Ava Otteson and Casey Hecht Both Win Two Gold Medals 

PALM SPRINGS, CA – July 26, 2021 – The ELITE Otters Swim Team completed its rapid ascension to the top of the Coachella Valley’s swim hierarchy by putting on a dominant display of swimming prowess in the 2021 Southern California RAA Summer Junior Olympics at Riverside City College on July 22-25.

The ELITE Otters were led by Ava Otteson and Casey Hecht who each won two gold medals in SoCal Swimming’s top summer meet.

Ava Otteson, age 13, was a tour de force in the freestyle races of the 13-14 age group division, winning the 400 and 800 meter championship finals, finishing second in the 100 and 200 meter free and third in the 50 meter freestyle.

Casey Hecht, age 10, won the 50 and 100 meter breaststroke championship finals, the only two breaststroke races offered in his age group of 10 & Under. He medaled in every race he swam including a second place finish in the 200 IM, fourth in the 100 meter butterfly, fifth in the 200 meter free, and sixth in the 50 meter free.

Shayna Hecht finished in the top five of each of her six events bringing home 6 medals. Owen Otteson added to the medal count for the Otters in the 50 and 100 meter backstroke. Medals are awarded only to the top eight swimmers in each event’s championship finals.

In the combined team scores the ELITE Otters swim team finished 12th out of 28 teams with only 4 swimmers in attendance. For a complete breakdown on how each swimmer finished and how the Otters compared to other Coachella Valley swim teams see the table below.

Coach Laura Otteson remarked on the team’s terrific progress, “Two years ago a small group of parents were dissatisfied with the coaching our children were receiving from the largest swim club in the desert. At that time only Ava had qualifying times for Junior Olympics. None of the others were close, they hadn’t scratched the surface of their potential.  We created and named the team ELITE Otters because we believed kids who wanted to work hard and be "ELITE" didn’t have that opportunity anywhere in the Coachella Valley. In our first year, every swimmer who followed our program made JO times, but weren’t able to compete due to Covid-19. This year those same swimmers didn't just make JOs or the ‘B’ finals.  They medaled in the championship finals.  Additionally, multiple swimmers attained Sectional and Western Zone times and are highly ranked nationally.”

Coach Josh Otteson adds, “Our success has increased the visibility of our team and we have received numerous inquiries from folks who want their kids to experience that same success. Every person should be able to chase their dream and we look forward to providing that opportunity for more swimmers.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JUNIOR OLYMPIC RESULTS BY SWIMMER