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Will Newman competes. Vince Apuron | Miner
Will Newman competes. Vince Apuron | Miner
The San Manuel Sea Lions hosted the first swim meet of the 2015 season on Saturday at the San Manuel Swimming Pool against the Parkside (Florence Anthem) Piranhas and San Tan Valley Barracudas. The Sea Lions won the meet with 992 points, while the Piranhas finished with 312 points and the Barracudas finished with 163 points.
In the Central Arizona Swimming League , the Sea Lions have won every swim meet over the past eight years and hope to make a run at a ninth consecutive League Championship this summer.
The coaches were excited to see how the team performed at the first meet. While the team has many strengths, it was the 13-14 Girls who put on a sizzling performance on Saturday. Lead by Gianna Sweeney (13) and Darien Apuron (13), the girls finished first and second in every race breaking team records in every individual event. Sweeney and Apuron were joined with Kayla Parker (13), Jasmine Smith (14), BaiLee Hill (13), Bonnie Bridges (14), and Jessi Rice (14) to finish first and second in both the Medley and Free Relays. Head Coach Alex Gort was proud of the fact that the 13-14 Girls Sea Lion Swimmers took all the 6 top spots in the 200 Individual Medley (IM). “The 200 IM is the all-around event in swimming and the Sea Lions really shined,” the coach said.
A total of 16 team records were broken on Saturday. Swimmers breaking team records included the following: Johnny Smallhouse (8), Hunter Hill (11), Riley Stewart (11), Evan Apuron (11), Nate Fister (12), Darien Apuron, Gianna Sweeney, Jessi Rice and Will Newman (15).
Three swimmers entered the maximum number of events and won them all. Briana Castellanos (10), Evan Apuron, and Will Newman each won all 8 events they swam. Additionally, Kayla Lambiotte (6) and Johnny Smallhouse (8) won all the individual events in their respective age groups.
The following swimmers had first place finishes on Saturday:
Kayla Lambiotte, 6, (Fly, Back, Breast, Free, Medley Relay);
Jessica Rouse, 7, (Medley Relay);
Juliana Ramirez, 8, (Medley Relay);
Johnny Smallhouse, 8, (IM, Fly, Back, 50 Free, Breast, Free, Free Relay);
Nevaeh Derrick, 9, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Ethan Kellam, 9, (Free Relay);
Rocky Andrade, 9, (Medley Relay);
Joey Castellanos, 9, (Medley Relay);
Emerik Zovko, 9, (Free Relay);
Mason Stewart, 9, (IM, Breast, Medley Relay, Free Relay):
Desiree Galarza, 10, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Ashley Parker, 10, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Briana Castellanos, 10, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Ben Fister, 10, (Back, Medley Relay, Free Relay)
Evan Apuron, 11, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Riley Stewart, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Hunter Hill, 11, (Medley Relay);
Brian Mulholland, 11, (Medley Relay);
Genevieve Estrada, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Rianna Estrada, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Star Chavez, 11, (Breast, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Hannah Smallhouse, 11, (Medley Relay);
Nate Fister, 12, (Medley Relay);
BaiLee Hill, 13, (Medley Relay);
Darien Apuron, 13, (Fly, Back, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Gianna Sweeney, 13, (IM, Breast, 100 Free, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Jayden Smith, 13, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Jessi Rice, 14, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Michael Primero, 14, (Fly, Back, 100 Free, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Will Newman, 15, (IM, Fly, Back, Breast, 100 Free, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Jacob Christian, 16, ( Medley Relay, Free Relay).
This was the first swim meet for several swimmers on the team and they performed extremely well and had lots of fun! Swimmers who competed in their first swim meet as a Sea Lion on Saturday were: Annie Nemans (4), Jordyn Hinojos (5), Laila Ruiz (8), Israel Gonzales (8), Mikayla Hinojos (9), and Brianna Mullens (11).
Ethan Kellam was named Sea Lions Beast of the Week. Despite the fact that his right arm was in a (waterproof) cast healing from a recent break, he worked hard at every practice, entered eight events at the swim meet (which is the maximum) and achieved personal best times in each one. His determination to not let a little thing like a broken arm slow down his summer, shows his beastly spirit.
The Sea Lions will host the Globe Piranhas, Eloy Otters, and Florence Sharks at the San Manuel Pool on Saturday, June 6 (9 a.m).
There is still time to join the team – contact Alex or Wendy Gort at 896-2190 or stop by the San Manuel Pool between 4 and 6 p.m. (Monday through Friday) 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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