Nicolas Sachade Top SOFLO Finisher In Final Session Of FGC Senior Long Course Qualifier

By Sharon Robb
PLANTATION, February 6, 2022–Nicolas Sachade of South Florida Aquatic Club was busy competing in four events in the third and final session of the Florida Gold Coast Senior Long Course Qualifier Saturday at Plantation Aquatic Complex.

Sachade, 15, was SOFLO’s top finisher placing third in the 100-meter backstroke in a best time 1:05.37, dropping 1.16 seconds and fifth in the 100-meter butterfly in 1:03.61.

He was a member of the fourth place 200-meter freestyle relay team that finished in 1:51.93 with teammates Jaden Amores, Marvan Ekanayake and Felix Gonzalez. He also was 19th in the 100-meter freestyle in 59.12.

Amelie Bicerne, 14, was SOFLO’s top girls’ finisher. She was fourth in the 400-meter freestyle in a best time 4:49.58 with a time drop of 1.64 seconds.

U.S. junior national team member Erika Pelaez, 15, of Eagle Aquatics won all five of her individual events and was a member of two winning relays over two days.

Other Top 10 SOFLO finishers were:

Gabriela Avila, 15, 100-meter butterfly, sixth 1:10.77; 100-meter freestyle, seventh 1:04.46.

Dahlia Hirsh, 15, 200-meter breaststroke, sixth 3:13.22.

Jaden Amores, 14, 100-meter backstroke, sixth 1:07.11, time drop 1.09 seconds. Amores had five best times in all five of his events.

SOFLO had 12 swimmers (28 boys and 17 girls) compete in 45 individual events and four relays during the two-day qualifier.

In addition to SOFLO and host Plantation Swim Teams, other teams that competed were Azura Florida Aquatics, Boca Raton Swim Team, Eagle Aquatics, Harbour Amateur Swim Club, Heritage Aquatics Team, Jupiter Dragons, Midtown Weston, North Miami, North Palm Beach, PAQ, Sharks Swim Club of Bermuda, Shelton Doral, Sunrise Swiming, Tornadoes Swim Club, TS Aquatics, Tsunami and Warwick Academy.

SATURDAY SESSION 3 RESULTS
GIRLS
200-meter freestyle relay: 1. Eagle Aquatics 1:56.27 (Gioia Balzano, Mia Gelin, Fio DiSalvo, Erika Pelaez), 2. Plantation Swim Team 2:02.30, 3. Shelton Doral 2:03.36.

200-meter individual medley: 1. Erika Pelaez, EA 2:26.76, 2. Mariana Cote, MWA 2:32.23, 3. Gioia Balzano, EA 2:33.51.

100-meter freestyle: 1. Riley McVane, NPB 1:01.26, 2. Tawannah McLemore, TSA 1:01.83, 3. Keianna Moss, TSA 1:02.53; SOFLO: 7. Gabriela Avila 1:04.46, 18. Amelie Bicerne 1:05.92, time drop 0.58.

100-meter butterfly: 1. Jillian Crooks, TSA 1:07.58, 2. Elizabeth Sikes, BR 1:08.39, 3. Ashley Hodge, UN 1:08.89; SOFLO: 6. Gabriela Avila 1:10.77.

400-meter freestyle: 1. Erika Pelaez, EA 4:35.54, 2. Samira Zambrano, MWA 4:48.26, 3. Gioia Balzano, EA 4:48.58; SOFLO: 4. Amelie Bicerne 4:49.58, time drop 1.64.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Mariana Cote, MWA 3:01.51, 2. Maria Legaspi, PST 3:05.32, 3. Mercedes Pelayes, SDST 3:12.00; SOFLO: 6. Dahlia Hirsh 3:13.22.

100-meter backstroke: 1. Jillian Crooks, TSA 1:11.18, 2. Tawannah McLemore, TSA 1:11.72, 3. Keianna Moss, TSA 1:12.47; SOFLO: 23. Dahlia Hirsh 1:27.68.

50-meter breaststroke: 1. Cecilie Holten, PAQ 33.71, 2. Marie Ballenger, PAQ 36.71, 3. Mercedes Pelayes, SDST 37.91.

