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The Sea Lions Swim Team traveled to a relay meet held at the Merrill Ranch Anthem Pool in Florence on Saturday. The meet was a league wide meet, but only the Sea Lions, Parkside Piranhas, San Tan Valley Barracudas and the Coolidge Dolphins attended. A co-ed relay only format with combined age groups was used. In a meet with many close races and lead changes, the final score was also as tight as it could be. The Piranhas finished one single point ahead of the Sea Lions. The final team scores were Piranhas 158, Sea Lions 157, Dolphins 113, and Barracudas 91.
The Sea Lions had just celebrated 10 consecutive years of dual meet victories, so the second place finish had a sting to it. Coach Alex commented, “The level of competition in the League is such that things like home pool advantage and turnout are enough to tip a meet in the favor of one team or another. Having the League Championship Meet in Florence this year (instead of San Manuel) will be a big test for the Sea Lions”.
Out of the 26 events held at the meet, the Sea Lions won 11 of them. Even in the events they did not win, the Sea Lions swam well, usually holding the lead at some point during each race.
The following swimmers swam on winning relays at the meet on Saturday:
Kayla Lambiotte, 7, (Medley);
Jessica Rouse, 8, (Medley, Crescendo);
Anya Zovko, 8, (Medley, Crescendo);
Cooper Dale, 8, (Medley);
Johnny Smallhouse, 9, (Fly, 4×100 Free, 4×50 Free, Noodle);
Vicente Curry, 10, (Breast);
Mia Dale, 11, (Fly, Breast);
Ashlee Parker, 11, (Medley, Back);
Emerik Zovko, 11, (Medley, Back, Breast, Free);
Rianna Estrada, 12, (Fly, 4×100 Free, Breast, Noodle);
Hannah Smallhouse, 12, (Back, 4×100 Free, 4×50 Free, Noodle);
Hunter Hill, 12, (Medley, Back, 4×50 Free, Crescendo);
AJ Lopez, 12, (Medley, Fly, 4×100 Free, Crescendo, Noodle);
Nate Fister, 14, (Back);
Ann Marie Cambell, 13, (Back);
Kayla Parker, 14, (Noodle);
Andres Valenzuela, 14, (Noodle);
Jessi Rice, 16, (Back, Noodle);
Darien Apuron, 15, (Back, Crescendo, Noodle);
AJ Lopez was named Sea Lions Beast of the Week. AJ swam faster than he ever had before in each of his relay swims, but it was being the only swimmer to be on 5 winning relays at the meet that earned him the honor. AJ puts in hard work in practice every day of every week is now reaping the rewards. AJ has become one of the fastest 12 year old boys in the League.
The Sea Lions will attend the Central Arizona Swimming League Championship Meet at the Florence Aquatic Center on July 23, when the Sea Lions have hopes of winning their 10th consecutive League Championship.
There is still time to join the team – contact Alex or Wendy Gort at 896-2190, stop by the Mammoth Pool between 4 and 6 p.m. (Monday-Friday), or check sealionsswimteam.com for more information.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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