Eleven SOFLO Swimmers Headed To All-Star Meet This Weekend

By Sharon Robb
FORT PIERCE, March 21, 2023—South Florida Aquatic Club has eleven swimmers and one coach on the Florida Gold Coast All-Star team for this weekend’s All-Star dual meet against Florida Swimming at Indian River State College’s Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex.

SOFLO has seven girls and four boys on the team for the three-day meet that runs from Friday night to Sunday morning.

The girls who qualified are Catalina Akpabio, 10, Jenesys Amores, 14, Jianna Amores, 12, Jemma Baldwin, 12, Elise Dinehart, 14, Laila Harran, 13, and Ellie Jackson, 12.

The boys who qualified are Connor Jimenez, 13, Mason Jimenez, 14, Ethan Phan, 10, and Maximiliano Remmele, 13.

SOFLO age group coach Isidro (Issy) Planell is head coach.

A fun and exciting new four-team meet format has been developed that mixes the top athletes from both Florida Swimming and Florida Gold Coast via a draft format. The All-Star meet will be a winner-take-all, and one team will have bragging rights until next year. This year’s four teams are the Rays, Barracudas, Gators, and Sharks.

The top six finishers at the FGC 14&Under Age Group Championships in Coral Springs qualified for the team. Several FGC swimmers turned down spots because of spring break vacations.

The full FGC All-Star roster has yet to be posted on the Florida Gold Coast website.

IF YOU GO
What: Florida Gold Coast vs. Florida Swimming All-Star Dual Meet

When: Friday-Sunday

Schedule: Session I, Friday 5:30-8 p.m.; Session II, Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon, Session III, 3-6 p.m.; Sunday, Session IV, 9 a.m.-noon, awards, noon.

Where: Indian River State College, Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex, 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce.

Of note: Admission is $5. The River Rats Swim Team and Indian River State College are hosting the meet. For more information call 772-462-7760.

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

SOFLO Sweeps Combined, Men, Women Team Titles To Capture Ninth Title At FGC Short Course Swimming Senior Championships

By Sharon Robb
PEMBROKE PINES, March 19, 2023—South Florida Aquatic Club rose to the occasion on the fourth and final day of the Florida Gold Coast Short Course Swimming Senior Championships Sunday at Academic Village Pool.

SOFLO swept the combined, men and women’s team titles and captured its ninth combined team title in the team’s history.

Already leading the combined and women’s categories after three days, the men’s team overtook early leader Azura Florida Aquatics on the final day to make it a clean sweep.

SOFLO, with talent and depth, won the combined with 1,981 points. Azura was second with 1,033. They were the only teams to crack the 1,000-point barrier.

SOFLO women won with 1,101, the only team to break 1,000 points. FAST was runnerup with 721.

In the closest team competition, SOFLO men came up big to win with 880 points ahead of Azura with 862.

Among SOFLO top finishers on Sunday were:

Maddie Smutny won the 200-yard butterfly in 2:02.85. Elena Dinehart was third in 2:04.61.

Olivia Dinehart won the 100-yard freestyle in 50.87 and 200-yard breaststroke in 2:13.94. She was also second in the 100-yard individual medley in 51.03.

Elena Dinehart was second in the 200-yard backstroke in 2:02.36.

Honduran Olympian Julio Horrego won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:00.26 just ahead of Giulian Martin of Hurricanes Swimming in 2:00.95. Javier Colmenares was third in 2:02.91. Horrego was also second in the 100 IM in 50.20.

Ricardo Roche was third in the 200-yard backstroke in 1:49.14. Austin Nelson was fourth in 1:52.46.

There were several other standout swims by top Florida Gold Coast swimmers.

Dylan Smiley of Miami Country Day was a double winner in the 200-yard buttrfly in 1:46.25 and 100-yard IM in 49.56.

Julia Podkoscielny of Pine Crest won the 200-yard backstroke in 1:55.97.

Ekaterina Malyshev of Wahoos of Wellington won the 100-yard individual medley in 50.87.

Kaii Winkler of Eagle Aquatics won the 100-yard freestyle in a 15-16 national age group record 41.96.

Yeziel Morales of Azura won the 200-yard backstroke in 1:44.13.

SOFLO was among 33 teams from Broward, Palm Beach and Metro-Dade competing over four days. In addition to host SOFLO, FGC teams competing are: Azura, Blue Marlins, Boca Raton, Bravo, Coral Springs, Eagle Aquatics, FAST, Gulliver, Heritage Aquatic Team, Hialeah, Hurricane Aquatics, Jupiter Dragons, Lake Lytal Lightning, Martin County, Metro Aquatics, Miami Country Day, Miami Swimming, Midtown Weston, North Miami, North Palm Beach, Olympus, PAQ, Pine Crest, Plantation, Pompano Beach Piranhas, Ransom Everglades, St. Andrew’s Aquatics, Sunrise Swimming, Swim Fort Lauderdale, TS Aquatics and Wellington.

SUNDAY RESULTS
COMBINED: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club 1,981, 2. Azura Florida Aquatics 1,033, 3. FAST 922, 4. Pine Crest 728.5, 5. Eagle Aquatics 710, 6. TS Aquatics 696.5, 7. Plantation 478.5, 8. Ransom Everglades 424, 9. St. Andrew’s Aquatics 353, 10. Wellington 331.

MEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. SOFLO 880, 2. Azura 862, 3. Eagle Aquatics 539.5, 4. Ransom Everglades 353, 5. Hurricane Aquatics 329.

WOMEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. SOFLO 1,101, 2. FAST 721, 3. Pine Crest 643, 4. TS Aquatics 446.5, 5. Wellington 272.

WOMEN
200-yard butterfly: 1. Maddie Smutny, SOFLO 2:02.85, 2. Emma Herrera, FAST 2:02.98, 3. Elena Dinehart, SOFLO 2:04.61; SOFLO: 5. Michelle Marinheiro 2:08.04, 6. Gabriella DeLuna 2:08.38, 16. Tania Mantilla 2:24.11.

100-yard freestyle: 1. Olivia Dinehart, SOFLO 50.87, 2. Alyssa Bozzuto, FAST 51.03, 3. Erin Miller, PC 52.02; SOFLO: 10. Natalie Gembicki 53.37, 15. Maddie Smutny 53.06, 19. Ana Villamil 54.23.

200-yard breaststroke: 1. Olivia Dinehart, SOFLO 2:13.94, 2. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 2:14.35, 3, Ekaterina Malyshev, WOW 2:16.11; SOFLO: 9. Sophia Grubbs 2:27.94, 11. Ana Villamil 2:24.43, 15. Sabrina Osorio 2:30.63.

200-yard backstroke: 1. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 1:55.97, 2. Elena Dinehart, SOFLO 2:02.36, 3. Erin Miller, PC 2:07.01; SOFLO: 8. Gabriella DeLuna 2:09.42, 9. Izzy Wilson 2:11.59.

100-yard individual medley: 1. Ekaterina Malyshev, WOW 50.87, 2. Olivia Dinehart, SOFLO 51.03, 3. Alyssa Bozzuto, FAST 52.02; SOFLO: 7. Gabriella DeLuna 52.86, 8. Natalie Gembicki 52.87, 14. Sophia Grubbs 1:01.74, 16. Valerie Vank 1:02.02, 24. Izzy Wilson 1:04.05.

MEN
200-yard butterfly: 1. Dylan Smiley, MCD 1:46.25, 2. Yeziel Morales, AZ 1:47.23, 3. Davidson Vincent, AZ 1:48.82; SOFLO: 9. Alejandro Mateus 1:56.84, 12. Wisthon Rendon 1:55.34, 14. Enrique Rodriguez 1:56.87.

100-yard freestyle: 1. Kaii Winkler, EA 41.96, 2. Leif Bouwman, JDST 44.64, 3. Marcoaurelio Lopez-Casula, EA 45.89.

200-yard breaststroke: 1. Julio Horrego, SOFLO 2:00.26, 2. Giulian Martin, CANE 2:00.95, 3. Javier Colmenares, SOFLO 2:02.91; SOFLO: 7. Manny Melendez 2:06.53, 19. Stephen Kim 2:14.39, 23. Derek Hau 2:16.13, 25. Abraham Penaloza 2:18.20.

