Aquajets second in Bellingham

Led by John Hu with 10 individual event wins in the boys 15-and-over division, the North Whidbey Aquatic Club scored 1,630 points to place second out of six teams at the Bellingham Challenge Swim Meet Feb. 7 and 8 at Arne Hanna Swim Center.

February 17, 2009 6:45 pm
Olivia Tungate churns her way to victory in the girls 8-and-under 50 breaststroke. She won the event in a time of 47.45.
Olivia Tungate churns her way to victory in the girls 8-and-under 50 breaststroke. She won the event in a time of 47.45.

Led by John Hu with 10 individual event wins in the boys 15-and-over division, the North Whidbey Aquatic Club scored 1,630 points to place second out of six teams at the Bellingham Challenge Swim Meet Feb. 7 and 8 at Arne Hanna Swim Center.

The meet was won by the Bellingham Bay Swim Team with 1,776 points.

Among Hu’s victories was a lifetime best effort in the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 4:53.11.

Also winning events for the Aquajets were Emily Huffer, Jacob Jepsen, Dakota Powers, Akasha Trisler, Kennedy Trisler and Olivia Tungate.

Winning Aquajet relays included the boys 13-and-over 400 medley and freestyle teams of Jacob Jepsen, John Hu, Price Hu and Bryce Vagt; and the girls 11- and-12-year-old 400 freestyle team of Kennedy Trisler, Lauryn Plush, Irysh Concepcion and Emily Huffer.

The Aquajets girls 10-and-under 200 freestyle relay team of Molly Vagt, Laura Rodeheffer, Kaitlyn Chelberg and Marissa Morris set a team record of 2:15.27.

Establishing new Pacific Northwest Swimming Championships qualifying marks were Ryan Cuajunco in the boys 11- and-12-year-old 50 breaststroke (38.96), the 100 breaststroke (1:25.85), the 100 individual medley (1:19.32), the 200 individual medley (2:44.74) and the 400 individual medley (6:12.12).

Therese Desquitado also set a Pacific Northwest qualifying time in the girls 13- and-14-year-old 200 individual medley with a clocking of 2:28.43.

Swimming 100 percent lifetime best times were Natalie Plush, Brandon Robison and Hannah Staul.

NWAC next competes at the Kamiak Mile on Sunday, Feb. 22.

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 are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the city pool from 4:45 to 5:30 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 at 675-7665 to speak with head coach Neil Romney, or visit the team’s Web site at www.teamunify.com.