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Twenty-three TNT swimmers competed at the Merced long course meet during the third weekend of April. Ten year old Preston Niayesh led our team in record breaking performances setting three new team records, all of which are new records for him. Preston began with the 50 meter breaststroke with a time of 43.01, shaving under one of our longest standing records set by Dax Brott as 43.29 during 1987 while competing in Bakersfield. Preston’s time currently ranks 5^th nationally for all 10-yaer old boys in the event early in this long course season. Currently the fastest time in the nation for a 10-year old boy is 41.48. Preston went on to shatter the team’s 100 breaststroke record with a time of 1:31.38 that also currently stands among the top 5 times in the nation. The current top time in the nation is 1:28.17. Dax Brott’s previous team record set in Bakersfield in 1987 was 1:35.43. Finally, Preston’s time of 3:04.78 went under Alonso Escobedo’s 200 IM team record that was set as 3:05.13 at Junior Olympics last summer. Early long course national rankings would place Preston’s time as the 38^th fastest in the nation.

Striving for her second Sectional cut, 12-year old Mallory Korenwinder swam 1:19.90 in the 100 meter breaststroke, thereby improving her previous team record of 1:20.48 set last year at Junior Olympics. A former nationally ranked swimmer at age 10, Mallory’s time currently ranks 8^th in the nation for all 12 year old girls.

 

Tule Nation Triton swimmers took home five High Point awards from Merced. Preston Niayesh, who was the leader in team record-breaking performances, was also our sole swimmer who competed uncontested, winning all 10 of 10 events he had entered. Preston thereby became the 10-under boy High Point winner. Mallory Korenwinder won 3 of her 10 events and scored enough points to edge out teammate Amber Khieralla by one point in what was the most competitive age group (11-12 girls) at the meet. Katelyin Herrera was an event champion in 5 of her 10 events, and the success granted her the High Point award for the 13-14 girls division, and her counterpart, Chris Noaln, was the event champion in six of his eight events, thereby becoming the High Point recipient in the 13-14 boys division.

  

Improvement rates were led by the perfect performances (100% improvement) of Danielle Albright (improved 7 of 7 events), Khloe McCarthy (improved 8 of 8) and Madison McCarthy (improved 8 of 8). Those improving 50% or more of their times included Preston Niayesh (90%), Allyson Duffy (89%), Chris Hansen (83%), Mallory Korenwinder (80%), Katherine Sullivan (80%), Athena Niayesh (75%), Priscilla Niayesh (67%), Mia Newkirk (63%), and Chris Nolan (63%).

 

A welcome goes to 11 year old Adam Simonian and 12 year old Amber Khieralla as they record their first long course times with the team.

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The top 3 High Point recipients for each gender and age group at the Last Chance meet were recognized, and TNT swimmers swam away with 2 of the 3 awards in many of the divisions. The 6-udner boy’s division was led by high point winner Ian Belfower of Bakersfield and runner-up Jacye Ford of Visalia. The 7-8 girls division was led by Danielle Albright and 3^rd place recipient Alex Roberts training with Bill, while on the boy’s side Jackson Huckabay of Selma led all 7-8 boys followed by runner-up Peyton Costa. The 9-10 boy’s division was led by Visalia swimmer JD Koster followed by 2^nd place finisher Jonas Huckabay of Selma, while the 11-12 girls were led by Mia Newkirk and 3^rd place finisher Allyson Duffy. Bill Freeman’s swimmer Conor Martin swam away with the honors in the 13-14 boy’s division, while Matlyn Morris, who also trains with Bill, took home the top spot for the 15-over girls. The 15-over boy division TNT recipients were runner-up Sam Hanson followed by 3^rd highest point-getter Nathan Rhea.

 

GOODBAR, KOOREY, KOSTER & MARTIN LEAD IMPROVEMENT AT LAST CHANCE

Sixty-one TNT swimmers were among approximately 350 who competed at the Last Chance meet in Tulare during the last weekend of February. Fifty-seven of our swimmers had previously recorded times with the team, and of those 18 swam away with perfect improvement rates. The overall improvement was 68%. Jacob Koorey was our only swimmer among the 100% list who swam a total of 10 events, nine of them previously recorded, and improved 9 of 9. JD Koster of Visalia also swam a heavy schedule of events, improving all 9 of 9 events that he had entered. Jacob Goodbar of Selma and Conor Martin training with Bill Freeman were our other two swimmers who swam and improved 6 or more events each – Jacob with 7, and Conor with 6.