200-yard backstroke: 1. Yeziel Morales, AZ 1:44.13, 2. Kaii Winkler, EA 1:45.91, 3. Ricardo Roche, SOFLO 1:49.14; SOFLO: 4. Austin Nelson 1:52.46, 9. Wisthon Rendon 1:55.19, 10. Jaden Amores 1:57.99, 18. Alejandro Mateus 2:01.55, 25. Nicholas Pelaez 2:01.52.

100-yard individual medley: 1. Dylan Smiley, MCD 49.56, 2. Julio Horrego, SOFLO 50.20, 3. Finn Winkler, EA 50.63; SOFLO: 6. Luciano Gonzalez 52.62, 10. Ricardo Roche 53.24, 14. Javier Colmenares 52.91, 18. Manny Melendez 53.79, 22. Derek Hau 55.71.

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

SOFLO Swimmers Shine At FGC Swimming Senior Championships

By Sharon Robb
PEMBROKE PINES, March 18, 2023—South Florida Aquatic Club is sitting pretty going into the fourth and final day of the Florida Gold Coast Swimming Senior Championships at Academic Village Pool.

With one day to go, South Florida Aquatic Club has all but clinched its ninth combined team title in team history.

SOFLO has pulled away with 1,461 points, the only team to crack 1,000. Azura Florida Aquatics is second with 830 and Flood Aquatics Swim Team (FAST) with 728.

SOFLO women lead with 803 points followed by FAST with 579 and Pine Crest Swim Team with 490.

SOFLO men are second with 658 behind Azura with 683 and Eagle Aquatics is third with 379.5. At one point Saturday night, Azura and SOFLO were tied at 554 points.

SOFLO’s talent and depth has had the swimmers shining throughout the meet.

Among SOFLO top finishers on Saturday were:

Olivia Dinehart was second in the 200 IM in 2:03.01 and was third in the 500 freestyle in 4:59.21. Dinehart was among four swimmers in the Top 10 of the 200 IM.

Ana Villamil was fourth in the 50 freestyle in 24.11 and fifth in the 200 IM in 2:08.02.

Elena Dinehart was third in the 100 backstroke in 57.06 and fifth in the 500 freestyle in 5:02.48.

Maddie Smutny was fourth in the 500 freestyle in 5:01.67. SOFLO has five swimmers in the Top 11 in the 500.

SOFLO women were second in the 4×100-yard freestyle relay in 3:29.60 with Elena Dinehart, Olivia Dinehart, Maddie Smutny and Natalie Gembicki.

SOFLO men were also second in the 4×100-yard freestyle relay in 3:01.57 with Ricardo Roche, Aldo Zepeda, Luciano Gonzalez and Julio Horrego.

Ricardo Roche was third against a strong 100 backstroke field in 50.16.

Javier Colmenares was third in the 200 IM in 1:51.94.

Julio Horrego was second in the 50 freestyle in 20.19 and Luciano Gonzalez was third in 20.38

There were several standout swims by top Florida Gold Coast swimmers.

Kaii Winkler, 16, of Eagle Aquatics won three individual events and anchored the winning 4×100-yard freestyle relay with a 42.33 split. Winkler won the 100 backstroke in 48.95, 50-yard freestyle in 19.44 and 500-yard freestyle in 4:23.95, illustrating the U.S. junior national team swimmer’s wide range of versatility.

University of Florida-bound Julia Podkoscielny of Pine Crest Swimming was a back-to-back double winner and anchored Pine Crest’s winning 4×100-yard freestyle that won in 3:28.32 with teammates Erin Miller, Sara Lin and Riley Botting.

Podkoscielny won the 100-yard backstroke in 53.68 and 200-yard individual medley in 1:59.73.

Other individual winners were Alyssa Bozzuto of FAST in the 50 freestyle in 23.36; Botting in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:54.39; and Yeziel Morales of Azura in the 200 IM in 1:47.91.

The meet concludes Sunday with another day of full scheduled events. Prelims are 8:30 a.m. and finals 5 p.m.

SOFLO is among thirty-three teams from Broward, Palm Beach and Metro-Dade competing over four days. In addition to host SOFLO, FGC teams competing are: Azura, Blue Marlins, Boca Raton, Bravo, Coral Springs, Eagle Aquatics, FAST, Gulliver, Heritage Aquatic Team, Hialeah, Hurricane Aquatics, Jupiter Dragons, Lake Lytal Lightning, Martin County, Metro Aquatics, Miami Country Day, Miami Swimming, Midtown Weston, North Miami, North Palm Beach, Olympus, PAQ, Pine Crest, Plantation, Pompano Beach Piranhas, Ransom Everglades, St. Andrew’s Aquatics, Sunrise Swimming, Swim Fort Lauderdale, TS Aquatics and Wellington.

FRIDAY RESULTS
COMBINED: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club 1,461, 2. Azura 830, 3. FAST 728, 4. TS Aquatics 595.5, 5. Pine Crest 566.5, 6. Eagle Aquatics 489, 7. Plantation 410.5, 8. Ransom Everglades 344, 9. St. Andrew’s 274, 10. Hurricane Aquatics 260.

MEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Azura 683, 2. SOFLO 658, 3. Eagle Aquatics 379.5, 4. Ransom Everglades 278, 5. Hurricane Aquatics 260.

WOMEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. SOFLO 803, 2. FAST 579, 3. Pine Crest 490, 4. TS Aquatics 376.5, 5. Wahoos of Wellington 185.

WOMEN
100-yard backstroke: 1. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 53.68, 2. Ava Fasano, FAST 55.81, 3. Elena Dinehart, PC 57.08; SOFLO: 11. Gabriella DeLuna 59.57, 14. Maddie Smutny 1:00.95, 23. Izzy Wilson 1:02.53, 29. Tania Mantilla 1:03.35.

200-yard individual medley: 1. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 1:59.73, 2. Olivia Dinehart, SOFLO 2:03.01, 3. Emma Herrera, FAST 2:04.20; SOFLO: 5. Ana Villamil 2:08.02, 6. Natalie Gembicki 2:08.79, 10. Gabriella DeLuna 2:10.45, 18. Sophia Grubbs 2:12.37.

50-yard freestyle: 1. Alyssa Bozzuto, FAST 23.36, 2. Tawannah McLemore, TSA 23.65, 3. Ava Fasano, FAST 23.85; SOFLO: 4. Ana Villamil 24.11, 12. Natalie Gembecki 24.36, 20. Maddie Smutny 25.30.

500-yard freestyle: 1. Riley Botting, PC 4:54.39, 2. Erin Miller, PC 4:58.32, 3. Olivia Dinehart, SOFLO 4:59.21; SOFLO: 4. Maddie Smutny 5:01.67, 5. Elena Dinehart 5:02.48, 6. Izzy Wilson 5:02.66, 11. Natalie Gembicki 5:05.32, 15. Michelle Marinheiro 5:08.12, 21. Amelie Bicerne 5:17.63, 24. Tania Mantilla 5:20.98, 27. Sarah Vasquez 5:25.54.

4×100-yard freestyle relay: 1. Pine Crest 3:28.32 (Julia Podkoscielny, Erin Miller, Sara Lin, Riley Botting) 3:28.32, 2. SOFLO 3:29.60 (Elena Dinehart, Olivia Dinehart, Maddie Smutny, Natalie Gembicki), 3. TS Aquatics 3:30.40, 7. SOFLO B 3:36.42 (Ana Villamil, Michelle Marinheiro, Sophia Grubbs, Gabriella DeLuna).

MEN
100-yard backstroke: 1. Kaii Winkler, EA 48.95, 2. Noah Smith, FAST 49.90, 3. Ricardo Roche, SOFLO 50.16; SOFLO: 5. Aldo Zepeda 50.90, 12. Austin Nelson 52.25, 13. Wisthon Rendon 52.34, 16. Jaden Amores 52.88, 19. Alejandro Mateus 53.51.

200-yard individual medley: 1. Yeziel Morales, AZU 1:47.91, 2. Finn Winkler, EA 1:50.69, 3. Javier Colmenares, SOFLO 1:51.94; SOFLO: 18. Enrique Rodriguez 1:58.45, 19. Wisthon Rendon 1:58.52, 30. Jaden Amores 2:04.52.

50-yard freestyle: 1. Kaii Winkler, EA 19.44, 2. Julio Horrego, SOFLO 20.19, 3. Luciano Gonzalez, SOFLO 20.38; SOFLO: 13. Aldo Zepeda 21.43.

