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Rianna Estrada 12, competes. Photo courtesy of Apuron Photography.
The Sea Lions traveled to the Miami Hostetler Pool to compete against the Globe Piranhas Swim Team on Saturday. The Sea Lions won the meet by a final score of 794 to 446.
Most Central Arizona Swimming League meets are held in pools that are either 25 yards or 25 meters in length. The Hostetler Pool is 40 yards long and tested the resolve of swimmers since each race was 38% longer. The longer events proved to be a good test of the Sea Lions conditioning, and as the meet wore on, the Sea Lions performed better. After winning 5 of the 10 Medley Relays at the beginning of the meet, the Sea Lions came roaring back to win 9 out of the 10 Freestyle Relays at the end of the meet.
Martin Madrid (9) – 1st year Sea Lion. Photo courtesy Apuron Photography.
Five swimmers entered the maximum number of events and won them all. Anya Zovko (8), Evan Apuron (13), Andres Valenzuela (14), Darien Apuron (15), and Colbey Stratton (17) each won all seven events contested in their age group at the meet.
The following swimmers had first place finishes on Saturday:
Annie Nemans, 5, (Back, Free);
Jocelyn Hudson, 6, (Fly, Breast);
Malik Blackwell, 7, (Fly);
Kayla Lambiotte, 7, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Jessica Rouse, 8, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Anya Zovko, 8, (IM, Fly, Back, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Juliana Ramirez, 9, (Free Relay);
Johnny Smallhouse, 9, (Free, Medley Relay);
Martin Madrid, 9, (Medley Relay);
Nevaeh Derrick, 10, (IM, Back, Free, Free Relay);
Ethan Kellam, 10, (Fly, Back, Free Relay);
Joey Castellanos, 10, (Free Relay);
Mason Stewart, 10, (IM, Breast, Medley Relay);
Vicente Curry, 10, (Free Relay);
Emerik Zovko, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Briana Castellanos, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Ben Fister, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Robert Sans-Anton, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Tabitha Kellam, 12, (IM, Fly, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Rianna Estrada, 12, (Back, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Hannah Smallhouse, 12, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Kayla Madrid, 12, (Free 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, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Star Chavez, 13, (Free Relay);
Ann Marie Campbell, 13, (Free Relay);
Aubrey Bridges, 13, (Free Relay)
Andres Valenzuela, 14, (IM, Fly, Back, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Darien Apuron, 15, (IM, Fly, Back, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Bonnie Bridges, 15, (IM, Fly, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Jessi Rice, 15, (Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Colbey Stratton, 17, (IM, Fly, Back, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Rebekah Head, 18, (Back, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Malik Blackwell (7) – another 1st year Sea Lion. Photo courtesy Apuron Photography.
Bonnie Bridges was named Beast of the Week. Of the eight 15-18 year old girls at the meet, Bonnie Bridges was the only one who was Beast enough to swim the Individual Medley (which turned out to be a 320 yard IM). Later in the meet she again stepped up in the 160 yard Butterfly to be the sole 15-18 Girl swimmer to complete the grueling race. She was also part of the 15-18 Girls winning Medley and Freestyle Relays. Bonnie’s Beastly performances resulted in 4 wins out of 7 events held in her age group.
The Sea Lions will host the Parkside (Florence Anthem) Piranhas at the Mammoth Pool on Saturday July 9.
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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