Blue Heron earn 17 firsts in Anacortes meet / NWAC

Most of the North Whidbey Aquatic Club swimmers closed out their short course season at the Thunderbird Aquatic Club Excellence meet March 4 and 5 in Anacortes.

“Many, many fine performances were turned in by our swimmers — too numerous to recount all of them,” coach Dick Taylor said.

The Blue Heron captured 17 individual events, topping by Kiersten Tyson’s five.

Tyson, 10, was awarded Swimmer of the Meet honors by Taylor.

“Her combination of AAA times, a new NWAC club record and near perfect continued winning streak was unmatched,” Taylor said.

Jasmine Borja, 12, and Jillian Pape, 17, each won a trio of events; Ashleigh Merrill, 13, and Chris shashaty, 10, each won twice; and Hailey Borja, 9, and Lola Chargualaf, 11, each won once.

Thirty-seven Blue Heron competed in the meet and combined for 89 top-10 finishes.

Others placing in the top 10 were James Brooks, 12; Kyle Coonan, 15; Madelyn Coonan, 12; Caitlin Dennen, 13; Brandon Melendez, 8; Ethan Nix, 15; Julian Paraiso, 10; Ethan Riker, 9; Lecya Santiago, 12; Nicholas Shashaty, 9; and Robin Zemlo, 12.