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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.

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Eleven TNT swimmers traveled to Chandler, Arizona for the Holiday Festival during the first weekend of December. The mid-70 degree weather resulted in a vast majority of our swimmers earning second swims during the weekend. These top performances were led by 10-year old Alonso Escobedo who trains in Hanford with Coach Rhonda Shaw. Alonso became the sole high-point recipient for TNT as he accumulated the third highest number of points among all 10-under boys at the meet. Alonso earned second swims in all ten events he entered. He swam away with four 2^nd place finishes (500 free, 50 breast, 100 IM & 200 IM), two 3^rd place finishes (200 free [2:20.70] & 100 back [1:16.40]), a 4^th place finish (100 fly – 1:15.95), a 5^th place finish (50 back – 35.34), an 8^th place finish (50 fly – 33.64) and a 9^th place finish (50 free – 30.87). Additionally, Alonso set four team records among his ten events. His time of 6:10.63 in the 500 freestyle was four seconds under Jonathan Granada’s 6:14.61 that he swam at Junior Olympics in February of 2009, and Alonso’s time currently ranks 266^th among all 10-year old boys in the nation. The second record came in the 50 breaststroke where Alonso’s 37.55 is 168^th in the nation and was faster than his own previous record of 38.25 that he had set two month earlier. His 100 IM time of 1:12.80 also broke Jonathan Granada’s previous record from Far Westerns of 1:13.13, and Alonso’s time currently ranks 260^th nationally. Finally his 2:36.40 in the 200 IM ranks 253^rd nationally and broke Jonathan Granada’s Far Western time of 2:37.21.

 

Final performances were additionally led by Khloe McCarthy who also swam to top-10 finishes in all 10 events that she had entered. Her highest finish was 3^rd place in the 200 back (2:23.03), followed by three 6^th place finishes in the 400 IM (4:59.26), 500 free (5:36.10) and 200 IM (2:45.49). Her 7^th place finishes included the 1000 free (11:38.34) and 200 breast (2:39.89) events. Khloe went on to finish 8^th in the 100 back (1:08.66) and 10^th in each the 200 free (2:09.63), 50 breast (35.98) and 50 back (33.01) events. Khloe was the only other swimmer to set team records, and she did so in two events. Her 11:38.34 in the 1000 freestyle is 245^th fastest time in the nation for all 12-year old girls and was faster than her own previous record of 11:51.10 that she set at the Selma meet in late September. Khloe’s  4:59.26 in the 400 IM is currently the 230^th fastest nationally among all 12-year old girls and regained the team record in the event swimming under Mallory Korenwinder’s 5:05.22 set during the recent San Luis Obispo meet. In addition to finals in all event and two team records, Khloe achieved three Terrapin cuts and one 13-14 Far Western time standard while at the meet.

  

Fourteen year old Bre Abell training in Selma with Coach Pat Ota maintained the next largest number of finals, swimming to a 4^th place finish in the 50 fly (28.25) and a pair of 9^th place finishes, one in the 50 back (30.92) and the other in the 50 free (26.14). Three of our swimmers doubled up their finals, and they included our birthday boy of the meet (sweet 16), Alex Hansen, who finished 6^th in the 400 IM (4:36.57) and 11^th in the 100 breast (1:08.60), along with Cody Nash of Selma who finished 14^th in both the 100 breast (1:08.55, preliminary time) and  14^th in the 50 breast (31.67). Thirteen year old Chris Hansen chose to compete in the senior meet despite his young age, and nevertheless swam to an 16^th place finish in the 100 breast (1:11.20 – prelim). Emily Lehrman of Selma succeeded in a top 16 finish swimming to 11^th in the 1650 (21:01.49) on the final day, while 10-year old Madison McCarthy finished 10^th in the 100 back (1:21.46).

 

Fourteen year old Taylor Shaw of Hanford swam made her first Terrapin cut in the 200 breaststroke event and improved both the 100 breast and 1650 freestyle events. Thirteen year olds Katelyn Herrera and Owen Ansel each improved three events at the meet.

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The great weather at the coast during the Halloween weekend contributed to performances that resulted in a small group of 23 swimmers placing 3^rd at the PUMA Breast Cancer Awareness Meet held in Arroyo Grande. One major highlight of the meet was the 400 IM performance of 12-year old Khloe McCarthy who swam a time of 5:05.63 that broke the 11-12 girls’ team record in that event. The previous record of 5:06.10 was set by Joclyn Ford at Vacaville during October 8 years ago in 2002 when TNT traveled to Vacaville with it 11-12 age group of swimmers (Joclyn Ford, Samantha Goates, Katherine Biehle, Jordan Morillo and Megan Eppler) with each competing in the 400 IM the year the event became nationally recognized for the 11-12 age group. Khloe’s time of 5:05.63 is currently the 338^th fastest time in the nation for all 12-year old girls.

