In its final meet, North Whidbey Aquatic Club took first place in the seven-team North Cascade Summer Swim League Championships at Fidalgo Pool in Anacortes on Aug. 9.
NWAC swimmers racing to 100 percent lifetime bests in both individual and relays were Angele Dennen (age 9), Leanne Empinado (14), Haley Garden (13), Michelle Robinson (11), Sherilyn Sligh (13), Erica Sugatan (9), Chris Trisler (8) and Ariel Walsh (13).
Sligh went on to capture Swimmer of the Meet honors for the Aquajets. Not only did she race to 100 percent PR’s, she averaged a time drop of five seconds per 25 yards.
Marisa Sligh (11), was the only NWAC’er to post age-group state championship (PNS) qualifying times. She qualified in the 50 breaststroke in a time of 41.86 and the 50 backstroke at 37.72. The next PNS meet will be held in December at the Weyerhaeuser Pool in Federal Way.
Sligh was among three Aquajets to capture first place in all individual events. Joel Erickson (age 11) dominated in the 50 breaststroke at 52.95, 50 backstroke 50.01 and the 100 individual medley in a time of 1:42.89.
The final NWAC’er to earn all blue ribbons was Olivia Tungate (7), in the 25 freestyle in a time of 16.56, 25 butterfly 19.06, and the 25 backstroke at 20.53.
Other NWAC’ers garnering first place honors were Janika Bainco in the 15-year-old 100 individual medley, 6-year-old Jerrin Concepcion in the 25 freestyle, Danae Nash in the age 12-year-old 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly events, and Justin Poblador in the 8-year-old 25 butterfly.
Poblador anchored the winning mixed 8-and-under 100 freestyle relay team that included Tungate, Samantha Hines and Noah Allison.
Earning first in both the mixed 11-and-12 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays were Lauryn Plush, Marisa Sligh, Nash and Mollie Briddell.
While the Summer Championships meet was going on, NWAC was represented by three swimmers who were selected for the Pacific NS All-Star team to compete at the Western Zone Swimming Championships in Mount Hood, Ore., competing against the fastest age-group swimmers from 10 western states.
They were led by Laura Rosen who was the biggest Aquajet point scorer, winning the girls 11- and-12-year-old 200-meter individual medley in a time of 2:31.99 and participating on the victorious 11- and-12-year-old girls 400 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. Rosen earned silver medals in the 200 relay (2:13.32) and 400 relay (4:42.71), and placed in the top eight in two other events. She also set two team records.
Also competing at the Zones meet for NWAC were Price Hu, winning a bronze in the boys 15- and-16-year-old 200 butterfly in a time of 2:13.80, Caley Powers, who set team records in the boys 11 and 12 50 and 100 freestyles at 30.00 and 100 1:04.90, respectively. He was also a member of the winning 11 and 12 boys 400 medley relay.
NWAC competes next at the Sixth annual Fall Intrasquad meet at John Vanderzicht Pool on Saturday, September 20.
