![Chloe Sutton, Ashley Twichell Leaving Mission Viejo, Joining [iX3]sports](https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Chloe-Sutton.jpg)
United States National Teamers Ashley Twichell and Chloe Sutton both announced today that they would be joining the iX3Sports team that trains under John Payne at the Triangle Aquatic Center in North Carolina. Payne is the owner of IX3Sports and also the head coach of the TAC Titans, and has worked as a staff member of USA Swimming’s National Open Water Select (2011-2013) and National Select (2011 & 2012) camps.
They will join Charlie Houchin, who had a huge summer of competition that saw him drop eight-tenths of a second and make the American 800 free relay and go his first best-time in the 400 free in three years with a 3:47.16. Houchin was the kick-starter of the club last year, though at the time he trained with Sergio Lopez at Bolles in Florida.
Sutton finished as the runner-up in the 400, 800, and 1500 freestyles at the USA Swimming World Championship Trials. She finished 6th in the 800 free and 8th in the 1500 free in Barcelona at the World Championships.
Twichell, meanwhile, didn’t make the World Championship Team in open water after her breakout year in 2012, but she did travel to Kazaan, Russia as part of the World University Games team, where she dominated the open water 10km race.
TAC sent one open water swimmer to Nationals: Ashlyn Butkowski, who was 19th at the Open Water National Championships in the 5km race at just 14. In the pool, their star is Hannah Moore, who was a finalist in the 200 and 400 IM’s at the 2013 World Championship Trials.
“Once a nadador, always a nadador,” Sutton said in a Facebook post, “but after 6 amazing years with MVN, I have decided to make a change in my life and I will be moving to Raleigh, NC. I’m now going to be training with [iX3]sports at the Triangle Aquatic Center under Coach John Payne. Though I’m sad to be leaving the Nadadores, I am so excited about this new opportunity and all of the amazing things that I have ahead of me!”
The LSC has been waiting for a opening to hear the TAC debate, to bad it overshadowed the article. Lets get a Titans / RSA / Wave topic posted, take the gloves off.
These comments are funny..it’s like being a fly on the wall at a committee meeting. ‘From what I heard’..’as far as I know’..
Wait. What was this article about? 🙂
Good luck Chloe & Ashley. The lifespan of an athletes dream is sometimes so fleeting, so take risks. Be bold. Be brave.
A lot has been said here about TAC and the people of Raleigh, but where does John Payne figure in all of this? What are his coaching credentials? Are these new swimmers coming to train with him because of his success with Charlie Houchin? Has he even been coaching Charlie? Maybe I am asking obvious things, but I guess I don’t understand what the allure of [IX3] is.
Hi Chloe 🙂
For those interested, Ashley Twichell talked with Mike Lewis today about why she moved back:
http://swimswam.com/change-hard-opportunities-breed-new-hope-ashley-twichell-moving-back-north-carolina/
Don’t brush over the fact that people’s live were effected… people with families… it’s very easy in retrospect to say don’t be angry about the way things went down in Raleigh… or “we need to move on” or “stop hating”
But people need to know all sides of this equation…what happened there was underhanded and pathetic…
Amazing to see these comments from people that obviously are so stuck on themselves that forget this post was about celebrating the success of two Olympic hopefuls! Get off your high horses! You are not God! She has the right to be successful the way she sees fit!
BTW, for the record no team was run out of TAC.RSA and Were invited to join forces but declined because of the fear that those parents on the board in power would loose power. It was politics at the it’s finest from the RSA board. New programs always get beat down by those that are scared! Grow up!
Amen!
very cool 😀
can’t wait to see what happens!