Tule Nation Tritons made an impact at both the 15-18 and 14-under divisions at the 2013 Junior Olympics winning its first title as a unified team of 71 individual swimmers representing the towns of Fig Garden, Hanford, Selma, Tulare and Visalia. Swimmers training in each of these towns actually represent towns such as Corcoran, Coalinga, Fig Garden, Hanford, Kingsburg, Lemoore, Porterville, Sanger, Selma, Tulare and Visalia as many swimmers sacrifice the time to commute to a central location with intent to achieve their desired goals on an individual level. Our overall team points placed the team in first by a margin of 1,142 with our senior swimmers (15-18) scoring 1,080 points on their own. Our 14-under swimmers alone combined to 2,382 points which would have maintained a margin of 191 points for the win if considering only the younger swimmers.
Thirty-three of our swimmers performed well enough in the preliminary heats to move on to the championship finals in a swim meet that hosted approximately 800 age group and senior swimmers. Scores from individual events alone contributed to 2,662 of the total team score. Congratulations to the following 33 swimmers for making it to the top-8:
Additionally, consolation finalists contribute to the team’s score, and these additional swimmers include: Janessa Bringe (age 11), Quinton Davis (12), Alonso Escobedo (13), Tristan Gaines (15), Parker Giles (13), Tracy Hannan (16), Jonas Huckabay (12), Toby Jones (9), Jakob Koorey (13), Jimmy Koster (15), Paul Alexander Lerro (10), Peyton Mckinzie (9), Madison Pallares (11), Micah Ruiz (13), Jeremiah Santillana (15), Taylor Shaw (17), and Bryan Wong (8).
Our total team points of 3,402 were led by our sole high point recipient, Skylar Ford of Visalia, who accumulated 134 points from individual events winning five of her seven events that included the 50 back (32.72), 200 free (2:16.53), 50 free (28.02), 100 free (1:01.37), and 50 fly (30.38) events. Skylar, swimming in her last meet as a 10-under, set three additional team records that included the 50 back, 200 free and 100 IM. Her 50 back time broke her preexisting record that she had set at the Age Group Invitational in December as a 32.84. Her time currently ranks 134th nationally for girls at age 10. Her 200 freestyle time at JO’s topped her 2:17.44 that she swam at the All Star meet the previous month, and that time stands as the 190th among 10-year old girls. The 100 IM record was a new record for Skylar as her time breaks Melissa Lindley’s 1:12.20 that she had set at Junior Olympics in 1990. Skylar’s 100 IM time of 1:11.77 is the 153rd fastest for all 10-year old girls who swam the event since this past September.
Two team records fell to 10 year old Jackson Huckabay of Selma who takes on the sprint tradition of the program by taking down both the 50 freestyle (28.78) and 100 freestyle (1:01.76) events. The 50 freestyle record was previously held by Parker Giles, who set the record at Far Westerns in 2010. Jackson’s time is currently 252nd fastest nationally among all 10-year old boys. Only 130 ten-year old male swimmers have swum as fast a Jackson in the 100 yard freestyle since September, and his time of 1:01.76 from Junior Olympics also broke Parker Giles’s record that once again was set at Far Westerns in 2010.
Fourteen year old Mallory Korenwinder posted a time of 1:04.22 in the 100 breaststroke that outperformed her time that was swum at Short Course Junior Nationals this past winter. Her time not only takes down her previous team record, but also improves both the CCS 13-14 record, which she set Junior Nationals, as well as the CCS Senior record that was held by Jorie Caneta as a 1:04.27 and set at Sectionals this past December. Mallory’s time currently stands as the 8th fastest time in the nation for all girls of age 14.
Colin Landweer was another swimmer who topped his fully rested, shaved and tapered time by swimming 1:55.88 in the 200 IM, going under his 1:55.93 swam at Winter Sectionals in 2011 at Golden West College. Colin’s time currently stands as the 171st fastest nationally for all 18-year old males.
Joining Skylar Ford in the winning circle was Colin Landweer who came away with four wins in the 15-18 division, and these included the 50 free (22.03), 400 IM (4:19.11), 200 IM (1:55.88) and 100 free (47.32) events. Fourteen year old Mallory Korenwinder had the next highest number of wins totaling three, and her events included the 100 breast (1:04.22), 400 IM (4:37.24) and 200 breast (2:20.49) events. Ten year old Danielle Albright doubled up her wins with the 50 breaststroke (35.89) and 100 breaststroke (1:20.62) events. Our remaining event champions included fourteen year old Allyson Duffy (500 free – 5:20.28), fifteen year old Kyle Grissom (200 fly – 1:57.78), and ten year old Jackson Huckabay (100 free – 1:01.76).