BOYS
200-meter freestyle relay: 1. Plantation Swim Team 1:42.87 (Renato Herran, Kari-Wilson Aimable, Jose Robles, Juan Orjuela), 2. North Miami 1:47.96, 3. Plantation B 1:50.90, 4. SOFLO A 1:51 93 (Jaden Amores, Marvan Ekanayake, Felix Gonzalez, Nicolas Sachade).

200-meter individual medley: 1. Landon Kyser, HAT 2:16.98, 2. Finn Winkler, EA 2:21.27, 3. Kaii Winkler, EA 2:24.62; SOFLO: 12. Felix Gonzalez 2:35.59.

100-meter freestyle: 1. Zarek Wilson, TSA 53.84, 2. Marcelo Mansur, SDST 54.97, 3. Josiah Morales, PAQ 55.04; SOFLO: 12. Jaden Amores 58.69, time drop 1.72, 19. Nicolas Sachade 59.12, 27. Felix Gonzalez 1:01.82, 40. Marvan Ekanayake 1:04.31.

100-meter butterfly: 1. Landon Kyser, HAT 1:00.58, 2. Renato Herran, PST 1:00.71, 3. Gabriel Tortola, PST 1:03.11; SOFLO: 5. Nicolas Sachade 1:03.61, 14. Marvan Ekanayake 1:11.50.

400-meter freestyle: 1. Patrick Doyle, SUN 4:17.97, 2. Zarek Wilson, TSA 4:21.39, 3. Daniel Gonzalez-Jimenez, UN 4:22.24; SOFLO: 15. Felix Gonzalez 4:50.30.

200-meter breaststroke: 1. Emanuel Cuarta, PST 2:42.51, 2. Gabriel Navarro, NMST 2:43.39, 3. Sebastian Guio, HAT 2:43.68.

100-meter backstroke: 1. Patrick Doyle, SUN 1:02.87, 2. Landon Kyser, HAT 1:03.02, 3. Nicolas Sachade, SOFLO 1:05.37, time drop 1.16; SOFLO: 6. Jaden Amores 1:07.11, time drop 1.09.

50-meter breaststroke: 1. Brayden Spalluto, TSU 32.23, 2. Emanuel Cuarta, PST 33.35, 3. Diego Villalonga, MWA 34.49.

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

SOFLO Swimmers Ready For FGC Senior Long Course Qualifier That Begins Friday

By Sharon Robb
PLANTATION, February 4, 2022–South Florida Aquatic Club is sending a small, but talented group of swimmers for the Florida Gold Coast Senior Long Course Qualifier that gets under Friday at Plantation Aquatic Complex.

Swimmers and coaches are gearing up for the upcoming championship season starting with the two-day qualifier. SOFLO has 12 swimmers (28 boys and 17 girls) entered in 45 individual events and four relays.

The meet begins Friday at 5 p.m. with the mixed 800-meter freestyle. Two sessions are scheduled for Saturday at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

SOFLO swimmers competing are: Jaden Amores, 14; Gabriela Avila, 15; Amelie Bicerne, 14; Hashan Ekanayake, 15; Marvan Ekanayake, 15; Nathaniel Garrick, 17; Felix Gonzalez, 15; Sofia Hernandez, 16; Dahlia Hirsh, 15; Stephen Kim, 16; Nicholas Sachade, 15; and Christian Tijero, 16.

Heading the strong competitive field are U.S. junior national team member Erika Pelaez and Kaii Winkler of Eagle Aquatics; Patrick Doyle of Sunrise Swimming; Jesse Washington and Logan Watson-Brown of Sharks Swim Club; Mariana Cote, Midtown Weston; and Sebastian Lobaton and Renato Herran of Plantation Swim Team.

Nineteen teams will compete. In addition to SOFLO and host Plantation Swim Teams, other teams are Azura Florida Aquatics, Boca Raton Swim Team, Eagle Aquatics, Harbour Amateur Swim Club, Heritage Aquatics Team, Jupiter Dragons, Midtown Weston, North Miami, North Palm Beach, PAQ, Sharks Swim Club of Bermuda, Shelton Doral, Sunrise Swiming, Tornadoes Swim Club, TS Aquatics, Tsunami and Warwick Academy.

