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Anya Zovko. Photo courtesy Apuron Photography
The Sea Lions Swim Team traveled to Parkside (Florence Anthem) for the first swim meet of the 2016 against the Parkside Piranhas, San Tan Valley Barracudas and Globe Piranhas. The Sea Lions won the meet with 500 points, while Parkside finished with 418 points, San Tan Valley finished with 284 points, and Globe finished with 74 points. In the Central Arizona Swimming League, the Sea Lions have won every swim meet over the past nine years and hope to make a run at a 10th consecutive League Championship this summer.
The meet was very competitive and the outcome of the meet was not clear until the Sea Lions won the Freestyle Relays in the majority of the age groups at the end of the meet. The 82 point margin of victory by the Sea Lions is the smallest in many years. Coach Alex Gort commented, “The competition level of the rest of the league is considerably better this summer. If not for some great relay swims by the Sea Lions, the final standings may have ended up differently.”
Two swimmers entered the maximum number of events and won them all. Anya Zovko (8) and Evan Apuron (12) both won all six events they swam at the meet.
The following swimmers had first place finishes on Saturday:
Kayla Lambiotte, 7, (Medley Relay);
Jessica Rouse, 8, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Anya Zovko, 8, (Fly, Back, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Juliana Ramirez, 9, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Johnny Smallhouse, 9, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Nevaeh Derrick, 10, (Fly, Back, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Ethan Kellam, 10, (Free Relay);
Rocky Andrade, 10, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Joey Castellanos, 10, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Emerik Zovko, 10, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Mason Stewart, 10, (Fly, Back, Breast, Free);
Briana Castellanos, 11, (Fly, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Mia Dale, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Robert Sanz-Anton, 11, (Medley Relay);
Rianna Estrada, 12, (Breast, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Evan Apuron, 12, (Fly, Back, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Riley Stewart, 11, (Medley Relay);
Hunter Hill, 12, (Medley Relay);
Aubrey Bridges, 13, (Medley Relay);
Ann Marie Campbell, 13, (Medley Relay);
Star Chavez, 13, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
BaiLee Hill, 13, (Medley Relay);
Darien Apuron, 13, (Fly, Back, Breast, Free, Free Relay);
Andres Valenzuela, 14, (Breast, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Rebekah Head, 18, (Back, Free);
This was the first swim meet for several swimmers on the team and they performed extremely well and had lots of fun! Listed are swimmers who competed in their first swim meet as a Sea Lion on Saturday: Jocelyn Hudson (6), Vicente Curry (10), Nate Vance (10), and Ann Marie Campbell (13).
Vicente Curry. Photo courtesy Apuron Photography
Juliana Ramirez was named Sea Lions Beast of the Week. Nine year olds have a tough time adjusting to the longer races, which are twice as long as when they were eight year olds. Juliana put in a great week of practice and it paid off at the meet. She swam all the events, and achieved best times in each event. Her grit and determination was most evident in the 50 Meter Butterfly, where she kept going strong and steady, and passed several swimmers in the last 15 meters to finish second – a great accomplishment as a 9 year old. Additionally, she swam double legs in both the Medley and Freestyle Relays, to help ensure wins in both.
The Sea Lions will travel to Florence to face the Florence Sharks on Saturday, June 11.
There is still time to join the team – contact Alex or Wendy Gort at 896-2190 or stop by the Mammoth Pool between 4 and 6 p.m. (Monday through Friday) for more information.
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