The Perryville Piranhas swim team hosted a “Show Your Love for Hudson” swim meet on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Perry Park Center.
“We had a really great ‘Show Your Love for Hudson’ swim meet, with a total of 79 swimmers from five teams attending the meet,” said Angie Schupp, Perryville Piranhas coach.
Thirty-three swimmers competed from the Perryville Piranhas — 18 from the Ste. Genevieve Stingrays, 14 from Seismic Crush in Caruthersville, 12 from the Poplar Bluff Piranhas, and two from Farmington (FAST).
“We raised $3,500 for Hudson and his family,” said Schupp. “We want to give a huge shoutout to our swim families for the teamwork it took to make it possible.
“Hudson has family from Perryville. He is related to both the Schumer family and Dr. Adam Reinagel's family. Hudson's cousins are also a part of the Perryville Piranhas Swim Team.”
According to coach Schupp, the Perryville Piranhas Swim Team put all its efforts into raising funds for the young child who has been fighting a life-threatening disease. It donated the profits from the entry fees, custom Hudson swim caps, backpack tags, and concessions to Hudson and his family to help with expenses that have accumulated throughout treatments.
Two-year-old Hudson James Reinagel of Cape Girardeau has been battling AT/RT (Atypical teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor) brain cancer since last summer. Hudson’s battle against AT/RT Brain Cancer began on July 23 when it was discovered that he had a tumor.
Two days later, the youngster underwent surgery to remove the tumor on the feast of his patron, Saint James. Following the surgery, he began treatment for the rare, aggressive cancer on Aug. 15, only a few days after his second birthday. After six months, Hudson has undergone surgery, five rounds of chemotherapy, and three stem cell transplants.
As of Valentine’s Day, Hudson is back at home, and his MRI shows no evidence of disease in his brain or spine. That doesn’t mean the fight is over, but it suggests the treatment is working.
“Special thanks go to the City of Perryville, the teams attending the meet, and everyone who donated their time, talent, and treasures,” Schupp said. “It was a fun meet with many time improvements and new swimmers competing very well.”
The Perryville Piranhas swim team walked away with a first-place team finish at the swim meet with 812 points. The Ste. Genevieve Stingrays came in second with 461 points, and the Seismic Crush Swim Team came in third with 403 points. Other teams competing in the event were the Poplar Bluff Swim Club and Farmington Area Swim Team.
For Perryville, in the Girls 10 & Under 100 SC Meter Medley Relay the Perryville Piranhas Swim Team made up of Abi Litzelfelner (9), Honoka Miyake (9), Lucy Reinagel (9), and Eleanor Buchheit (7) won with 1:48.57; in Girls 8 & Under 50 SC Meter Backstroke Buchheit won with 1:03.09; in the Girls 11-12 100 SC Meter IM, Willow Sutterer (12) won with 1:33.57; in the Girls 13-14 100 SC Meter IM, Mackenzie Southard (13) won with 1.41.83; in the Boys 9-10 100 SC Meter IM, Joshua Southard (10) won with 1.41.71; in the Girls 8 & Under 25 SC Meter Backstroke, Eleanor Buchheit (7) won with 27.21; in the Girls 9-10 25 SC Meter Backstroke, Vida Wilson (10) won with 22.72; in the Boys 8 & Under 25 SC Meter Backstroke, Jackson Redecker (8) won with 31.18; in the Boys 11-12 25 SC Meter Backstroke, Joel Schupp (11) won with 21:91 and in the Boys 11-12 100 SC Meter Backstroke, with 1:39.44; in the Boys 13-14 25 SC Meter Backstroke, Jackson Gugel won with 20:96; in the Boys 9-10 100 SC Meter Backstroke, Elliot Gugel won with 2:07.34; and in the Girls 9-10 50 SC Meter Backstroke, Nadilyn R. Sullins won with 54:51.
The team’s upcoming home swim meets are March 1, May 3, and July 5.
You can follow Hudson's story where his family posts updates, prayer resources, and other ways you can give at https://www.hopeforhudson.com/.
