Michael Lohberg Invitational Begins Friday In Coral Springs

By Sharon Robb

CORAL SPRINGS, June 14, 2018–South Florida Aquatic Club will be among a field of more than 20 teams when the Michael Lohberg Invitational gets under way Friday at the pool named after him.

SOFLO is sending 37 swimmers (20 girls, 12 boys) to compete in 213 individual events.

The talented contingent features Kaitlyn Barrios, 12, Mariana Catalasan, 12, Alexis Christensen, 12, Javier Colmenares, 11, Kaitlyn Consuegra, 12, Luna Delgado, 12, Fiorella DiSalvo, 10, Pilar Duranti, 10, Hashan Ekanayake, 11, Marvan Ekanayake, 11, Catherina Fogli, 10, Derek Hau, 10, Connor Jimenez, 9, Mathew Jimenez, 10, Benjamin Kim, 10, Gabriella Lissa, 12, Reagan Lowe, 12, Brandon Lozano, 8, Jonathan Lozano, 11, Anastasia Lutz, 11, Stefano Mazzi, Joseph-Blake Nation, 9, Judith-Alison Natino, 12, Diego Nazario-Vaquez, 12, Alessandro Pereira, 11, Mariana Pinto, 10, Hartley Pitters-Hinds, 12, Giada Porven, 10, Lucas Porven, 12, Carleigh Schleicher, 12, Gavin Sheyda, 12, Natlia Sibug, 12, Leanne Sorensen, 12, Christian Tijero, 12, Juan Vallmitjana, 9, Valerie Vank, 12, and Sarah Vasquez, 10.

Among SOFL’s top seeds are:

Tijero, 200-meter backstroke, 2:42.22, AA; 200-meter butterfly, 2:45.23, AA; 100-meter butterfly, 1:13.10.

Vank, 50-meter breaststroke 38.50, AA; 200-meter breaststroke, 2:58.17.

Giada Porven, 400-meter freestyle, 5:30.09, AA; 200-meter individual medley, 3:20.07, AA.

Pereira, 200-meter breaststroke, 3:02.87, AA; 100-meter breaststroke, 1:25.00, AA; 200-meter individual medley 2:38.82, AA.

DiSalvo, 100-meter breaststroke, 1:38.75, AA.

Other Florida Gold Coast teams competing in addition to host Coral Springs and SOFLO, are Azura, Blue Marlins, Eagles Swim Club, East Coast Aquatics, Flying Fish, Hialeah, Hurricane Aquatics, Martin County Swimming, Metro Aquatics, Midtown Weston, North Miami Swim Team, Olympus, Plantation, St. Andrew’s. Shelton Doral, Sunrise, SwimFast and Wellington Swim Team.

Non-FGC teams are Coastal Aquatic Club, Greenwich, Ct. YWCA Dolphins and Millard Aquatic Club of Omaha, Neb.

Two sessions are included each day beginning Friday with prelims at 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Live results are posted on Meet Mobile and the CSSC website.

The meet is named after six-time Olympic coach Michael Lohberg whose legacy continues to live on through coaches and generations of swimmers. Lohberg and then Comets Swim Team coach Chris Anderson founded South Florida Aquatic Club before CSSC and SOFLO returned to separate FGC club status. Both have gone on to be successful.

Two years after his death the Coral Springs Swim Club head coach was honored by having the 50-meter Olympic pool named after him. Lohberg died April 4, 2011 at age 61 after a lengthy battle with aplastic anemia. He left a legacy that will be hard to duplicate for years to come.

IF YOU GO

What: Michael Lohberg Invitational

When: Friday-Sunday

Where: Michael Lohberg Pool of Champions, Coral Springs Aquartic Center, 12441 Royal Palm Blvd., Coral Springs.

Schedule: Friday, prelims 8:30 a.m., finals 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, prelims 8:30 a.m., finals 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, prelims 8:30 a.m., finals 5:30 p.m.

Of Note: Admission is $5 for prelims and $for finals. Heat sheets are free and available at http://www.swimcssc.com or meet mobile. The competition is not scored. Parking is across the pool.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com