by 
The Sea Lions hosted the Globe Piranhas on Saturday, July 17, at the Mammoth Pool. The Sea Lions won the meet 1066 to 266. The Sea Lions achieved 82 best times and won 74 (out of the 88) events at the meet.
The Sea Lions have had 21 new swimmers compete this summer. For two Sea Lions swimmers, this was the first their swim meet ever. Mario Primero (8) and Darrian Kramer (10) competed for the first time. Both competed in multiple events and earned ribbons and points for the team at the meet.
With swimmers in every age group improving rapidly, who knows what will happen at the League Championship Meet in Coolidge on Saturday, July 24? Coach Alex Gort is proud of where this team is today.
“This season the team has grown more than any year for a long time. What is the most exciting is how fast the swimmers are improving. In many cases, we have swimmers who could not swim a month ago now competing in races. I am not sure if we can beat either of the teams that beat us early in the season but I am excited to find out!” he said.
Cassadee Brown, Jocelyn Hudson, Juliana Ramirez, Cooper Dale, Mia Dale and Evan Apuron won all of their individual races at the meet.
Maryann Jacobson had best times in all her events for the third week in a row.
The following swimmers had first place finishes on Saturday:
Cassadee Brown, 5, (Fly, Back, Breast, Free, Free Relay);
Bradley Tafoya, 6, (Free Relay);
Gabriel Hudson, 6, (IM, Back Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Asher Riekofski, 6, (Fly, Breast, Free. Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Grayson, Downing, 6, (Medley Relay);
Bea Olson, 7, (Breast, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Naudia Garcia, 7, (Medley Relay);
Alex Ervin, 7, ( Free Relay);
Jorden Doucette, 7, (Fly, Back, 50 Free, Breast, Free, Free Relay);
Annabelle Sloan, 8, (IM, Fly, Back, 50 Free, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Arizona Axe, 9, (Medley Relay, Free Relay)
Ben Simons ,9, (Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Maryann Jacobson, 10, (IM, Fly, Back, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Lucy Olson, 10, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Simon Fletcher, 10, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Free, Free Relay);
Joshua Doucette, 11, (Free Relay);
Jocelyn Hudson, 11, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Rexy Simons, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Lily Axe, 13, (Free Relay);
Jordan Simons, 13 (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Ariana Ervin, 14, ( Medley Relay, Free, Rely);
Juliana Ramirez, 14, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Cooper Dale, 14, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Free Relay);
Israel Gonzalez, 14, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Ethan Kellam, 15, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Will Simons, 15, (Free Relay);
Mia Dale, 16, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);
Evan Apuron, 18, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay).
Seven-year-old Bea Olson was named Sea Lions Beast of the Week. She added three new events at the meet: the IM, Butterfly, and 50 Freestyle. She competed in every event in her age group at the meet and had 5 best times. She had a Beastly swim in the Breaststroke swimming 8 seconds faster than she had ever gone before to win it. Her great week of practice and accomplishments at the meet earned her the title of Sea Lions Beast of the Week.
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 5:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday) for more information.
by by