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

SOFLO’s Atkinson, Horrego, Smutny Win During Session Two Of Senior Long Course Qualifier

By Sharon Robb
PLANTATION, February 6, 2021–Alia Atkinson, Maddie Smutny and Julio Horrego came up big for South Florida Aquatic Club in Session Two of the Florida Gold Coast Senior Long Course Qualifier Saturday at Plantation Aquatic Complex.

South Florida Aquatic Club started off the session winning the women’s 200-meter medley relay with sister duos Elena Dinehart, Olivia Dinehart, Maddie Smutny and Lucy Smutny in 2:08.81. SOFLO swept the top three places.

Pine Crest’s Paige MacEachern, 18, of Pine Crest Swimming, gave SOFLO’s four-time Olympian Alia Atkinson, 32, a run for her money in her signature event, 100-meter breaststroke. Atkinson held off her young competitor to win in 1:12.15. MacEachern finished in a lifetime-best 1:12.64, dropping 1.78.

Atkinson also won the 50-meter backstroke in 31.60.

It was Atkinson’s first meet back since competing in the International Swimming League’s second pro season with the London Roar that ended Nov. 22 with the Cali Conors winning the league title.

SOFLO teammate Julio Horrego, 22, who represents Honduras internationally, won the men’s 100-meter breaststroke in 1:03.98, just off his seed time of 1:03.69. His closest competitor, Noah Sipowski, 18, was a distant second in 1:07.48.

SOFLO’s Maddie Smutny, 15, won the 200-meter butterfly in 2:26.72, in addition to her winning relay leg.

Two-time Broward County Swimmer of the Year Julia Podkoscielny, 16, of Pine Crest Swimming was a double winner with two time drops. She won the 200-meter backstroke in a best time 2:14.97, dropping 0.10. She also won the 50-meter butterfly in a lifetime-best 29.20, dropping 3.79 and breaking 30 seconds for the first time. Her previous best was 32.99.

In an exciting men’s 200-meter freestyle race, Azura’s Joaquin Daniel Vargas, 18, of Peru edged Hungarian Olympian Norbert Szabo, 25, 1:53.69-1:53.92. Azura teammate Jayhan Odlum-Smith, 19, of St. Lucia won the 50-meter butterfly in 25.46.

In another good men’s race, national record holder Max Wilson of St. Thomas Swimming Association won the 50-meter backstroke in 27.72, just ahead of Joshua Balbi of St. Andrew’s Swimming in 27.78.

In the women’s 50-meter freestyle, Erika Pelaez, 14, got the thrill of her life knocking off former teammate Atkinson, 25.93-26.78. It was a lifetime-best for Pelaez. Pelaez also won the 200-meter freestyle in 2:06.59.

Wilson, of the U.S. Virgin Islands swimmer also won the 200-meter backstroke in 2:11.91.

SOFLO’s Ivan Grass, 15, had a nice time drop in the 1500-meter freestyle to finish second in 17:18.88. His previous best was 18:10.09.

The two-day meet concludes Saturday with the final session at 5 p.m. All events are timed finals.

SOFLO is among 33 teams competing along with Azura, Pine Crest, St. Andrew’s and Metro Aquatic Club of Miami. Out-of-state teams include Boise YMCA Swim Team, Flatiron Swimming, Freedom Aquatics, Great Wolf Swim Team, Nations Capital, St. Croix Dolphins, St. Thomas Swimming Association and Texas Ford Aquatics.

SOFLO has 47 athletes (26 male, 21 female) in 174 individual events and four relay events.

Meet organizers are observing all COVID-19 safety protocols and social distancing. Athletes are required to wear masks while at the park whether they are on the deck or basketball courts. If athletes and coaches do not follow protocols they will be asked to leave.

No spectators are allowed on pool deck. The meet is being live streamed at live.pstpiranhas.com.

