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Simon Fletcher at his first swim meet, swimming the backstroke. Photo courtesy Apuron Photography
The Sea Lions Swim Team hosted the Parkside Piranhas in the final dual meet of the season at the Mammoth Pool. Great swimming and home pool advantage helped the Sea Lions win the meet with 1,017 points while the Piranhas finished with 452 points. This win marks the 10th consecutive year that the Sea Lions have finished the Central Arizona Swimming League Dual Meet Season without a loss.
After a very close meet between the two teams in early June, another close meet was anticipated. While home pool advantage is hard to gauge, the Sea Lions had better turnout and the team depth was a big factor in the final score. Both teams looked sharp late in the season as swimmers from both teams achieved best times in a majority of the events.
Eight Sea Lions swam all the events in their age group and achieved best times in every event. Jocelyn Hudson (6), Malik Blackwell (7), Juliana Ramirez (9), Briana Castellanos (11), Robert Sanz-Anton (11), Andres Valenzuela (14), and Bonnie Bridges (15) all achieved personal best times in every event.
Five swimmers entered the maximum number of events and won them all. Anya Zovko (8), Cooper Dale (8), Mason Stewart (10), Evan Apuron (13), and Darien Apuron (15) each won all eight events contested in their age group at the meet.
Cooper Dale swimming the backstroke. Photo courtesy Apuron Photography.
The following swimmers had first place finishes on Saturday:
Annie Nemans, 5, (Fly, Free);
Simon Fletcher, 5, (Back, Free);
Jocelyn Hudson, 6, (Back, Breast);
Malik Blackwell, 7, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Frank Cline, 7, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Kayla Lambiotte, 7, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Jessica Rouse, 8, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Anya Zovko, 8, (IM, Fly, Back, 50 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Cooper Dale, 8, (IM, Fly, Back, 50 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Juliana Ramirez, 9, (Fly);
Johnny Smallhouse, 9, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Nevaeh Derrick, 10, (IM, Free);
Joey Castellanos, 10, (Medley Relay);
Mason Stewart, 10, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Emerik Zovko, 11, (Free Relay);
Briana Castellanos, 11, (100 Free, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Mia Dale, 11, (Medley Relay);
Robert Sanz-Anton, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Rianna Estrada, 12, (Breast, Free Relay);
Hannah Smallhouse, 12, (Medley Relay);
Riley Stewart, 12, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
AJ Lopez, 12, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Hunter Hill, 12, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Evan Apuron, 13, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Star Chavez, 13, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Ann Marie Campbell, 13, (Free Relay);
Aubrey Bridges, 13, (Free Relay)
BaiLee Hill, 14, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Kayla Parker, 14, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Andres Valenzuela, 14, (IM, Fly, 100 Free, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Darien Apuron, 15, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Bonnie Bridges, 15, (Fly);
Five year old Simon Fletcher competed in his first swim meet as a Sea Lion. Simon swam the 25 yard Backstroke and the 25 yard Freestyle, winning both events in the 6 and Under Boys division and earning first place ribbons.
Seven year old Malik Blackwell was named Beast of the Week. As a first year swimmer, Malik has made dramatic improvements during the season. In less than a month he has learned to swim all four competitive strokes. At the meet on Saturday he swam his first Individual Medley (IM). In this 100 yard race each stroke is performed in the following order Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Freestyle. It is a long grueling race for a seven year old. Add to this the fact that after completing his first IM, Malik went on to swim five more individual events (including the 50 Freestyle) achieving personal best times in each. Additionally, he was a member of both the winning 7-8 Boys Medley Relay and Freestyle Relay.
Mason Stewart swimming the butterfly. Photo courtesy Apuron Photography.
The Sea Lions will attend the Central Arizona Swimming League Relay Meet in Parkside on July 16th at the Anthem Merrill Ranch Pool (Florence). The League Championship Meet is less than two weeks away and will be held 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 or stop by the Mammoth Pool between 4 and 6 p.m. (Monday-Friday) for more information.
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