500-yard freestyle: 1. Kaii Winkler, EA 4:23.85, 2. Yeziel Morales, AZ 4:29.10, 3. Diego Dulieu, AZ 4:29.45; SOFLO: 8. Austin Nelson 4:38.91, 15. Enrique Rodriguez 4:45.91, 16. Felix Gonzalez 4:46.84, 17. Manny Melendez 4:47.17.

4×100-yard freestyle relay: 1. Eagle Aquatics 3:00.01 (Marcoaurelio Lopez-Casula, Finn Winkler, Peyton Selts, Kaii Winkler, 42.33 split), 2. SOFLO 3:01.57 (Ricardo Roche, Aldo Zepeda, Luciano Gonzalez, Julio Horrego), 3. Azura 3:02.18, 7. SOFLO B 3:11.29 (Javier Colmenares, Luis Salazar Del Campo, Wisthon Rendon, Manny Melendez).

IF YOU GO
What: Florida Gold Coast Swimming Senior Championships.

When: Sunday.

Where: Academic Village Pool, 17191 SW 171st Avenue, Pembroke Pines.

Timeline: Sunday, prelims 8:30 a.m., 7 a.m. warmup and finals 5 p.m., 3:30 p.m. warmup.

Admission: $5. Admission allows spectators to enter the pool deck only with the barricaded areas.

Of note: SOFLO and Comets Swim Team Booster Club are hosting the meet. The meet is being live streamed. The pool deck and parking lot is being monitored by security. For more information or questions call 954-538-3721 or go to SoFloMeets@swim4soflo.com.

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

Smutny, Dinehart, Horrego Win; SOFLO Leads Combined, Women’s Teams At FGC Swimming Senior Championships

By Sharon Robb
PEMBROKE PINES, March 17, 2023—Defending champion South Florida Aquatic Club, looking for its ninth title, continues to lead the Florida Gold Coast Swimming Senior Championships at Academic Village Pool.

After two days of competition, SOFLO leads the combined team standings with 910.5 points ahead of Azura with 587 and FAST with 460.

The women’s team leads with 499 points ahead of FAST with 361 and Pine Crest with 300. The men’s team is second with 411.5 behind Azura with 470 points.

Maddie Smutny, Olivia Dinehart and Julio Horrego came up big for SOFLO on Friday against a strong field of Florida Gold Coast swimmers.

Smutny, 17, won the 200-yard freestyle in a best time 1:49.92, dropping 2.96. It was the first time she dipped under 1:50. She bettered her entry time of 1:52.88 in prelims in 1:50.73 and went faster at night finishing ahead of Alyssa Bozzuto of FAST in 1:50.33. Smutny was also fifth in the 100 butterfly in 57.05.

Dinehart, 18, won the 100-yard breaststroke in a best time 1:01.87 ahead of Bozzuto in 1:02.34. Dinehart dropped 0.42 seconds. She was also fourth in the 400 IM in 4:24.48.

Horrego, 24, won his signature event, the 100-yard breaststroke in 53.77.

SOFLO was second in the women’s 4×100-yard medley relay in 3:50.21 with Elena Dinehart, Olivia Dinehart, Maddie Smutny and Natalie Gembicki.

SOFLO was third in the men’s 4×100-yard medley relay in 3:23.02 with Ricardo Roche, Julio Horrego, Alejandro Mateus and Aldo Zepeda.

Javier Colmenares was fifth in the 400 IM in a best time 4:03.94, dropping 3.75.

Elena Dinehart, 18, was third in the 100 butterfly in 56.18 and fifth in the 200 freestyle in 1:51.24.

Pine Crest won three girls events. Julianne McCranie won the 100 butterfly in 55.20 and Julia Podkoscielny won the 400 IM in 4:11.23. Pine Crest won the 4×100-yard medley relay in 3:46.61 with Podkoscielny, Sara Lin, McCranie and Erin Miller.

Kaii Winkler of Eagle Aquatics was a double winner in the 200 freestyle in 1:33.28 and 100 butterfly in 46.94. He was also a member of the men’s winning medley relay.

Yeziel Morales of Azura won the 400 IM in 3:54.02.

The meet continues Saturday with another day of full scheduled events. Prelims are 8:30 a.m. and finals 6 p.m.

SOFLO is among thirty-three teams from Broward, Palm Beach and Metro-Dade competing over four days. In addition to host SOFLO, FGC teams competing are: Azura, Blue Marlins, Boca Raton, Bravo, Coral Springs, Eagle Aquatics, FAST, Gulliver, Heritage Aquatic Team, Hialeah, Hurricane Aquatics, Jupiter Dragons, Lake Lytal Lightning, Martin County, Metro Aquatics, Miami Country Day, Miami Swimming, Midtown Weston, North Miami, North Palm Beach, Olympus, PAQ, Pine Crest, Plantation, Pompano Beach Piranhas, Ransom Everglades, St. Andrew’s Aquatics, Sunrise Swimming, Swim Fort Lauderdale, TS Aquatics and Wellington.

FRIDAY RESULTS
COMBINED: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club 910.5, 2. Azura 587, 3. FAST 460, 4. TS Aquatics 392, 5. Pine Crest 358.5.
MEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Azura 470, 2. SOFLO 411.5, 3. Hurricane Aquatics 191, 4. Eagle Aquatics 171, 5. Ransom Everglades 169.
WOMEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. SOFLO 499, 2. FAST 361, 3. Pine Crest 300, 4. TS Aquatics 253, 5. Plantation 127.

WOMEN
200-yard freestyle: 1. Maddie Smutny, SOFLO 1:49.92, 2. Alyssa Bozzuto, FAST 1:50.33, 3. Emma Herrera, FAST 1:50.44; SOFLO: 5. Elena Dinehart 1:51.24, 13. Natalie Gembicki 1:53.77, 17. Michelle Marinheiro 1:55.53, 23. Izzy Wilson 1:56.31.

100-yard breaststroke: 1. Olivia Dinehart, SOFLO 1:01.87, 2. Alyssa Bozzuto, FAST 1:02.34, 3. Sara Lin, PC 1:04.02; SOFLO: 7. Ana Villamil 1:04.52, 14. Sophia Grubbs 1:06.65, 24. Mariann Catalasan 1:09.80.

100-yard butterfly: 1. Julianne McCranie, PC 55.20, 2. Ekaterina Malyshev, WOW 56.07, 3. Elena Dinehart, SOFLO 56.18; SOFLO: 5. Maddie Smutny 57.05, 13. Gabriella DeLuna 57.83, 14. Natalie Gembicki 57.99, 17. Michelle Marinheiro 59.35, 20. Ana Villamil 1:00.07.

400-yard individual medley: 1. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 4:11.23, 2. Riley Botting, PC 4:20.02, 3. Emma Herrera, FAST 4:22.83; SOFLO: 4. Olivia Dinehart 4:24.48, 7. Gabriella DeLuna 4:34.05, 9. Ana Villamil 4:42.12, 11. Izzy Wilson 4:38.16, 22. Sarah Vasquez 4:54.16, 25. Mariann Catalasan 5:02.27.

4×100-yard medley relay: 1. Pine Crest 3:46.61 (Julia Podkoscielny, Sara Lin, Julianne McCranie, Erin Miller), 2. SOFLO A 3:50.21 (Elena Dinehart, Olivia Dinehart, Maddie Smutny, Natalie Gembicki), 3. FAST 3:51.68, 6. SOFLO B 3:59.63 (Gabriella DeLuna, Sophia Grubbs, Michelle Marinheiro, Ana Villamil).

MEN
200-yard freestyle: 1. Kaii Winkler, EA 1:33.28, 2. Dylan Smiley, MCDA 1:37.58, 3. Leif Bouwman, JDST 1:39.14; SOFLO: 7. Ricardo Roche 1:41.19, 28. Jaden Amores 1:47.49.

100-yard breaststroke: 1. Julio Horrego, SOFLO 53.77, 2. Giulian Martin, CANE 55.44, 3. Brandon Moran, AZ 55.69; SOFLO: 5. Javier Colmenares 56.04, 10. Manny Melendez 57.80, 25. Derek Hau 1:01.29, 27. Abraham Penaloza 1:02.54.

100-yard butterfly: 1. Kaii Winkler, EA 46.94, 2. Dylan Smiley, MCDA 47.46, 3. Davidson Vincent, AZ 48.32; SOFLO: 4. Luciano Gonzalez 48.58, 18. Alejandro Mateus 52.07.

