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  The Arizona  Age Group State Championship Swim Meet was held March 9-12 at the Oro Valley Aquatic Center.   Johnny Smallhouse (10), Ben Fister (11), Tabitha Kellam (13), Evan Apuron (13), and Riley Stewart (13) achieved qualifying times in individual events at USA Swimming sanctioned meets to allow them to compete at the meet for swimmers ages 14 and under. Additionally, the Sea Lions qualified 9 relays events which included Ethan Kellam (11), Mason Stewart (11), AJ Lopez (13) and Nate Fister (14).   The Sea Lions finished in 22^nd place (out of 43 teams in the Arizona) with a total of 78.5 points. 

  Swimmers were allowed to swim up to a maximum of six events at the meet, providing they achieved the tough qualifying times.

  After swimming on relays at the State Championship meet in 2016, Johnny Smallhouse qualified in the maximum number of individual events this year in the 10 and Under Boys age group.  Johnny swam the maximum number of individual events.  In the opening event, the 500 yard Freestyle,  Johnny swam a personal best time of 6:52.78 to finish in 13^th place and score the first points for the Sea Lions  (top 16 places are awarded points).    Johnny swam some very fast times over the weekend, qualified for finals and finished in the top 16 in the 200 Free (2:31.07 13^th), 100 Free (1:09.78 13^th), and 100 Breaststroke (1:35.35 15^th).  Johnny also swam the 50 Breaststroke (45.71 27^th place) and 50 Free (31.41 18^th place).    

  Tabitha Kellam qualified in two events in the 13-14 Girls age group, and had some great swims.  Her 1650 Freestyle time was 19:30.87, more than 12 seconds faster that she had ever gone before and put her in 25^th place.  Tabitha’s 200 Freestyle time of 2:04.62 was good enough for a 28^th place finish in a very fast field.

  Riley Stewart entered the maximum number of events in the 13-14 Boys age group.  In what may have been the most grueling schedule, Riley swam the 6 very hard events along with 5 relays.  Individually Riley swam the 1650 Freestyle in 18:56.29 (24^th place), the 1000 Freestyle in 11:03.03 (18^th), the 400 IM in 4:57.43 (39^th), 200 IM in 2:17.31 (30^th), 200 Back in 2:24.61 (28^th), and 100 Breast in 1:12.13 (25^th).

  Evan Apuron qualified in nearly every event and had a to narrow it down to just 6 events.  After a 17^th place finish in the 100 Fly with a time of 57.84, and a 400 IM time of 4:43.24 (23 place) on Friday, Evan bounced back to find his way into the Finals in the 200 Breaststroke (2:23.80 for 14^th place), 100 Breast (1:06.62 for 11^th place), and 200 IM (2:09.75 for 13^th place).  

  Ben Fister entered the maximum number of events in the 11-12 Boys age group.  Ben qualified for finals each of the 3 nights with some outstanding swims.  Ben’s 100 Fly time of 1:08.85 earned him a 14^th place finish.  Despite not making the finals in the 200 Free (2:18.79 25^th place), 100 Free (1:01.88 21^st place), 50 Back (33.80 25^th place), Ben showed his true speed in the sprint events.   Ben won the Consolation Final to finish in 9^th place overall in the 50 Fly with a time of 28.67.  The Sea Lions only top 8 finish came on the final night of the meet in the 50 freestyle when Ben swam a time 26.08 to tie for 5^th place.  

  Of the 9 Sea Lions Relays that qualified, 4 were the 11-12 boys.  The team of Ben Fister, Mason Stewart, Ethan Kellam and Johnny Smallhouse swam some very fast relays.  In virtually every leg of each relay, swimmers swam a personal best time.  The 4 x 100 Freestyle relay team finish 15^th with a time of 4:34.82.  The 4 x 50 Medley relay was disqualified for an overly aggressive relay exchange.  The 4 x 50 Free Relay went 2:05.51 to finish in 19^th place.  The 4 x 100 Medley relay finished in 17^th place with a time of 5:22.69.

  For the first time, Sea Lions qualified 13-14 Boys relays for the State Championship.  The Team of AJ Lopez, Nate Fister, Riley Stewart and Evan Apuron qualified all 5 relays and had some sizzling swims.  The 4 x 100 Freestyle swam a time of 3:52.03 for a 15^th place finish.  The 4 x 50 Medley Relay swam a time of 2:00.10 for a 16^th place finish.  In the 4 x 200 Free Relay, the Sea Lions finished 16^th with a time of 8:35.89.  The 200 Freestyle looked great as they swam a time of 1:43.95 to finish in 15^th place with every leg swimming a personal best.  The 4 x 100 Medley Relay finished in 15^th place a time of 4:30.02.

  Coach Alex Gort commented that the achievements for the team were many this year.  

  “During a year when most Sea Lion swimmers are at the bottom end of their respective age groups we had a great showing,” Gort said.  When comparing the 78.5 points earned this year to previous odd calendar years, the improvement is noticeable (2015 – 63 points, 2013 – 41 points).  The number of swimmers who qualify and compete at the State Championship Meet from the Sea Lions continues to grow each year.   All the 13-14 Relays finished in the top 16, a tremendous achievement for a small team.   

  Sea Lions will begin summer team practice at the Mammoth Pool on April 3.  Practice times will be 4-5:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.  Registration will cost $45 and can be completed at any practice.  Forms are available on the Sea Lions web site sealionsswimteam.com.  More information is available by calling Alex or Wendy Gort  at (520) 896-2190 or stopping by the Mammoth Pool during practice.

Staff (5796 Posts)

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