SESSION TWO RESULTS
WOMEN
200-meter medley relay: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club A 2:08.81 (Elena Dinehart, Olivia Dinehart, Maddie Smutny, Lucy Smutny), 2. SOFLO C 2:13.26, 3. SOFLO B 2:14.85, 4. Plantation Swim Team 2:19.67.

200-meter freestyle: 1. Erika Pelaez, EA 2:06.59, 2. Marina Spadoni, Unattached 2:08.54, 3. Riley Botting, PC 2:10.19; SOFLO: 8. Maddie Smutny 2:13.17, 11. Mariangela Cincotti 2:16.13, 13. Olivia Dinehart 2:17.17, 14. Elena Dinehart 2:17.43, 16. Lucy Smutny 2:19.35, 18. Gabriella DeLuna 2:19.92, time drop, 20. Sally Golding 2:20.43.

400-meter individual medley: 1. Paige MacEachern, PC 5:01.47, 2. Sam Schoenborn, SAS 5:25.64, 3. Lucy Miller, SAS 5:29.78; SOFLO: 4. Sara Quintero 5:33.15, 7. Sabrina Osorio 5:45.83, time drop.

200-meter butterfly: 1. Maddie Smutny, SOFLO 2:26.72, 2. Faith Mutschler, WOW 2:35.01, 3. Sophia Ruppert, WOW 2:36.10; SOFLO: 8. Sally Golding 2:43.14.

50-meter freestyle: 1. Erika Pelaez, EA 25.93, 2. Alia Atkinson, SOFLO 26.78, 3. Hanna Elks Smith, PC 27.65; SOFLO: 13. Olivia Dinehart 29.02, time drop, 25. Sophia Grubbs 29.94, time drop, 37. Mariangela Cincotti 30.33, 65. Daniela Barreto 31.84.

200-meter backstroke: 1. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 2:14.97, time drop, 2. Destiny Nelson, TFA 2:20.19, 3. Elena Dinehart, SOFLO 2:28.45; SOFLO: 8. Gabriella DeLuna 2:36.28, 11. Lucy Smutny 2:37.86, 12. Julianne McCranie 2:38.05, 13. Maddie Smutny 2:39.18, 15. Sara Quintero 2:40.80, 21. Sofia Osorio 2:46.12, 22. Jena Legaspi 2:46.35, 25. Andrea Freites 2:48.85.

100-meter breaststroke: 1. Alia Atkinson, SOFLO 1:12.15, 2. Paige MacEachern, PC 1:12.64, time drop, 3. Destiny Nelson, TFA 1:13.38; SOFLO: 5. Sophia Grubbs 1:18.19, time drop, 6. Molly Golding 1:18.36, 7. Olivia Dinehart 1:18.43, 21. Mariann Catalasan 1:24.03, time drop, 25. Sabrina Osorio 1:25.65, 37. Ana Frable 1:31.36.

50-meter butterfly: 1. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 29.20, time drop, 2. Giulianna Garcia, TSA 30.15, 3. Maya Amersi, JDST 30.32; SOFLO: 6. Julianne McCranie 30.64, 10. Molly Golding 31.22, time drop, 16. Mariangela Cincotti 31.94, 17. Sophia Grubbs 31.99, time drop, 25. Andrea Freites 32.46, time drop, 27. Sara Quintero 32.59, 41. Daniela Barreto 33.70, time drop, 52. Sofia Osorio 34.50, 68. Sabrina Osorio 36.08, 69. Jena Legaspi 36.27.

50-meter backstroke: 1. Alia Atkinson, SOFLO 31.60, 2. Kiki Munna, FAST 31.66, 3. Erin Miller, SAS 32.58; SOFLO: 4. Elena Dinehart 32.72, 12. Gabriella DeLuna 34.42, 13. Lucy Smutny 34.69, 22. Jena Legaspi 36.20, 25. Andrea Freites 36.38, 28. Sofia Osorio 36.71, 29. Mariann Catalasan 36.74, 40. Ana Frable 38.78, 51. Daniela Barreto 40.28.