400-yard individual medley: 1. Yeziel Morales, AZ 3:54.02, 2. Giulian Martin, CANE 4:00.15, 3. Philip Moldovanu, WOW 4:02.28; SOFLO: 5. Javier Colmenares 4:03.94, 10. Enrique Rodriguez 4:10.47, 11. Alejandro Mateus 4:12.32, 14. Stephen Kim 4:19.14, 16. Felix Gonzalez 4:19.50, 19. Jaden Amores 4:26.35, 29. Carlos Salas 4:37.59.

4×100-yard medley relay: 1. Eagle Aquatics 3:17.80 (Finn Winkler, Nikita Efimov, Kaii Winkler, Marcoaurelio Lopez-Casula), 2. Azura 3:19.14, 3. SOFLO A 3:23.02 (Ricardo Roche, Julio Horrego, Alejandro Mateus, Aldo Zepeda), 5. SOFLO B 3:30.46 (Wisthon Rendon, Manny Melendez, Javier Colmenares, Enrique Rodriguez).

IF YOU GO
What: Florida Gold Coast Swimming Senior Championships.

When: Saturday-Sunday.

Where: Academic Village Pool, 17191 SW 171st Avenue, Pembroke Pines.

Timeline: Saturday, prelims 8:30 a.m., 7 a.m. warmup and finals 6 p.m., 4:30 p.m. warmup; Sunday, prelims 8:30 a.m., 7 a.m. warmup and finals 5 p.m., 3:30 p.m. warmup.

Admission: $5. Admission allows spectators to enter the pool deck only with the barricaded areas.

Of note: SOFLO and Comets Swim Team Booster Club are hosting the meet. The meet is being live streamed. The pool deck and parking lot is being monitored by security. For more information or questions call 954-538-3721 or go to SoFloMeets@swim4soflo.com.

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

Wilson Leads SOFLO On Day One Of FGC Swimming Senior Championships; SOFLO Leads Combined, Women’s Teams

By Sharon Robb
PEMBROKE PINES, March 16, 2023—Defending champion South Florida Aquatic Club got off to a good start in its title defense Thursday at the Florida Gold Coast Swimming Senior Championships at Academic Village Pool.

SOFLO’s Izzy Wilson, 16, got the ball rolling winning the grueling 1,650-yard freestyle in a best time 16:58.71, shaving 12.32 off her previous best and dipping below 17 minutes for the first time. Her previous best was 17:11.03.

Felix Gonzalez, 16, was SOFLO boys top finisher in the 1,650, placing seventh in a best time of 16:31.51, dropping 3.21 seconds.

The SOFLO men’s and women’s relays picked up valuable points.

While Pine Crest swept the women’s relays and Azura swept the men’s relays, SOFLO women finished second (Elena Dinehart, Olivia Dinehart, Ana Villamil, Natalie Gembicki) and sixth (Gabriella DeLuna, Sophia Grubbs, Michelle Marinheiro, Maddie Smutny) in the 4×50-yard medley relay and third (Gembicki, Olivia Dinehart, Smutny, Ana Villamil) and ninth (Elena Dinehart, Grubbs, Tania Mantilla, Marinheiro) in the 4×50-yard freestyle relay.

SOFLO men were second (Richaro Roche, Julio Horrego, Luciano Gonzalez, Aldo Zepeda) and third (Enrique Rodriguez, Javier Colmenares, Wisthon Rendon, Luis Salazar Del Campo) in the 4×50-yard medley relay and second (Horrego, Zepeda, Roche, Gonzalez) and fourth Carlos Salas, Rendon, Rodriguez, Colmenares) in the 4×50-yard freestyle relay.

SOFLO leads the combined team standings with 300 points and Azura is second. SOFLO also leads the women’s standings with 153 points ahead of FAST with 139. Azura leads the men’s with 180 and SOFLO is second with 147 points.

The meet continues Friday with a full scheduled of events. Prelims are 8:30 a.m. and finals 6 p.m.

SOFLO is among thirty-three teams from Broward, Palm Beach and Metro-Dade competing over four days. In addition to host SOFLO, FGC teams competing are: Azura, Blue Marlins, Boca Raton, Bravo, Coral Springs, Eagle Aquatics, FAST, Gulliver, Heritage Aquatic Team, Hialeah, Hurricane Aquatics, Jupiter Dragons, Lake Lytal Lightning, Martin County, Metro Aquatics, Miami Country Day, Miami Swimming, Midtown Weston, North Miami, North Palm Beach, Olympus, PAQ, Pine Crest, Plantation, Pompano Beach Piranhas, Ransom Everglades, St. Andrew’s Aquatics, Sunrise Swimming, Swim Fort Lauderdale, TS Aquatics and Wellington.
THURSDAY RESULTS
COMBINED: 1. SOFLO 300, 2. Azura 233, 3. FAST 163, 4. Plantation Swim Team 128, 5. TS Aquatics 122.
MEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. Azura 180, 2. SOFLO 147, 3. Plantation 74, 4. Ransom Everglades 62, 5. Hurricane Aquatics 60.
WOMEN TEAM TOTALS: 1. SOFLO 153, 2. FAST 139 3. TS Aquatics 84, 4. Pine Crest 80, 5. Plantation 54.
WOMEN
1,650-yard freestyle: 1. Izzy Wilson, SOFLO 16:58.71, time drop 12.32, 2. Emma Herrera, FAST 17:19.11, 3. Fatima Portillo, Azura 17:24.81; SOFLO: 7. Michelle Marinheiro 17:40.89, time drop 2.59, 11. Sarah Vasquez 18:16.62, time drop 3.56, 12. Amelie Bicerne 18:20.10.

4×50-yard medley relay: 1. Pine Crest 1:43.55 (Julia Podkoscielny, Sara Lin, Julianne McCranie, Riley Botting), 2. SOFLO A 1:44.76 (Elena Dinehart, Olivia Dinehart, Ana Villamil, Natalie Gembicki), 3. FAST 1:46.92, 6. SOFLO B 1:49.53 (Gabriella DeLuna, Sophia Grubbs, Michelle Marinheiro, Maddie Smutny).

4×50-yard freestyle relay: 1. Pine Crest 1:35.77 (Julia Podkoscielny, Riley Botting, Erin Miller, Julianne McCranie), 2. FAST 1:36.11, 3. SOFLO A 1:36.44 (Natalie Gembicki, Olivia Dinehart, Maddie Smutny, Ana Villamil), 9. SOFLO B 1:40.83 (Elena Dinehart, Sophia Grubbs, Tania Mantilla, Michelle Marinheiro).

MEN
1,650-yard freestyle: 1. Diego Dulieu, Azura 15:20.18, 2. Sauod Alshamroukh, CSSC 15:42.77, 3. Maximiliano Paccot, Azura 16:09.54; SOFLO: 7. Felix Gonzalez 16:31.15, time drop 3.21, .12. Nicholas Pelaez 17:07.29

4×50-yard medley relay: 1. Azura 1:29.68 (Yeziel Morris, Kito Campbell, Davidson Vincent, Jayhan Odlum-Smith), 2. SOFLO A 1:29.91 (Ricardo Roche, Julio Horrego, Luciano Gonzalez, Aldo Zepeda), 3. SOFLO B (Enrique Rodriguez, Javier Colmenares, Wisthon Rendon, Luis Salazar Del Campo), 1:35.88.

4×50-yard freestyle relay: 1. Azura 1:22.94 (Salvatore Lanzafame, Jayhan Odlum-Smith, Yeziel Morales, Davidson Vincent), 2. SOFLO A 1:23.66 (Julio Horrego, Aldo Zepeda, Ricardo Roche, Luciano Gonzalez), 3. Hurricane Aquatics 1:26.91, 4. SOFLO B 1:27.30 (Carlos Salas, Wisthon Rendon, Enrique Rodriguez, Javier Colmenares).

IF YOU GO
What: Florida Gold Coast Swimming Senior Championships.

When: Friday-Sunday.

Where: Academic Village Pool, 17191 SW 171st Avenue, Pembroke Pines.

Timeline: Friday, prelims 8:30 a.m., 7 a.m. warmup and finals 6 p.m., 4:30 p.m. warmup; Saturday, prelims 8:30 a.m., 7 a.m. warmup and finals 6 p.m., 4:30 p.m. warmup; Sunday, prelims 8:30 a.m., 7 a.m. warmup and finals 5 p.m., 3:30 p.m. warmup.

Admission: $5. Admission allows spectators to enter the pool deck only with the barricaded areas.

