Led by its Swimmer of the Meet, Erica Sugatan, the North Whidbey Aquatic Club finished third in the February Challenge at Anacortes’ Fidalgo Pool Feb. 4 and 5.
Golds Aquatic Club of Woodinville won the meet with 1,478 points, the Bellingham Bay swim team was second with 1,470 and NWAC led the rest of the field with 1,286.
Sugatan set personal records and scored in all eight of her girls 11-12 events, including a third place in the 50 back (35.88), and swam to three new Pacific Northwest Gold cuts (50 free, 30.46; 100 back, 1:16.66; and 100 free, 1:08.22).
Her biggest improvement was in the 200 fly, where she dropped 31 seconds (3:16.75). Sugatan also dropped six seconds on both the free leg of the 400 medley relay (1:07.21) and her leg of the 400 free relay (1:08.22).
The NWAC RelayBig award went to Maya Krantz, who dropped 26 seconds (1:32.83) on her 100 fly leg of the girls 400 medley relay.
Jerrin Concepcion won the 10-and-under high point award, taking all eight of his individual events and contributing to the winning boys 10-and-under 200 medley and 200 free relays with Bruce Vagt, Lawrence Zapanta and Shamus Warden. He also earned a PNS cut along with Maira Sulin.
Other winners in the meet were Irysh Concepcion, Ciara Hu, Emily Huffer, Kelly Huffer, Cole Weinstein, Andrew Vogt, Molly Vagt, Michael Johnson, Ashleigh Merrill, Jillian Pape, Michelle Robinson, Jacob Thompson and Olivia Tungate.
Thompson and Tungate earned Age Group cuts; and Thompson earned a Gold cut along with Irysh Concepcion, Merrill, Alana Miller, Pape, Andrea Ruben, Sulin and Bruce Vagt.
Silver cuts were met by Mollie Briddell, Mariel Empinado, Angele Dennen, Allie Hoffmire, Maggie Jappert, Maya Krantz, Mackenzie Rauen, Sugatan, Christy Thompson, Bruce Vagt, Andrew Vogt, Brannigan Vogt, Kelsey Vogt, Warden and Zapanta.
Other swimmers who clocked 100 percent individual PRs included Briddell, Josh Byers, Trina Desquitado, Hoffmire, Jappert, Merrill, Brynn Schmid, Sulin, Andrew Vogt and Weinstein.
One hundred percent relay PRs were met by Briddell, Byers, Jerrin Concepcion, Carl Davis, Nicolas Davis, Angele Dennen, Caitlin Dennen, Samantha Hines, Jappert, Maya Krantz, Merrill, Patricia Miessner, Alex Mueller, Rauen, Schmid, Sulin, Brett Vagt, Warden and Weinstein.
NWAC next competes at the Age Group Invitational Feb. 24 to 26 at Kamiak High School, where it will field a team of 20 swimmers.
The North Whidbey Aquatic Club is a competitive swimming program of the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District. It includes swimmers of all abilities and ages from 6 through college.
Tryouts occur Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the city pool from 4:25 to 5:10 p.m. New swimmers should be able to swim a length of the pool in freestyle and backstroke. The first two weeks are free.
For more information, please call the pool (675-7665) to speak with head coach Neil Romney or visit the team website at www.teamunify.com/pnswznwac.