Not only did Khloe break the team record in the 400 IM, she also became the event champion in three of the six events she swam, thereby contributing greatly to the overall team place of 3^rd. Khoe swam to 1^st place finishes in the 200 free (2:10.97), 100 back (1:11.35) and the 100 breaststroke (1:18.99). Kyle Grissom led the team in first place finishes, swimming totally uncontested, winning all 9 of 9 events entered for the 11-12 boys age group: 100 IM (1:06.70), 50 back (30.70), 50 breast (35.35), 100 fly (1:05.27), 100 free (59.01), 100 back (1:09.21), 100 breast (1:17.49), 50 fly (27.96) and 50 free (26.54). A Niayesh duo of 9-year old Preston Niayesh and 8-year old Priscilla Niayesh each took home 8 first place finishes, while 7-year old Peyton Cost swam away of 5 wins of the 9 events he had entered. Other event champions included Fayyaz Ahamed (age 11: 100 free & 100 back), Owen Ansel (age 13: 200 IM & 100 breast), Janessa Bringe (age 9: 200 free), Parker Giles (age 11: 50 fly), Thys Jacobi (age 10: 50 breast & 100 breast), Micah Ruiz (age 11: 100 free & 50 fly), and Brann Santos (age 9: 100 fly).

The overall team improvement percentage was 45% with Haroon Ahamed, Madelyn Ansel, Khloe McCarthy and Julia Ruiz all improving all events they had swam that was 50 yards and longer and previously recorded on the team. Those improving 50% or more of their times included: Peyton Costa (75%), Athena Niayesh (75%), Anthony Tellechea (67%), Owen Ansel (63%), Micah Ruiz (63%), Hazim Ahamed (60%), Jenessa Bringe (50%), and Preston Niayesh (50%).

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Bobby Yribarren training in Selma along with Nathan Rhea earned a combined three final swims while at the Mission Viejo Swim Meet of Champions held during the third weekend of June. Our five TNT swimmers competed alongside swimmers representing club and collegiate teams both from across the United States and countries such as Korea, Japan and Canada.

Bobby Yriabarren swam to the highest place finish of any TNT swimmer on the team with a consolation finish of 16^th in the 200 meter butterfly event, and a time of 2:12.93. Nathan Rhea was our only other finalist, swimming fast enough to earn two second swims in the bonus heat for each of the 100 and 200 breaststroke events. Nathan’s 2:34.55 in the preliminary heats for the 200 meter breaststroke event was fast enough for a 17^th place seed into the bonus final heat. His 1:12.11 for the 100 meter breaststroke earned a 24^th place finish in that event. Additionally, Nathan set a new team record in the 800 meter freestyle event with a 8:56.53, shaving just under former team record holder Sam Hansen’s time of 8:57.10 that was set last year at the Junior Olympics.

Time improvements were led by Nathan Rhea who improved 5 of 7 events, Colin Landweer, improving 2 of 3, and Bobby Yribarren who also improved 2 of 3 events. An additional time improvement came from Jordan Morillo improving her 200 IM time (2:35.52), and Sam Hansen in the 100 meter freestyle (59.26) as he earned his spot on the 4 x 100 freestyle relay. This year, Wesley Coles joined Nathan Rhea, Colin Landweer and Sam Hansen as first-time qualifiers to the meet.

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Sixty-six TNT swimmers place 2nd behind Almaden Swim & Racquet Club at the Dennis Penner Memorial meet during the April 17-18 weekend. Twelve teams scored at the meet:

 

High points were awarded to the top five point-getters at the meet. Selma swimmer Justin Lopez-Lamb led the team in point accumulation by a large margin by winning 8 of his 10 events and placing 2^nd and 3^rd in the remaining two events that he swam. Justin’s 85 points was followed by Visalia swimmer Kyle Grissom’s 72 points accumulated by going undefeated, winning all eight events that he swam.

 

Other event champions incuded Chris Ewins (100 fly), Jackson Huckabay (25 free), Nathalie Kampen (200 free & 100 free), Alexies Ledesma (200 fly), Emily Lehrman (500 free), Cody Nash (100 breast, 200 fly & 100 IM), Preston Niayesh (50 breast & 100 breast), Christopher Nolan (200 free), Nathan Oskam (50 free), Ana Porchia (50 back & 50 free), Nathan Rhea (100 back), Micah Ruiz (50 free), Taylor Shaw (200 back & 200 breast), Bobby Yribarren (100 breast) and Scott Yribarren (500 free).