Of note: SOFLO and Comets Swim Team Booster Club are hosting the meet. The meet is being live streamed. The pool deck and parking lot is being monitored by security. For more information or questions call 954-538-3721 or go to SoFloMeets@swim4soflo.com.

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

SOFLO Hosts FGC Swimming Senior Championships; SOFLO Swimmers Ready To Challenge For Ninth Title

By Sharon Robb
PEMBROKE PINES, March 15, 2023—Defending champion South Florida Aquatic Club will host the Florida Gold Coast Swimming Senior Championships Thursday through Sunday at Academic Village Pool.

SOFLO is among thirty-two teams from Broward, Palm Beach and Metro-Dade competing over four days.

Thursday timed finals begin at 4 p.m. and feature the 1,650-yard freestyle for men and women, 4×50-yard medley relay and 4×50-yard freestyle relay.

The remainder of the meet will have prelims at 8:30 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. except on Sunday when finals are 5 p.m.

After a year’s hiatus for the meet in 2020 because of the pandemic, SOFLO won the 2021 short course combined team title and last year repeated the feat, sweeping the combined, women’s and men’s team titles with a record 2,048 points in combined.

This year SOFLO will be going after its ninth senior championship title. SOFLO qualified 45 swimmers (26 boys and 19 girls) in individual events. There are also 16 relay teams entered.

Among SOFLO’s top seeds are:
Women’s 4×50 freestyle relay, 1:37.95
Women’s 4×50 medley relay, 1:46.35
Julio Horrego, 100 breaststroke, 53.07, 200 breaststroke 1:58.54, 100 IM 49.93
Women’s 4×100 medley relay, 3:47.41
Men’s 4×100 medley relay, 3:20.10
Maddie Smutny, 200 butterfly 2:02.95
Women 4×100 freestyle relay 3:29.56
Olivia Dinehart, 200 breaststroke 2:14.70, 100 IM 57.50
Elena Dinehart, 200 backstroke 1:59.04

The meet also features some of the Florida Gold Coast top swimmers including Julia Podkoscielny of Pine Crest Swimming; Kaii Winkler and Nikita Efimov of Eagle Aquatics, Alyssa Bozzuto of FAST, Dylan Smiley of Miami Country Day Aquatics and Yeziel Morales of Azura.

In addition to host SOFLO, FGC teams competing are: Azura, Blue Marlins, Boca Raton, Bravo, Coral Springs, Eagle Aquatics, FAST, Gulliver, Heritage Aquatic Team, Hialeah, Hurricane Aquatics, Jupiter Dragons, Lake Lytal Lightning, Martin County, Metro Aquatics, Miami Country Day, Miami Swimming, Midtown Weston, North Miami, North Palm Beach, Olympus, PAQ, Pine Crest, Plantation, Pompano Beach Piranhas, Ransom Everglades, St. Andrew’s Aquatics, Sunrise Swimming, Swim Fort Lauderdale, TS Aquatics and Wellington.

Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

IF YOU GO
What: Florida Gold Coast Swimming Senior Championships.

When: Thursday-Sunday.

Where: Academic Village Pool, 17191 SW 171st Avenue, Pembroke Pines.

Timeline: Thursday, 4 p.m. 2:30 p.m. warmup; Friday, prelims 8:30 a.m., 7 a.m. warmup and finals 6 p.m., 4:30 p.m. warmup; Saturday, prelims 8:30 a.m., 7 a.m. warmup and finals 6 p.m., 4:30 p.m. warmup; Sunday, prelims 8:30 a.m., 7 a.m. warmup and finals 5 p.m., 3:30 p.m. warmup.

Admission: $5. Admission allows spectators to enter the pool deck only with the barricaded areas.

Of note: SOFLO and Comets Swim Team Booster Club are hosting the meet. The meet will be live streamed. The pool deck and parking lot will be monitored by security. For more information or questions call 954-538-3721 or go to SoFloMeets@swim4soflo.com.

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

Kathleen Golding Heads Talented Local Contingent At NCAA Division I Women’s Championships That Begin Wednesday

By Sharon Robb
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—The NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships get underway Wednesday at the Allen Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.

University of Florida senior Kathleen Golding leads a talented local contingent from South Florida.

Golding will compete in the 200 IM (1:56.49) and 400 IM (4:07.83). She will be joined by Gator teammate Anna Auld of St. Andrew’s Aquatics and West Palm Beach in the 500 freestyle (4:40.32), 1,650 freestyle (16:09.52) and 400 IM (4:10.36). Transfer Emma Weyant of Sarasota will also compete for the Gators in the 1,650 (16:08.24) and 400 IM (4:01.18).

Golding, Auld and Weyant are among 17 individual swimmers and diver and five relays from University of Florida that will compete.

Auld, Golding, Weyant. Talia Bates, Micayla Cronk, Camille DeBoer, Zoe Dixon, Nina Kucheran, Katie Mack, Tylor Mathieu, Hayden Miller, Ekaterina Nikonova, Olivia Peoples, Amanda Ray, Aris Runnels and Mabel Zavaros qualified for the big dance based on season-best times in 11 different events.

Florida’s 16 swimmers selected are the second-most swimmers among the nation, only behind back-to-back national champion Virginia (17). There are only nine schools in the country with double-digit swimmers to qualify, and only three SEC programs.

Maha Amer joined the Gators group after qualifying in the NCAA Diving Zones early last week. Amer, who won silver in the 1-meter at the SEC Championships last month, will compete in all three events.

The Gators also qualified five relays, with the 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay all hitting the qualifying standard.

UCLA sophomore Paige MacEachern, a Boca Raton High School alum and Pine Crest club swimmer, will compete in the 400 IM (4:06.17).

University of Wisconsin freshman Blair Stoneburg, a Jensen Beach High alum and Treasure Coast Aquatics club swimmer, will compete in the 500 freestyle (4:40.38).

Florida International University’s Christie Choe qualified in the 200 breaststroke (2:08.73) and 100 breaststroke (59.28). University of Miami will be represented by diver Mia Vallee.

Florida State will have four swimmers at the meet: sophomore Madeline Huggins, 200 breaststroke (2:09.55), sophomore Edith Jernstedt, 200 butterfly (1:55.78), freshman Julia Mansson, 200 breaststroke (2:09.68) and grad assistant Daniela Anna Metzler, 400 IM (4:10.18).

No. 1 ranked University of Virginia is on the verge of a three-peat national championship. Alex Walsh, Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass are expected to lead the Cavaliers. Nineteen swimmers and divers qualified in 42 events.

Last year Virginia won its second-straight national title, claiming 11 events and four out of the five relays along the way, and finished with 551.5 team points, nearly 150 points ahead of the rest of the field. They may even top that this week.

Texas, Stanford and Florida are in the mix to finish among the top five.

A total of 281 swimmers from 56 colleges qualified for the four-day meet. Swimmers qualified for the championships by meeting the established minimum time for the events which they entered. Divers were determined by performances achieved at the Zone Diving Championships.

ESPN+ will provide live digital coverage for preliminary and finals sessions Wednesday through Saturday. Tape-delayed coverage of the women’s championships will be on ESPNU at 8:30 p.m. EST on March 29.

MEET SCHEDULE
Wednesday, 6 p.m., 200 medley relay,800 free relay.
Thursday, prelims, 10 a.m. and finals 6 p.m., 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 1-meter dive, 200 free relay.
Friday, prelims 10 a.m. and finals 6 p.m., 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 3-meter dive, 400 medley relay.
Saturday, prelims 10 a.m. and finals 6 p.m., 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, Platform dive, 1650 free, 400 free relay.

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

South Florida Aquatic Club Captures FGC Age Group Championships Combined, Boys Team Titles, Girls Finish Second

By Sharon Robb
CORAL SPRINGS, March 12, 2023—After a two-year absence, South Florida Aquatic Club returned to the winners’ circle Sunday at the Florida Gold Coast Age Group Championships at Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

SOFLO won the combined team title with 871 points ahead of defending champion St. Andrew’s Aquatics, second with 720.50.

SOFLO also won the boys’ team title with 373 points ahead of Midtown Weston with 341. SOFLO girls were runners-up with 498 behind defending champion St. Andrew’s Aquatics with 537.

It was SOFLO’s 11th short course combined team title in the team’s history.

It was a total team effort from top to bottom with SOFLO swimmers making every point count in the competitive 38-team meet. The 11-12 girls finished first, the 13-14 boys and girls were second and 11-12 boys third in the age group competition.