1500-meter freestyle: 1. Olivia Wiebe, SF 18:46.77, 2. Camryn Britto, SF 22:09.51.

MEN
200-meter medley relay: 1. Plantation Swim Team 1:54.94 (Jackson Wampler, Ivan Capalbo, Alex Marrero, Jose Robles), 2. Miami Country Day 1:59.63, 3. SOFLO C 2:00.65, 4 SOFLO A 2:01.96.

200-meter freestyle: 1. Joaquin Vargas, AZURA 1:53.69, 2. Norbert Szabo, Unattached 1:53.92, 3. Philip Moldovanu, WOW 1:57.62; SOFLO: 17. Adrian Hernandez 2:07.74, 23. Zackary Harris 2:11.91, 37. Garrett Oliver 2:20.95, 43. Darian Hategan 2:41.48.

400-meter individual medley: 1. Dario Martin, OSC 4:48.59, 2. Max Wilson STSA 4:50.53, 3. Dominic Bono, SOFLO 4:54.13; SOFLO: 4. John Paul Handal 5:04.56, 5. Alex Golding 5:10.22, 6. Ivan Grass 5:10.96, 7. Leonardo Mateus 5:17.03, 9. Christian Tijero 5:27.83, 10. Nick Chaimowicz 5:30.91.

200-meter butterfly: 1. Joey Carbone, SAS 2:05.09, 2. Gabriel Araya, AZURA 2:07.12, 3. Davidson Vincent, AZURA 2:16.87; SOFLO: 4. Miguel Sierra 2:17.69.

50-meter freestyle: 1. Daniel Ramirez, WA 24.11, 2. Maximillian Zum Tobel, SAS 24.38, 3. Stefano Mitchell, Unattached 24.43; SOFLO: 44. Garrett Oliver 27.37, time drop, 46. Zackary Harris 27.44, time drop, 47. Manuel Melendez 27.50, 48. Ryan Alfonso 27.67, time drop, 49. Alexander Miller 27.68, 52. Alan Bertea 28.01, time drop, 65. Chris Vasquez 28.82, 75. Nick Chaimowwicz 29.70.

200-meter backstroke: 1. Max Wilson, STSA 2:11.91, 2. William Fuchs, Unattached 2:11.98, 3. Dominic Bono, SOFLO 2:18.63; SOFLO: 6. Adrian Hernandez 2:23.12, time drop, 9. Alex Golding 2:28.26, 10. Miguel Sierra 2:28.29, 11. Austin Nelson 2:29.54, 13. Leonardo Mateus 2:30.02, 21. Christian Tijero 2:44.58.

100-meter breaststroke: 1. Julio Horrego, SOFLO 1:03.98, 2. Noah Sipowski, FAST 1:07.48, 3. Dario Martin, OSC 1:07.86; SOFLO: 10. Manuel Melendez 1:12.36, time drop, 13. John Paul Handal 1:15.01, time drop, 15. Alexander Miller 1:15.89, 22. Alan Bertea 1:18.02, 23. Garrett Oliver 1:18.36, 24. Zackary Harris 1:18.48.

50-meter butterfly: 1. Jayhan Odlum-Smith, AZURA 25.46, 2. Gabriel Araya, AZURA 25.95, 3. Eddy Marin, TSA 26.04; SOFLO: 4. Miguel Sierra 26.10, time drop, 23. John Paul Handal 28.87, 35. Chris Vasquez 30.85, 36. Ryan Alfonso 30.92, 44. Alexander Miller 31.46.

50-meter backstroke: 1. Max Wilson, STSA 27.72, 2. Joshua Balbi, SAS 27.78, 3. Alex Marrero, PST 28.15; SOFLO: 17. Manuel Melendez 32.51, 21. Leonardo Mateus 33.22, 27. Christian Tijero 34.14, 32. Austin Nelson 34.53, time drop, 40. Nick Chaimowicz 37.20.

1500-meter freestyle: 1. Philip Moldovanu, WOW 17:02.57, 2. Ivan Grass, SOFLO 17:18.88, 3. Cieran Wong, SF 17:56.76.

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