A warm welcome to the team goes to LaurenBinaski, Jeanette Ewy, Daniel Magaree, and Adam Simonian who swam events that are newly recorded with the team.

Congratulations to all swimmers who improved, and especially to those who maintained a 100% improvement rate:

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Seven TNT swimmers competed at short course Sectionals in Long Beach during the 5-day meet over the third weekend of December. Four of those swimmers swam a total of 11 events that were under a team record prior to the start of the meet. Each swimmer was allowed no more than 6 individual events, and Sam Hansen swam under preexisting team records in four of his six events (1650 free – 16:36.11; 200 breast – 2:09.46; 1000 free – 9:53.39 and 100 breast – 1:00.18). Sam’s 200 breaststroke time was fast enough to qualify for travel funding through CCS, a time that is based on a past Junior National time standard. His time currently ranks 156^th in the nation among all 18-year old male swimmers. His 1650 free currently ranks 182^nd and his 100 breast is 289^th. The 1000 free time is established as his highest ranking at 134^th. Colin Landweer swam faster than a preexisting team record in the 200 IM with a time that ranks 450^th nationally among all 16 year olds (1:59.42) and he had established several milestone times (50 free – 21.72; 100 free – 47.50 & 200 free – 1:43.86) that put him well within range for Santa Clara International coming up next summer (2010 cuts: 50 free – 21.69; 100 free – 47.29 & 200 free – 1:42.29). Nathan Rhea succeeded in earning a second swim in the 400 IM with a time of 4:05.39 and subsequently established a time that that ranks 35^th in the nation among all 15-year old boys. Nathan Joined Sam in achieving a CCS funding standard, and also achieved a 2010 Santa Clara time standard. Although the 400 IM was a definite highlight, Nathan also swam under the team record in both the 200 IM (1:57.42 – nationally ranked 103^rd) and the 1000 freestyle (9:47.98 – nationally ranked 93^rd). Bobby Yribarren, training with Coach Pat Ota in Selma and with Fresno Pacific, continued his record-breaking performances which began last year at the Holiday Festival in Arizona. Bobby became the only TNT swimmer to score in three events by swimming to finals in the 1650 free (10^th – 16:00.41), 500 free (13^th – 4:35.51) and 1000 free (7^th – 9:32.46 [288). Bobby’s 1000 freestyle is currently the 288^th fastest time in the nation despite any age, although it is the 2^nd fastest in the nation for all 25 year old male swimmers. Bobby established new team records in these same three events.

 

 Thomas Brown had an exceptional Terrapin meet and nearly matched his performance in the 50 freestyle (22.07) while at Sectionals. He improved his 100 butterfly event (57.35) that swam in time trials. Similar to Colin, Thomas’s fastest 50 freestyle (21.77) from the Terrapin meet is near both the Santa Clara (21.69 in 2010) and Short Course Junior National (21.29 in 2010) cuts. Thomas, along with Wesley Coles and Colin Landweer made their second appearance at short course Sectionals in Long Beach. Wesley had a near perfect meet improving his 200 fly (1:57.20), 100 free (49.60), 200 free (1:47.93), 500 free (4:51.45) and 200 IM (2:01.45) events. Breaststroker Zach Hansen was our additional Sectional swimmer who swam both breaststroke events, the 200 IM, and improved his 100 butterfly (57.37) while in the time trial heats. Zach recorded his first short course times in the 100 breast, 200 breast and 200 IM events with the team.

Four of our 8 swimmers improved 100% of their times that had been previously recorded with the team. These four included: Sam Hansen who improved his 1650 free, 200 breast, 400 IM (4:14.89), 500 free (4:49.00) and 200 free (1:48.28) events; Zach Hansen who had a 100 fly time previously recorded on the team that he had improved (57.37); Colin Landweer improved his 100 free, 200 free, 400 IM (4:13.16), 200 IM, 50 free, 500 free (4:44.17) and 100 fly (54.42) events; and Bobby Yribarren who improved his 1650 free, 200 fly (1:54.64), 200 free (1:43.30), 500 free and 1000 free.