“It was an amazing team performance,” said SOFLO CEO and head coach Chris Anderson. “It was great to see the SOFLO coaches, staff and athletes coming together for a championship win. We swam crazy good.”

Juan Vallmitjana, 14, won two more events on the fourth and final night to bring his total to five wins for the meet.

In his final short course 14-and-under age group championship, Vallmitjana won the 200-yard freestyle in a best time 1:44.21, dropping 3.28 seconds and 400-yard individual medley in a best time 4:07.80, dropping 9.43 seconds. He won high point with 69 points ahead of Flood Aquatics’ Hamilton Gates with 60.

Jianna Amores, 12, won her fourth event of the meet in the 100-yard butterfly in a best time 1:00.87, dropping 0.86. She was also third in the 100-yard freestyle in 55.14. She finished second in high point with 65 points behind Eagle Aquatics’ Penelope Lopez-Casula with 77 points.

In an exciting and close race, SOFLO’s girls 13-14 200-yard freestyle relay won in 1:39.64 ahead of Jupiter Dragons (1:40.43) with Carley Kaplan, Jenesys Amores, Sofia Gomez and Laila Harran. SOFLO’s 11-12 relay was second in 1:46.44 with Jianna Amores, Jemma Baldwin, Sofia Rodriguez and Ellie Jackson.

SOFLO’s 11-12 200-yard medley relay was second in 1:59.08 with Ellie Jackson, Gianna Martin, Jemma Baldwin and Jianna Amores.

Other top four SOFLO finishers were:
Catalina Akpabio, 10-and-under 50-yard breaststroke, 3. 39.39.
Guillermo Mantilla, 11-12 100-yard freestyle, 3. 55.09; 500-yard freestyle, 4. 5:24.80.
Carley Kaplan, 13-14 200-yard freestyle, 4. 1:54.82.
Noah Mejias, 11-12 100-yard butterfly, 4. 1:01.64.
SOFLO boys 13-14 200-yard freestyle relay was third in 1:33.55 with Juan Vallmitjana, Jose Rincon, Mason Jimenez and Nicolai Ross.
SOFLO boys 11-12 200-yard freestyle relay was fourth in 1:45.94 with Guillermo Mantilla, Rainier Leyva Riestra, Noah Mejias and Eric Ferrer.

The top six finishers in each event qualify for the FGC All-Star team for the March 24-26 All-Star Meet in Fort Pierce.

SOFLO had 53 swimmers competing in 273 individual events and 20 relays. The meet attracted 530 swimmers from throughout the Florida Gold Coast.

SUNDAY RESULTS
COMBINED TEAM TOTALS: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club 871, 2. St. Andrew’s Aquatics 720.50, 3. North Palm Beach 653, 4. Jupiter Dragons 591, 5. Wellington 435, 6. Midtown Weston 431, 7. Metro Aquatics 382, 8. Coral Springs 364.50, 9. Eagles Aquatics 246, 10. Swim Fort Lauderdale 204.
GIRLS TEAM TOTALS: 1. St. Andrew’s 537, 2. SOFLO 498, 3. North Palm Beach 360, 4. Jupiter Dragons 312, 5. Sunrise 189.50.
BOYS TEAM TOTALS: 1. SOFLO 373, 2. Midtown Weston 341, 3. North Palm Beach 293, 4. Jupiter Dragons 279, 5. Wellington 255.

GIRLS
200-yard breaststroke:
13-14, 1. Tessa Broedell, NPB 2:19.53; SOFLO: 9. Elise Dinehart 2:32.02.

50-yard breaststroke:
11-12, 1. Roxann Rohrbaugh, SAS 32.20; SOFLO: 5. Gianna Martin 33.65, 13. Christie Ann Lumsden 35.55.
10-and-under, 1. Ryann Lauck, NPB 35.47; SOFLO: 3. Catalina Akpabio 39.39.

100-yard butterfly:
13-14, 1. Gioia Balzano, EA 55.42; SOFLO: 13. Lydia Smutny 1:00.14, 15. Jenesys Amores 1:01.48.
11-12, 1. Jianna Amores, SOFLO 1:00.87; SOFLO: 8. Sofia Rodriguez 1:06.64, 11. Jianna Amores 1:00.87.
10-and-under, 1. Wendy LaPietra, SAS 1:05.74.

200-yard freestyle:
13-14, 1. Gioia Balzano, EA 1:50.05; SOFLO: 4. Carley Kaplan 1:54.82, 5. Laila Harran 1:56.12, 7. Jenesys Amores 1:57.27.

100-yard freestyle:
11-12, 1. Penelope Lopez-Casula, EA 51.93; SOFLO: 3. Jianna Amores 55.14, 12. Ellie Jackson 57.95, 13. Jianna Amores 55.14, 15. Gianna Martin 59.91.
10-and-under, 1. Wendy LaPietra, SAS 58.05.

400-yard individual medley:
13-14, 1. Maria Camila Perez, Azura 4:28.82, 7. Lydia Smutny 4:46.00, 8. Elise Dinehart 4:46.80.

500-yard freestyle:
11-12, 1. Penelope Lopez-Casula, EA 5:11.42; SOFLO: 5. Ellie Jackson 5:33.22, time drop 11.42, 6. Jemma Baldwin 5:34.09, 12. Sophie Szutkowski 5:44.57, time drop 15.50.

200-yard freestyle relay:
13-14, 1. SOFLO A 1:39.64 (Carley Kaplan, Jenesys Amores, Sofia Gomez, Laila Harran), 2. Jupiter Dragons 1:40.43, 3. St. Andrew’s Aquatics 1:40.52, 13. SOFLO B 1:45.96 (Elise Dinehart, Saree Young, Angelica Forsyth, Lydia Smutny).
11-12, 1. St. Andrew’s 1:45.75, 2. SOFLO A 1:46.44 (Jianna Amores, Jemma Baldwin, Sofia Rodriguez, Ellie Jackson), 3. North Palm Beach 1:48.84, 6. SOFLO B 1:51.07 (Sophie Szutkowski, Didia Miccolis, Gianna Martin, Christie Ann Lumsden).

200-yard medley relay:
13-14, 1. Jupiter Dragons 1:50.43, 2. North Palm Beach 1:50.63, 3. Azura 1:51.73, 5. SOFLO A 1:52.93 (Laila Harran, Elise Dinehart, Lydia Smutny, Carley Kaplan), 12. SOFLO B 1:58.90 (Jenesys Amores, Sofia Gomez, Saree Young, Mackenzie McPherson).
11-12, 1. St. Andrew’s 1:58.94, 2. SOFLO A 1:59.08 (Ellie Jackson, Gianna Martin, Jemma Baldwin, Jianna Amores), 3. Jupiter Dragons 2:03.37, 4. SOFLO B 2:03.89 (Lana Althuis, Christie Ann Lumsden, Sofia Rodriguez, Sophie Szutkowski).

BOYS
200-yard breaststroke:
13-14, 1. Juan Leon, TS 2:06.34; SOFLO: 7. Connor Jimenez 2:21.72, 13. Josha Menezes 2:26.84, 14. Ryan Harries 2:30.98.

50-yard breaststroke:
11-12, 1. Alexander Diaz, MWA 30.66; SOFLO: 5. Jonathan Li 34.14, 15. Julian Sibug 36.48.
10-and-under, 1. Patrick Ilonta, SFTL 37.41; SOFLO: 9. Leonardo Zuluaga 40.91.

100-yard butterfly:
13-14, 1. Santiago Campuzano, LLL 53.47.
11-12, 1. Trace Colton, NPB 56.55; SOFLO: 4. Noah Mejias 1:01.64.
10-and-under, 1. Kaan Trentadue, PB 1:06.70; SOFLO: 6. Ethan Phan 1:12.45.

200-yard freestyle:
13-14, 1. Juan Vallmitjana, SOFLO 1:44.21; SOFLO: 7. Nicolai Ross 1:47.84, 15. Mason Jimenez 1:53.35.

100-yard freestyle:
11-12, 1. Trace Colton, NPB 51.09; SOFLO: 3. Guillermo Mantilla 55.09, 5. Eric Ferrer 56.82, 12. Rainier Leyva Riestra 58.13.
10-and-under, 1. Kaan Trentadue, PB 1:00.82.

400-yard individual medley:
13-14, 1. Juan Vallmitjana, SOFLO 4:07.80; SOFLO: 5. Nicolai Ross 4:22.06.

