Thirty-one TNT swimmers competed at the Fresno Senior Trials and Finals meet hosted by the Dolphins over the third weekend of January, and Visalia’s Janessa Bringe along with Bryce Wong were our sole event champions, both winning the 200 yard butterfly event. Janessa had two championship swims, winning the 200 fly in 2:15.13, and then earning the bronze in the 200 IM, with a time of 2:18.36. Bryce’s sole championship swim was his win in the 200 fly, posting a time of 1:56.11 in the event.
Twenty one additional TNT swimmers earned a final swim in one of three heats, and additional championship finalists included Ella Bettencourt who placed 5th in the 200 IM with a time of 2:22.49, and then followed that with a 6th place touch in the 200 breaststroke after posting a time of 2:43.57 in the preliminary heats. Ella also finished 10th in the consolation heat of the 100 free (57.54). Her Visalia training partner, Layla Flores placed 2nd in both the 200 IM (2:12.13), and 200 breaststroke (2:34.55) events. Visalia’s graduating senior, Mackenzie Garza was runner up in the 100 free, posting her lifetime best of 53.17, and then touched fourth in the 200 IM, with another lifetime best of 2:20.90. Selma’s Daniel Haley touched 6th in the 200 free, swimming under the two minute mark twice. He also had two top-16 finishes that included a 12th place in the 200 IM (2:23.99), and a 13th place in the 100 fly (1:03.89), as well as a bonus swim, and 17th place finish, in the 100 free. Dylan Hunt had two championships swim that included a silver medal performance in the 200 breast after posting a time of 2:35.63 in the preliminary heats, and then went on the finish 6th in the 100 breast after posting a time of 1:11.27 in prelims. He had two additional top-16 finishes that included an 11th place in the 50 free (26.86), and 13th place in the 100 back (1:08.72). Dylan had five second swims that included a bonus 21st place finish in the 100 free. Ava Olson had three second swims on day one of the meet that included a championship, 3rd place performance, in the 500 free by improving over 25 seconds in the event to a 5:25.57. She also had a consolation finish of 11th in the 100 free (59.29), and also a bonus 18th place finish in the 100 back. Ava was one of five TNT swimmers to improve 100% of their times. Gage Price competed in one event, and earned a championship swim in the 200 fly, moving from 8th to 5th in finals with a time of 2:19.03. Visalia’s Luke Vanwoudenberg had three second swims, two of those being in the championship heat. His highest finish was 5th in the 100 back where he posted a time of 1:00.68, and he also touched 6th in the 200 IM with a lifetime best of 2:12.96 in the event. Luke also scored in the consolation heat with a 14th place finish in the 100 free (54.76). His training partner in Visalia, Benjamin Wheeler, earned a pair of championships swims, and 7th place finishes, each reflecting significant time improvements. His 2:16.70 in the 200 IM finished 7th, as did his 1:00.90 in the 100 back, both being over seven and five second improvements respectively. Benjamin also touched 15th in the 100 free (55.48) where he improved over three seconds in the event. Alexa Wong was our only other championship finalist, and she did this in the only event she competed in, posting a time of 5:23.71 in the 500 free, touching 2nd, and improving over nine seconds in the event.
Additional consolation finalists included Visalia’s Emma Bettencourt who touched 12th in the 200 IM (2:28.79), and then also swam in the bonus heat in both the 100 free (20th) and 100 back (23rd). Selma’s William Butts competed as a new 13-year old, and finished 14th in the 100 back (1:09.71), while Laney Cox finished 9th in three events that included the 200 breast (2:46.53), 200 free (2:12.06), and 100 breast (1:16.73). She also touched 15th in the 100 free. Visalia’s Kate Geiger came away with a pair of second swims, starting in the consolation heat with a 13th place finish in the 100 back (1:11.46), and then swimming in the bonus heat of the 100 free (23rd). Nathan Hunt had three consolation swims, his highest finish being 11th in the 100 breast (1:16.45), and then following that with a pair of 15th place finishes that included the 100 back (1:09.92), and 50 free (27.91). Visalia’s Kristine Marions also had a pair of finals, her consolation swim being in the 100 back (1:14.99), and then also swimming in the bonus heat of the 200 IM (22nd). Eleven year old Addison Mccullough earned a consolation swim by touching 14th in the 200 breast (2:51.87), and then won the bonus heat of the 200 IM (17th). Amy Murphy swam three consolation finals, her highest place being a pair of 10th places that included the 200 breast (2:47.17), and 100 breast (1:18.59) both being lifetime best times, and then touching 15th in the 100 fly (1:11.26). Visalia’s Vincente Sanchez was our only other consolation finalist, and he did this with an 11th place finish in the 100 back (1:06.96).
Additional bonus swims came from Riley Carpenter who finished 20th in the 100 back, and Isabella Klawitter who touched 17th in the 500 free, 18th in both the 200 IM and 200 free, and 20th in the 100 fly.
Swimmers who improved 100% of their times included: Emma Bettencourt, Isabella Klawitter, Ava Olson, Milo Pennington, and Alexa Wong.