By Sharon Robb
July 27, 2017—South Florida Aquatic Club’s older swimmers now get a chance to compete at the Florida Gold Coast LCM Senior Championships that begin Friday at the Michael Lohberg Pool of Champions at Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.
A week after winning the FGC Junior Olympics, SOFLO will join several top teams including defending champion Swim Fort Lauderdale in the team title chase.
Earlier this year, SOFLO won both the FGC and Senior Short Course Championships and last week won the FGC JO Long Course title. SOFLO will challenge Gulliver, Azura and Swim Fort Lauderdale for the team title.
SOFLO has 31 swimmers competing in 125 individual events and 14 relays in 10 events. Several seniors are not competing because of upcoming Futures and Junior Nationals.
SOFLO’s top seeds are:
Four-time Olympian Alia Atkinson, 28, 100-meter freestyle (56.08), 50-meter breaststroke (30.77). Atkinson is tuning up for the FINA World Cup Money Series.
Luke Lezotte, 16, 50-meter freestyle.
Other SOFLO swimmers who qualified are: Alana Acevedo, 16; Michael Arias, 14; Sophia Bedoya, 15; David Avalos Aday, 16; Heath Brames, 17; Ryan Capote, 19; Valentina Carrion, 15; Maya Coffey, 16; Alexandra Crespo, 16; Daniela Curbelo, 14; Isabella DiSalvo, 15; Juan Diaz, 17; Jonathan Farah, 19; Eiza Gantus, 15; Kylie Herman, 20; Wyatt Jennessee, 17; Ty Lezotte, 14; Rebekah Ling, 15; Michelle Marinheiro, 14; Leonardo Mateus, 15; Stephanie Mlujeak, 18; Casey Moya, 17; Michelle Ordonez, 14; Abby Oyetunji, 17; Kevin Porto, 17; Samuel Quintero, 16; Sebastian Sevilla, 16; Jonathan Strod, 18; and Kellie Wilcox, 16.
The field features 42 Florida Gold Coast teams including Azura Florida Aquatics, Swim Fort Lauderdale, Gulliver Swim Club, Jupiter Dragons, Pine Crest Swimming and East Coast Aquatic Club and a team from Wyoming.
In addition to Atkinson, among other notable swimmers in the field are Patrick Groters of Pine Crest Swimming; Kyla Valls of Miami Swimming, Jhonny Perez of Azura, Franco Lupoli of Azura, Nikita Tretyakov of Swim Fort Lauderdale, Marco Guarente of Azura, Elizabeth Zubero of Swim Fort Lauderdale, Luke Smutny of AquaKids Sharks and Adrian Aguilar of Metro Aquatics.
Swim Fort Lauderdale is the combined defending champion. Swim FTL scored 1,085 followed by Gulliver with 990.50 and Metro Aquatics with 763. SOFLO finished among the Top 10, placing eighth with 518 points.
Host Coral Springs is not keeping girls or boys team award totals. No trophies will be awarded per Florida Gold Coast vote.
IF YOU GO
What: Florida Gold Coast LCM Senior Championships
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Michael Lohberg Pool of Champions, Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, 12441 Royal Palm Blvd., Coral Springs.
Schedule: Friday, Session I, 8:30 a.m.-12:53 p.m., Session II 5-7:53 p.m.; Saturday, Session III, 8:30 a.m.-12:49 p.m., Session IV, 5-7:17 p.m.; Sunday, Session V, 8:30 a.m.-1:43 p.m., Session VI, 5-8:04 p.m.
Defending champion: Swim Fort Lauderdale (Combined).
Of note: Admission is $5 per session for prelims and $3 per session for finals.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
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