Lemoore’s 10-year old Michelle Murphy returns from the Winter Age Group Championships the previous month in San Diego to take home 7 wins at the Winter Classic that took place over the 3rd weekend of January in Tulare. Michelle won seven of her eight events, and placed second in the remaining one. She also improved six of her eight events, thereby maintaining one of the highest improvement rates as well.
Our next highest wins came from Visalia’s 12-year old, Ella Bettencourt, who also is a Winter Age Group Championship contender, improved 86% of her times at the Winter Classic, and took home six wins out her seven events. She also placed second in her remaining event. Both of these athletes were among 73 TNT swimmers who competed alongside over 200 athletes total at the meet. Visalia had two additional swimmers who came home with five wins each, and these included 16-year old Janessa Bringe, and 14-year old Layla Flores. Layla was also one of the few TNT swimmers who remained undefeated at the meet. Thirteen year old Bryan Wong was the only other TNT swimmers entered in more than two events to remain undefeated, winning all five of the events he competed in.
Other event champions include: Sienna Abernathy (100 free), Danielle Albright (200 back), Emma Bettencourt (50 back), Drew Black (100 IM), Natalie Boudreaux (50 free), Nathan Boudreaux (25 free, 25 breast), William Butts (50 fly, 50 back, 100 back, 50 breast), Carson Clarke (50 free), Ciena Clarke (100 IM), Tyler Coles (200 free, 100 back, 200 back, 100 free), Riley Duffy (100 fly), Alonso Escobedo (50 free, 100 free), Jillian Gaines (200 free), Mackenzie Garza (200 free, 100 back, 50 free), Xavier Gutierrez (200 free, 200 IM), Regan Hildreth (50 breast, 25 breast), Jaxon Hoover (50 fly, 100 back, 100 IM), Dylan Hunt (500 free), Nathan Hunt (100 back, 200 breast, 200 back), Ashton King (100 back, 50 free), Madalynn Lady (200 free, 50 fly, 100 breast), Thomas Matthews (200 back), Addison Mccullough (200 free, 50 back, 100 fly), Genoveve Mcilwaine (100 fly), Preston Niayesh (200 IM, 100 breast), Ava Olson (400 IM, 200 fly), Luke Pena (50 free, 100 IM, 100 free), Jaxon Percival (50 free, 25 free), Garrison Price (100 fly), Megan Ridenour (100 fly, 100 breast), Danny Rodriguez (100 breast, 50 breast, 100 free), Mikayla Rodriguez (50 fly, 100 IM), Sophia Rubalcaba (100 back), Mackenzie Sepeda (200 IM), Kalei Sine (200 free), Jake Surratt (25 fly, 50 back, 100 free), Chesney Watson (200 IM), Alexa Wong (1000 free, 200 back, 50 breast), Brett Wong (200 back), and Bryce Wong (100 breast, 500 free)
Six TNT swimmers improved 100% of times that had been previously recorded with the team, and these include Porterville’s 10-year old Natalie Boudreaux who entered two events, and improved both, 13-year old Duncan Champagne who swam four, and improved all four, and 13-year old Noah Hoy, who had one event that he had a previous time, and improved it, then swam two additional events for the first time. Similarly, 14-year old Xavier Gutierrez improved two previously recorded times, and competed in two new events, while nine year old JoAnne Mecum maintained a 100% improvement rate by improving her time in the 50 free. Finally, 17-year old Kalei Sine made her re-entry into club swimming with an improvement in the 50 free, and swam three additional events for her first time. Congratulations to all.