San Manuel seven-year-olds Ethan Kellam and Mason Stewart competed in total of 19 events in the Eight and Under State Championship Swim Meet Mar. 16 and 17 at the Oro Valley Aquatic Center. This was the first State Championship Meet for both swimmers and they did a great job of representing San Manuel against over 230 participants.

Young swimmers, Ethan Kellam, left, and Mason Stewart, right, celebrated their many accomplishments with their Coach Alex Gort (center). (Submitted photo)

Mason Stewart achieved best times in all nine events that he competed in. Stewart’s best finish among seven-year-old boys was fourth place in both the 25 yard Breaststroke (28.58) and 50 yard Breaststroke (1:03.77).

Stewart swam a great race in the 100 yard Individual Medley to finish fifth with a time of 2:13.09 and took sixth in the 100 Freestyle with a time of 2:07.50.

Stewart had five other finishes in top 16: 10th place in the 25 yard Backstroke (30.95), 11th place in the 25 yard Butterfly (34.07), 12th place in the 50 yard Backstroke (1:11.31) and 13th in the both the 25 yard Freestyle and the 50 yard Freestyle.

Ethan Kellam swam personal best times in seven out of the 10 events. He placed among the top eight swimmers in six races.

Kellam finished 5th in both the 100 yard Freestyle (1:59.3) and the 50 yard Breaststroke (1:10.68). In the 100 yard Individual Medley, he finished sixth with a time of 2:16.9. A very quick time of 28.88 placed Kellam seventh in the 25 yard Backstroke, and he came in eighth in the 25 yard Butterfly (30.98) and the 50 Yard Backstroke (1:03.17).

Kellam had two other finishes in the top 16, both 11th place finishes in the 25 yard Freestyle (23.75) and the 50 yard Freestyle (56.42).

Both swimmers showed great improvements at the meet and had fun while competing.