500-yard freestyle:
11-12, 1. Roman Kondrashov, CSSC 5:19.59; SOFLO: 4. Guillermo Mantilla 5:24.80, time drop 6.56, 5. Eric Ferrer 5:28.94, time drop 9.95, 10. Alexander Ross 5:39.26, time drop 0.68.

200-yard freestyle relay:
13-14, 1. Jupiter Dragons 1:31.15, 2. Wellington 1:32.36, 3. SOFLO A 1:33.55 (Juan Vallmitjana, Jose Rincon, Mason Jimenez, Nicolai Ross), 19. SOFLO B 1:40.13 (Ethan Hall, David Valdiviezo, Joshua Menezes, Connor Jimenez).

11-12, 1. Midtown Weston 1:42.09, 2. North Palm Beach 1:43.22, 3. Wellington 1:43.82, 4. SOFLO A 1:45.94 (Guillermo Mantilla, Rainier Leyva Riestra, Noah Mejias, Eric Ferrer), 6. SOFLO B 1:51.89 (Kenneth Solis, Alexander Ross, Jonathan Li, Rafael Naranjo).

200-yard medley relay
13-14, 1. Jupiter Dragons 1:41.18, 2. Wellington 1:43.85, 3. FAST 1:43.94, 8. SOFLO A 1:46.73 (Maximiliano Remmele, Juan Vallmitjana, Mason Jimenez, Nicolai Ross), 13. SOFLO B 1:50.29 (Connor Jimenez, Joshua Menezes, Jose Rincon, Ethan Hall).

11-12, 1. Midtown Weston 1:51.47, 2. Wellington 1:58.73, 3. MAC 2:01.32, 5. SOFLO A 2:03.25 (Guillermo Mantilla, Noah Mejias, Rainier Leyva Riestra, Eric Ferrer), 13. SOFLO B 2:12.02 (Kenneth Solis, Julian Sibug, Rafael Naranjo, Alexander Ross).

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

Vallmitjana Wins Third Event; SOFLO Leads Combined, Boys Team Standings After Day Three Of FGC Age Group Championships

By Sharon Robb
CORAL SPRINGS, March 11, 2023—Juan Vallmitjana of South Florida Aquatic Club won his third event of the Florida Gold Coast Age Group Championships Saturday at Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

At 14, Vallmitjana is leaving a lasting impression in his final 14-and-under FGC Age Group Championships.

Vallmitjana won the 500-yard freestyle in a best time 4:40.29, dropping 1.01 seconds off his previous best. He was also second in the 100 IM in a best time 56.04, dropping 2.41. He swam third leg on the 400-yard medley relay that finished second in 3:48.43. His butterfly split was 55.66. Earlier in the meet, he also won the 1,650-yard freestyle and 200-yard IM.

Vallmitjana is second among individual high point scorers with 47 points, four points behind Hamilton Gates of FAST with 51.

The 11-12 girls’ 400-yard medley relay won in 4:19.17 with Ellie Jackson, Gianna Martin, Jianna Amores and Jemma Baldwin.

After three days of competition, South Florida Aquatic Club continues to lead the combined and boys team standings. SOFLO girls are second. SOFLO has 655 in combined points ahead of defending champion St. Andrew’s with 594.50.

Other top four SOFLO finishers were:
Jianna Amores, 100 IM 1:04.57; 200 freestyle, 4. 2:03.51.
Laila Harran, 100 backstroke, 3. 58.33.
Lydia Smutny, 200 butterfly, 4. 2:12.80.
Ellie Jackson, 50 backstroke, 4. 30.40.
Guillermo Mantilla, 200 freestyle, 4. 2:01.40.
SOFLO girls 13-14 400-yard medley relay was third in 4:02.05 with Laila Harran, Elise Dinehart, Lydia Smutny and Carley Kaplan.
SOFLO boys 11-12 400-yard medley relay was fourth in 4:27.83 with Guillermo Mantilla, Noah Mejias, Rainier Leyva Riestra and Eric Ferrer.
SOFLO boys 13-14 400-yard medley relay was second in 3:48.43 with Maximiliano Remmele, Mason Jimenez, Juan Vallmitjana and Nicolai Ross.

The top six finishers in each event qualify for the FGC All-Star team for the March 24-26 All-Star Meet in Fort Pierce.

SOFLO has 53 swimmers competing in 273 individual events and 20 relays. The meet has attracted 530 swimmers from throughout the Florida Gold Coast.

In addition to favorites SOFLO, St. Andrew’s and Metro Aquatics, among other FGC clubs competing are Jupiter Dragons, Eagle Aquatics, Midtown Weston Aquatics, Pompano Piranhas, Lake Lytal Lightning, Swim Fort Lauderdale, Pine Crest, North Palm Beach, FAST, Sunrise Swimming, Wahoos of Wellington, SwimFast, Azura, Heritage Aquatics and host Coral Springs Swim Club.

SATURDAY RESULTS
COMBINED TEAM TOTALS: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club 655, 2. St. Andrew’s Aquatics 594.50, 3. North Palm Beach 468, 4. Jupiter Dragons 387, 5. Wahoos of Wellington 328.
GIRLS TEAM TOTALS: 1.
BOYS TEAM TOTALS:

GIRLS
200-yard butterfly:
13-14, 1. Gioia Balzano, EA 2:03.24; SOFLO: 4. Lydia Smutny 2:12.80, 8. Mackenzie McPherson 2:17.08, 16. Sofia Lugo 2:22.04.

50-yard butterfly:
11-12, 1. Kira Perry, SUN 27.55; SOFLO: 6. Jemma Baldwin 28.90, 7. Sofia Rodriguez 29.28.
10-and-under, 1. Wendy LaPietra, SAA 29.09; SOFLO: 9. Catalina Akpabio 33.37.

100-yard backstroke:
13-14, 1. Maria Camila Perez, Azura 56.60; SOFLO: 3. Laila Harran 58.33, 8. Jenesys Amores 1:00.99, 10. Saree Young 1:01.90, 12. Lydia Smutny 1:03.48.

50-yard backstroke:
11-12, 1. Penelope Lopez-Casula, EA 27.71; SOFLO: 4. Ellie Jackson 30.40, 13. Lana Althuis 31.99.
10-and-under, 1. Julieta Stolk, SAA 30.65; SOFLO: 10. Catalina Akpabio 36.06.

100-yard individual medley:
13-14, 1. Maria Camila Perez, Azura 58.87; SOFLO: 6. Laila Harran 1:01.89, 7. Carley Kaplan 1:02.03, 9. Elena Dinehart 1:02.52.
11-12, 1. Roxann Rohrbaugh, SAA 1:03.25; SOFLO: 2. Jianna Amores 1:04.57, 7. Jemma Baldwin 1:06.96, 8. Ellie Jackson 1:07.27, 11. Sophie Szutkowski 1:09.22, 14. Gianna Martin 1:09.46.
10-and-under, 1. Julieta Stolk, SAA 1:10.58.

100-yard freestyle:
13-14, 1. Gioia Balzano, EA 49.89; SOFLO: 5. Laila Harran 52.90, 6. Carley Kaplan 53.06, 14. Elise Dinehart 55.22.

200-yard freestyle:
11-12, 1. Penelope Lopez-Casula, EA 1:53.56; SOFLO: 4. Jianna Amores 2:03.51, 6. Ellie Jackson 2:05.60, 7. Jemma Baldwin 2:05.67.
10-and-under, 1. Wendy LaPietra, SAA 2:07.38.

500-yard freestyle:
13-14, 1. Allison Kelly, JD 5:02.47; SOFLO: 6. Carley Kaplan 5:14.73, 7. Jenesys Amores 5:14.83, 9. Elise Dinehart 5:21.74.

200-yard medley relay:
10-and-under, 1. Sunrise Swimming 2:19.08, 2. St. Andrew’s 2:21.97, 3. North Palm Beach 2:24.18, 5. SOFLO A 2:28.08, 8. SOFLO B 2:42.06.

400-yard medley relay:
11-12, 1. SOFLO A 4:19.17 (Ellie Jackson, Gianna Martin, Jianna Amores, Jemma Baldwin), 2. St. Andrew’s 4:22.21, 3. Lake Lytal Lightning 4:26.03, 11. SOFLO B 4:39.83.
13-14, 1. tie, North Palm Beach, Jupiter Dragons 3:58.25, 3. SOFLO A 4:02.05, 11. SOFLO B 4:20.28.

