Five members of the North Whidbey Aquatic Club posted times among the top-200 in the United States for the fall season.
In other NWAC news, the Aquajets finished second in the six-team January Challenge at Anacortes’ Fidalgo Pool Jan. 14 and 15.
Olivia Tungate (11-years-old), Kelly Huffer (12), Marissa Morris (13), Laura Rosen (15/16) and Ciara Hu (17) finished among the nation’s leaders in their respective divisions.
Tungate: 36th, 1,650 free, 19:53.83; 50th, 400 IM, 5:07.66; 51st, 200 fly, 2:29.71.
Huffer: 17th, 200 fly, 2:14.67; 50th, 400 IM, 4:51.73; 51st, 200 back, 2:15.32; 70th, 100 fly, 1:01.78.
Morris: 72nd, 1,650 free, 18:20.04.
Rosen (15-year-old girls): 50th, 200 fly, 2:08.34; 96th, 1,650 free, 17:56.95.
Rosen (16): 39th, 400 IM, 4:26.39; 50th, 200 fly, 2:05.47; 80th, 1,650 free, 17:46.08; 115th, 200 free, 1:53.54.
Hu: 64th, 200 fly, 2:06.34.
Bellingham won the January Challenge with 1,579 points, followed by NWAC with 1,193.
NWAC was led by high-point winners Lawrence Zapanta, Jerrin Concepcion, Rosen, and Josh Jepsen.
Zapanta won all four events in the 8-and-under boys and also scored in all of his 10-and-under boys events. His biggest improvement came in the 200 individual medley, where he dropped 34 seconds (3:29.51).
Concepcion won all of his events and notched Age Group Sectional cuts in the boys 10-and-under 50 fly (34.56) and 50 back (35.94).
Rosen won seven events in the girls 15-and-over division and swam lifetime bests in the 100 (1:02.54) and 200 (2:12.66) backstrokes.
Jepsen won six events in the boys 15-and-over division and posted six lifetime bests including a two-second drop in the 200 free (1:51.44) and breaking the minute barrier for the first time in the 100 back (59.29).
Other NWAC event winners included Jarik Bon Bainco, Hu, Jacob Jepsen, Morris, Michelle Robinson, Tungate and Bruce Vagt.
Cedric Cabigting, Carl Davis, Nicholas Davis, Angele Dennen, Mariel Empinado, Joe Gorman, Ashleigh Merrill, Kenneth Morrow, Andrea Ruben, Noah Schroeder, Erica Sugatan and Christy Thompson swam 100 percent personal bests.
Swimming 100 percent PRs in relays were Carlos Bishai, Carl Davis, Nick Davis, AJ Dennen, Caitlin Dennen, Empinado, Gorman, Josh Jepsen, Morrow, MacKenzie Rauen, Andrea Ruben, Ella Schroeder, Sugatan, Maira Sulin, Brett Vagt and Molly Vagt.
Gold cuts were earned by Cabigting, Empinado, Makenzie Judd, Merrill, Jillian Pape, Ella Schroeder, Sugatan, Brett Vagt and Bruce Vagt.
Silver cuts were clocked by Angele Dennen, Caitlin Dennen, Gorman, Samantha Hines, Chloe LaRue, Alana Miller, Rauen, Andrea Ruben, Noah Schroeder, Sulin, Shamus Warden and Zapanta.
Morrow added a Pacific Northwest Swim cut; Concepcion and Tungate had age group cuts; and Cabigting joined the Minute Club.
Jenna Flores and Cristian Mathis swam in their first meet.
Winning the NWAC RelayBig Award was 12-year-old Flores, who competed on three relays in her first meet, including one for which she was recruited 30 seconds before start time. She maintained her composure and recorded a fast split despite under pressure-packed circumstances.
Winning the NWAC Swimmer of the Meet Award was 13-year-old Gorman, who recorded 100 percent individual and relay PRs, swam four new events and dropped nine seconds in the 200 IM (2:46) and 1:41 in the 500 free (6:16).
NWAC next competes at the Washington Open Jan. 20 through 22 in Federal Way. It will field a team of 12 athletes to go against the some of the fastest swimmers in five states and two provinces including Canadian Olympian Brent Hayden.
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.
