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Annie Nemons rests between races. Photo courtesy Apuron Photography

  The Sea Lions Swim Team hosted a swim meet in Mammoth against the Globe Piranhas on Saturday, June 10.  The Sea Lions won the meet with 1114 points, while the Piranhas finished with 173 points.   The Sea Lions looked very good as they won 76 out of the 89 events at the meet.    

  Many times, the best competition came from teammates.  In the 11-12 Girls age group, three different Sea Lions won individual events.  Mia Dale won the Breaststroke, Nevaeh Derrick won the Backstroke, and Briana Castellanos won the IM, Fly, and Freestyle events.  Add Ashlee Parker into the mix and the relays are very good; perhaps even the best in the League this summer.

  Eight Sea Lions’ records were broken at the meet. Tabitha Kellam, Darien Apuron, Evan Apuron, Hunter Hill, AJ Lopez, and Riley Stewart all bettered team records.   Tabitha edged out the 13-14 Girls 200 Individual Medley (IM) record previously held by Gianna Sweeney.  Darien improved the mark in the 15-18 Girls 200 IM (previously held by Maya Gort) and the 100 Backstroke, which was previously held by her older sister Amara.  Evan Apuron broke 3 individual records previously held by Will Newman in the 200 IM, 100 Breaststroke, and 50 Free.  Evan was joined by Riley Stewart, AJ Lopez, and Hunter Hill in the Medley Relay to break a team record set in 2009 (Parker Gray, Colten Smith, Wayne Newman). 

  Five Sea Lion Swimmers entered the maximum number of events and won them all.  Annie Nemons (6), Simon Fletcher (6), Jocelyn Hudson (7), Julie Ramirez (10), and Tabitha Kellam (13) each won all of the events they swam at the meet.

  The following swimmers had first place finishes on Saturday:

Annie Nemons, 6, (Fly, Back, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Simon Fletcher, 6, (Fly, Back, Breast, Free);

Jocelyn Hudson, 7, (IM, Fly, Back, Breast, Free, 50 Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Arianna Ervin, 9, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Jessica Rouse, 9, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Cooper Dale, 9, (Medley Relay, Free, Relay);

Julie Ramirez, 10, (IM, Fly, Back, 100Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Martin Madrid, 10, (Back, Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Johnny Smallhouse, 10, (IM, Fly, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Nevaeh Derrick, 11, (Back, Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Rocky Andrade, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Ethan Kellam, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Joey Castellanos, 11, (Free Relay);

Mason Stewart, 11, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Emerik Zovko, 11, (Free Relay);

Briana Castellanos, 12, (IM, Fly, 100 Free, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Mia Dale, 12, (Breast, Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Ashlee Parker, 12, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Ben Fister, 12, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay);

Robert Sanz-Anton, 12, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Aubrey Bridges, 13, (Medley Relay);

Hannah Smallhouse, 13, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Tabitha Kellam swims for the Sea Lions. Photo courtesy Apuron Photography

Tabitha Kellam, 13, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay)

Evan Apuron, 13, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay);

AJ Lopez, 13, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Riley Stewart, 13, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Hunter Hill, 13, (Medley Relay);

Star Chavez, 14, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Nate Fister, 14, (Medley Relay);

Zara Allmendinger, 15, (Medley Relay);

Kayla Parker, 15, (Free Relay);

Jayden Smith, 15, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Darien Apuron, 16, (IM, Fly, Back, 100 Free, Breast, Free, Medley Relay);

Bonnie Bridges, 16, (Free Relay)

Jessi Rice, 16, (Medley Relay, Free Relay);

Daniel Garcia, 16, (Free, Medley Relay, Free Relay).

  Four swimmers competed in their first meet as Sea Lions.  Four year old Sakura Andrade swam the Breaststroke and finished in 2^nd place among 6 and under Girls.  Sakura had enough energy to also swim the Freestyle to another second place finish.  Arianna Ervin (9) competed in 6 events finishing in the top 4 in all her individual events.  Arianna was also a member of both the winning Medley and Freestyle Relays in the 9-10 Girls age group.  Adrian Garcia (11) swam all eight of the events in his age group.  He had a great first meet and earned ribbons for his 2^nd place relay swims.  Daniel Garcia (16) was a key member of both the 15- 18 Boys winning relays, and all who saw Daniel win the 50 Freestyle know how quickly he has improved in his first year of swimming.

  Martin Madrid was named Sea Lions Beast of the Week.  Martin practiced very hard all week, and he learned how to do racing flip turns.  He swam all the events and achieved best times in every one.  He won the Backstroke and was part of the winning Medley and Free Relays.  His Beastly decision to use his new turns in all his races was the key to his success at the meet.

  The Sea Lions will host a meet against the Parkside (Florence) Piranhas at the Mammoth Pool on Saturday, June 17.   

  There is still time to join the team – contact Alex or Wendy Gort at 896-2190 or stop by the Mammoth Pool between 4 and 6 p.m. (Monday-Friday) for more information.

Staff (5802 Posts)

There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.

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