PIRANHAS FINISH SECOND IN DIVISION AT SECTIONALS
This past week the Piranha Swim Team competed at the USA Swimming 2013 Speedo California/Nevada Sectional Championships in Santa Clarita, California. Seven Piranhas had qualified for the competition, the most in our clubs history: Sheby Andrade, Faith Travis, Alexa Wasserman, Sophie MacEwen, Indira Ceranic, Kat WIckham, and Nick Korth. As a club the Piranha Swim Team finished second in the “Small Team” division only 6 points behind the San Luis Obispo Swim Club while the Santa Barbara Swim Club/UCSB team finished third. Overall the Piranhas finished in 19th place out of 110 teams, very impressive considering only five of our seven qualified were able to compete in the meet.
Kat Wickham finished second in the 200 free at Sectionals on Friday in a time fast enough to qualify for the Summers Junior Nationals next month. Wickham also placed 4th in the 800 free and 6th in the 1500 free then also swam the anchor leg all three Piranha relays. Faith Travis had already qualified for Junior Nationals in the 100 back two weeks ago at Jag and placed 8th in that same event at Sectionals. Alexa Wasserman has become one of the Piranha's most improved athletes this year. She earned a spot in the finals of the 400 IM after dropping 9 seconds and improved another 5 at night to drop a total of 14 seconds on the day. Shelby Andrade swam a liftetime best for the fourth consecutive meet in the 200 fly as well as a best time in the 50 free. Nicholas Korth became the first male member of the Piranha Swim Team to win an individual Sectional championship with his victory in the 100 breast stroke (sectionals began in 2000). Korth also made the consolation final of the 50 free and 200 IM.
The Piranha Swim Team has an almost 50 year tradition of being the most successful club swimming team in the Coachella Valley at National and Championship Calibur meets such as Junior Olympics, Sectionals, Junior Nationals, and Nationals. This group not only upheld the tradition but did so in a way that continued our streak of great swimming that has gone above expectations this season.
PIRANHA PRIDE!!!! PIRANHA TRADITION!!!!