BOYS
200-yard butterfly:
13-14, 1. Lucas Fernandez-Chung, MAC 1:56.27; SOFLO: 12. Mason Jimenez 2:07.54

50-yard butterfly:
11-12, 1. Trace Colton, NPB 25.67; SOFLO: 7. Noah Mejias 28.18.
10-and-under, 1. Kaan Trentadue, PB 29.41; SOFLO: 9. Ethan Phan 32.82.

100-yard backstroke:
13-14, 1. Hamilton Gates, FAST 53.33; SOFLO: 9. Connor Jimenez 57.93, 11. Maximiliano Remmele 57.58

50-yard backstroke:
11-12, 1. Alexander Diaz, MWA 28.03.
10-and-under, 1. Ryan Harris, HAT 32.52.

100-yard individual medley:
13-14, 1. Juan Leon, TS 53.35; SOFLO: 2. Juan Vallmitjana 56.04; 16. Connor Jimenez 59.87.
11-12, 1. Alexander Diaz, MWA 1:00.87; SOFLO: 5. Guillermo Mantilla 1:05.22.
10-and-under, 1. Joaquin Gomez-Liendo, SAA 1:11.22; SOFLO: 9. Gabriel Ferrer 1:18.68.

100-yard freestyle:
13-14, 1. Hamilton Gates, FAST 48.01; SOFLO: 13. Nicolai Ross 49.85.

200-yard freestyle:
11-12, 1. Trace Colton, NPB 1:52.59; SOFLO: 4. Guillermo Mantilla 2:01.40, 7. Rainier Leyva Riestra 2:04.99, 8. Eric Ferrer 2:05.08.
10-and-under, 1. Joaquin Gomez-Liendo, SAA 2:11.64; SOFLO: 10. Ethan Phan 2:26.24.

500-yard freestyle:
13-14, 1. Juan Vallmitjana, SOFLO 4:40.29; SOFLO: 7. Mason Jimenez 4:58.64, 8. Nicolai Ross 4:59.53.

200-yard medley relay:
10-and-under, 1. Jupiter Dragons 2:17.47, 2. North Palm Beach 2:18.68, 3. Coral Springs 2:20.17, 5. SOFLO A 2:22.14, 10. SOFLO B 2:34.85.

400-yard medley relay:
11-12, 1. Midtown Weston 4:08.33, 2. North Palm Beach 4:24.32, 3. MAC 4:25.90, 4. SOFLO A 4:27.83, 11. SOFLO B 4:45.21.
13-14, 1. Jupiter Dragons 3:41.59, 2. SOFLO A 3:48.43, 3. FAST 3:48.88, 12. SOFLO B 4:02.07.

IF YOU GO
What: Florida Gold Coast Age Group Championships
When: Sunday
Where: Michael Lohberg Pool of Champions, Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, 12441 Royal Palm Blvd.
Timelines: Sunday, Girls & Boys prelims, 8:30 a.m.-11:59 a.m. and finals 5:30-7:04 p.m.
Admission: $5 per person, cash only. Heat sheets are free and can be found at http://www.swimcssc.com or Meet Mobile. A concession stand will be available.

Amores, Vallmitjana Lead SOFLO On Opening Day Of Florida Gold Coast Age Group Championships; SOFLO Leads Combined, Boys Teams

By Sharon Robb
CORAL SPRINGS, March 9, 2023—South Florida Aquatic Club swimmers got off to a good start at the Florida Gold Coast Age Group Championships Thursday at Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

Jianna Amores and Juan Vallmitjana won individual distance events against a good field.

Amores, 12, won the 400-yard individual medley in a best time 4:58.05, dropping 10.94 seconds from her previous best. She has six events remaining over the next three days.

Vallmitjana, 14, won the 1,650-yard freestyle in 15:58.25, also a best time dropping 9.65 from his previous best. He also has six events left to swim.

Other SOFLO Top 15 point-scorers were:
Jemma Baldwin, 1,650 freestyle, 3. 19:01.94, best time.
Carley Kapan, 1,650 freestyle, 4. Carley Kaplan 18:06.24, best time.
Didia Miccolis, 1,650 freestyle, 10. 20:51.28.
Sophie Szutkowski, 400 IM, 11. 5:17.16, best time.
Sofia Rodriguez, 400 IM, 12. 5:18.96.
Mason Jimenez, 1,650-yard freestyle, 7. 17:06.53, time drop.
Gabriel Ferrer, 500 freestyle, 9. 6:23.41, best time.
Ethan Phan, 500 freestyle, 10. 6:24.52, time drop.
Luis Escobar, 500 freestyle, 14. 6:36.26, best time.
Noah Mejias, 400 IM, 9. 5:02.99.
Eric Ferrer, 400 IM, 10. 5:07.76, best time.

The top six finishers in each event qualify for the FGC All-Star team for the March 24-26 All-Star Meet in Fort Pierce.

The four-day meet continues Friday with prelims and finals.

SOFLO has 53 swimmers competing in 273 individual events and 20 relays. The meet has attracted 530 swimmers from throughout the Florida Gold Coast.

In addition to favorites SOFLO, St. Andrew’s and Metro Aquatics, among other FGC clubs competing are Jupiter Dragons, Eagle Aquatics, Midtown Weston Aquatics, Pompano Piranhas, Lake Lytal Lightning, Swim Fort Lauderdale, Pine Crest, North Palm Beach, FAST, Sunrise Swimming, Wahoos of Wellington, SwimFast, Azura, Heritage Aquatics and host Coral Springs Swim Club.

THURSDAY RESULTS

COMBINED TEAM TOTALS: 1. South Florida Aquatic Club 197, 2. St. Andrew’s 189, 3. Pompano Beach 131, 4. Eagle Aquatics 97, 5. Midtown Weston 93.

BOYS TEAM TOTALS: 1. SOFLO 101, 2. St. Andrew’s 83, 3. Midtown Weston 65, 4. Pompano Beach 58 and Metro Aquatics 58.

GIRLS TEAM TOTALS: 1. St. Andrew’s 106, 2. SOFLO 96, 3. Pompano Beach 73, 4. Eagle Aquatics 63, 5. Wellington 59.
GIRLS
1,650-yard freestyle:
11-12, 1. Penelope Lopez-Casula, EA 17:53.92; SOFLO: 3. Jemma Baldwin 19:01.94, time drop 14.70, 10. Didia Miccolis 20:51.28.
13-14, 1. Veronica Metz, WOW 17:16.54; SOFLO: 4. Carley Kaplan 18:06.24, time drop 14.99.
500-yard freestyle:
10-and-under, 1. Wendy LaPietra, SAS 5:45.39.
400-yard individual medley:
11-12, 1. Jianna Amores, SOFLO 4:58.05, time drop 10.94; SOFLO: 11. Sophie Szutkowski 5:17.16, time drop 2.86, 12. Sofia Rodriguez 5:18.96.

BOYS
1,650-yard freestyle:
11-12, 1. Alexander Diaz, MWA 18:10.37.
13-14, 1. Juan Vallmitjana, SOFLO 15:58.25, time drop 9.65; SOFLO: 7. Mason Jimenez 17:06.53, time drop 44.39.
500-yard freestyle:
10-and-under, 1. Joaquin Gomez-Liendo, SAS 5:52.17; SOFLO: 9. Gabriel Ferrer 6:23.41, time drop 18.80, 10. Ethan Phan 6:24.52, time drop 7.84, 14. Luis Escobar 6:36.26, time drop 4.25.
400-yard individual medley:
11-12, 1. Trace Colton, NPB 4:35.28; SOFLO: 9. Noah Mejias 5:02.99, 10. Eric Ferrer 5:07.76, time drop 1.03.

IF YOU GO
What: Florida Gold Coast Age Group Championships
When: Friday-Sunday
Where: Michael Lohberg Pool of Champions, Coral Springs Aquatic Complex, 12441 Royal Palm Blvd.
Timelines: Friday, Girls & Boys prelims, 8:30-11:01. a.m. and finals, 5:30-8:15 p.m.; Saturday, Girls & Boys prelims, 8:30-11:23 a.m. and finals, 5:30-8:29 p.m.; Sunday, Girls & Boys prelims, 8:30 a.m.-11:59 a.m. and finals 5:30-7:04 p.m.
Admission: $5 per person, cash only. Heat sheets are free and can be found at http://www.swimcssc.com or Meet Mobile. A concession stand will be available.
Note: Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday morning so move your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night before you go to bed or you’re going to miss your first morning prelim race!