By Charlie Woodhouse
It was with cautious optimism that Head Coach Alex Gort and I, his assistant, headed north to Tempe early Saturday morning. How would our seven San Manuel Sea Lions fair at the “Rio Fall Opener” swim meet today?
That’s the one Melissa Belote Ripley, the 1972 Olympic gold medalist in the 100 and 200-meter backstroke, and her Rio Swim Club crew at the McClintock High School pool put on this time of year.
The kids last swam at a big meet back in March. Yes, they had won the summer swim league championship in July, again. They then continued to swim an hour and a half daily after High School practice was finished.
They were all healthy and eager to race. But how would they do? Most were in new age groups since March. Now they were the youngest in their group.
Well, rest easy San Manuel. Your swimming reputation remains unblemished. In fact, it was even burnished a bit. Your athletes all reduced their Spring swim times by substantial amounts.
Hard working Royann Estrada (11), who just started swimming two years ago, dropped a whopping 27 seconds off her 100 Backstroke and about 10 seconds off each of her other four events. Darien Apuron (11) dropped 17 seconds off her 100 Freestyle and also shaved about 10 seconds off her 100 Butterfly and Backstroke.
Her brother, Evan (9), the current State Champion in the 8 and under Butterfly, is now qualified for the 50 Fly State Championship in the 10 and under division. To show he’s not a one trick pony, he dropped 20 seconds off his 100 Backstroke. He’s clearly becoming an all-round top competitive swimmer.
Riley Stewart (8) was new to the group so had no Spring times for comparison but he turned in very respectable times in five events and received place ribbons in all of them. Tabitha Kellum (9) won the 50 Backstroke as well as lowering her times five to 10 seconds in each of the four strokes and the 100 Individual Medley.
Gianna Sweeney (11) deserves special mention. She dropped 13 seconds off her 100 Back, 14 seconds off her 200 Individual Medley, seven seconds off her 100 Freestyle, and a whopping 19 seconds off her Spring Butterfly.
But most amazing is that she reduced the Breaststroke time she swam in the 9-10 year old division at the State Meet in March by 11 seconds! This time qualified her for State in the 11-12 year old division.
Coach Gort remarked, “It is really unusual for an 11 year old girl to qualify for the State Championship Meet with all those strong and experienced 12 year olds in her age group.
For Gia to do it on her first try having just turned 11 is something special.” Something special, indeed; special and fast, scary fast.”
Finely, I’d like to mention Ethan Kellum (6) and his dad, Bill (age withheld). Ethan got bored at his sister, Tabitha’s, swim meets last year and wanted to get in on the action. So he started swimming and has turned into a very promising contributor to the Sea Lion Team.
But just now, all is not sweetness and light at the Kellum household. Bill has pursued extra training and become a certified swim competition judge. He was pressed into service at this Rio Meet to judge for stroke technique violations.
Imagine his dismay when he observed his own son doing the breaststroke kick illegally. He felt he had no choice but to disqualify little Ethan. It’s not quite, like the Abraham and Isaac Bible Story, but it’s certainly along that line.
So the next time you see Bill Kellum, pause a bit and drink him in. You’re looking at a man of character and integrity. Hey, Bill, do you know anything about running a bank?
Bill did get some karma later when Ethan won the 10 and under 50 Backstroke!
The San Manuel Sea Lions Swim Club is primarily a summer swim program but operates year around for motivated hard working children who wish to learn to swim and improve their swimming as much as possible.
Children of all ages and abilities from the San Manuel, Oracle, and Mammoth areas are welcome. For more information, please contact Alex Gort at 896-2190.
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