Twenty one of our TNT swimmers escaped the record-breaking heat of the valley to compete in weather remaining in the mid-70’s during the 2017 Southern California Swimming June Age Group Championships to finish 12th as an overall team among nearly 40 teams that scored at the meet.
Our 12th place finish was led by ten-year old Alexa Wong who contributed 87 points to the team total, and having her highest finish as a pair of 3rd places, one in the 200 meter freestyle (2:32.88), and the other in the 200 IM (2:53.61). Alexa’s 200 freestyle is a new team record, resetting her own 2:33.85 that she set at the Reedley meet two months earlier. Her time currently stands as the 66th fastest nationally for girls at age 10. She also competed in heat one of the 100 meter freestyle, where she posted a time of 1:10.40, which fell under the pre-existing team record of 1:10.82 that was set at the Clovis meet one month earlier. Her time now ranks 67th among the nation’s 10-year old girls.
The next highest point accumulation came from 13-year old Peyton Costa, competing at the bottom of the 13-14 age division, and scoring 70 points by placing in all six events that he competed in, and maintaining his traditional 100% improvement streak at age-group championship level meets. His highest finish was a pair of 5th places that included the 200 meter backstroke (2:28.20), and the 400 meter freestyle (4:31.29).
Two swimmers swam under the pre-existing team record of the 10-under girl’s 100 freestyle during the meet. Ten year old Selma swimmer, Sienna Abernathy, swam 1:10.48 in heat two of the same event to go under Alexa’s 1:10.82 team record, and her time is the 70th fastest nationally. Scoring 67 points from individual events, Sienna was our third highest scoring individual, also coming home with a third place finish as her highest place, but in the 50 meter butterfly (36.45).
Our next highest point-getter was Bryan Wong who just recently arrived into the 13-14 age division where he competed and scored 58 points. Nevertheless, he managed to finish 3rd place in two 11-14 age division events that included the 200 breast (2:40.45), and the 400 IM (5:03.47). Bryan scored in all six events. Our next pair of highest point getters included 10-year old Drew Black (28 points) whose highest finish was 7th in the 50 back (39.42), and Visalia’s Layla Flores who is competing at the bottom of her 13-14 age division, and had her highest finish as 7th in the 100 back (1:12.11). Diego Gutierrez, also on the bottom of the 13-14 age division, scored 20 points among two events, with his highest place being 5th in the 13-14 200 IM (2:26.41). Alex Roberts scored nine points with a 9th place finish in the 100 back (1:08.35), while Visalia’s Megan Ridenour scored six points by placing 11th in the 100 meter breaststroke after swimming a 1:19.19 in the preliminary heats. Our final scoring swimmer was 11-year old Visalia teammate, Ciara Clarke, who competed as an 11-year old in the 11-12 division, and placed 13th in the 50 meter backstroke with a time of 36.89.
Improving four of four swims, Ciara Clarke was one of only four swimmers who improved 100% of their times, and these included Selma’s Sienna Abernathy (improving 6 of 6), Peyton Costa (6 of 6), and Bryce Wong (5 of 5).
Our remaining swimmers, along with their highest placed finish, include: Libby Adriaansen (age 15: 28th in the 200 breast), Janessa Bringe (age 15: 52nd in the 400 free), Aidan Champagne (age 12: 35th in the 50 back), Duncan Champagne (age 12: 34th in the 50 breast), Lauren Geiger (age 18: 24th in the 100 fly), Xavier Gutierrez (age 13: 17th in the 200 breast), Addison Mccullough (age 10: 17th in the 50 breast), Ava Olson (age 11: 17th in the 100 breast), Emelia Rasner (age 10: 33rd in the 100 back), Katherine Sullivan (age 15: 18th in the 200 fly), and Bryce Wong (age 15: 21st in the 200 breast).