Aquatics, who won ten events, excelling in sprint backstroke events. Willa Kulp from NBAC also stood out, earning 12 wins, including a career best in the 500 free and a nearly two-second improvement in the 100 back.
These achievements highlight the potential and dedication of NBAC's swimmers, leaving a lasting impression at the championships and setting the stage for future success.
