2025 Legends of Coaching Series - Peter Daland Invitational

Todd Hickman
San Clemente Aquatics Shines at 2025 Legends of Coaching Series - Peter Daland Invitational La Mirada, CA – November 9, 2025 – The San Clemente Aquatics Team (SCAT) delivered an outstanding performance at the 2025 Legends of Coaching Series - Peter Daland Invitational, hosted by La Mirada Armada from November 6-9 at the Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center. Eleven qualified athletes represented SCAT with determination, breaking team records, achieving personal bests, and earning multiple finals appearances in a highly competitive field. Thursday, November 6: Distance Events Kick Off Strong The meet began with the grueling 1000 yard freestyle. Zoe Defabrique led the SCAT girls with a 12th-place finish in finals and adding a new team record to the list of girls 17-18!. On the boys' side, Jay Hickman dominated, securing 3rd place overall while shattering the SCAT boys' 17-18 and Open team records with his blistering time. Chase Matheson also competed strongly in the event, setting a solid foundation for the team's distance swimmers. Friday, November 7: Personal Bests and Relay Triumph Friday's pool events showcased SCAT's depth in girls' strokes and relays.
  • 100 Yard Breaststroke: Victoria Piwonka and Wren Collins both posted personal bests to advance to finals.
  • 200 Yard Individual Medley: Wren Collins, Macie Weingarten (11th in finals with a personal best), Victoria Piwonka, and Allie Cooper all achieved personal bests.
  • 50 Yard Freestyle: Macie Weingarten and Maddyn Ortiz posted personal best times.
  • 500 Yard Freestyle: Zoe Defabrique qualified for finals and placed 12th.

The highlight came in the 400 Yard Medley Relay, where the girls' quartet of Wren Collins (backstroke), Victoria Piwonka (breaststroke), Macie Weingarten (butterfly), and Zoe Defabrique (freestyle) blasted to 12th place and broke the SCAT 17-18 and Open team records with a time of 3:55.47.

Boys' events were equally impressive:

  • 200 Yard Individual Medley: Jay Hickman qualified for finals.
  • 500 Yard Freestyle: Chase Matheson competed, while Jay Hickman earned 3rd in finals with a personal best.
Saturday, November 8: Finals Qualifiers Abound Saturday featured a flurry of personal bests and finals berths. Girls' highlights:
  • 100 Yard Butterfly: Wren Collins, scored a new team record in finals heats for SCAT 13-14 Age Group with a record time of 55.94  and Macie Weingarten qualified for finals with personal bests.
  • 200 Yard Freestyle: Claire Ferretti earned a personal best; Zoe Defabrique secured a finals spot.
  • 100 Yard Backstroke: Wren Collins qualified for finals; Claire Ferretti and Allie Cooper achieved personal bests.
  • 400 Yard Individual Medley: Macie Weingarten and Zoe Defabrique qualified for finals; Victoria Piwonka posted a personal best.
Boys' standouts:
  • 100 Yard Butterfly: Chase Matheson and Lucas Munoz (personal best).
  • 200 Yard Freestyle: Chase Matheson, Aiden Root (personal best), Lucas Munoz (dropped over 10 seconds), and Jay Hickman (11th in finals).
  • 400 Yard Individual Medley: Jay Hickman qualified for finals and placed 12th.
Sunday, November 9: New Team Records and Distance Duo Closes with Top-5 Finishes The meet concluded on a high note with continued excellence. Girls' events:
  • 200 Yard Backstroke: Wren Collins competed; Claire Ferretti and Allie Cooper both earned personal bests.
  • 100 Yard Freestyle: Macie Weingarten.
  • 200 Yard Breaststroke: Maddyn Ortiz competed the event and Victoria Piwonka earn not only a personal best and finals qualification but also a new Team Record in the 15-16 age group with a time of 2:20.64.
  • 200 Yard Butterfly: Macie Weingarten achieved a personal best, qualified for finals, and new team record on the 13-14 age group with a new record time of 2:05.60
Boys' events:
  • 100 Yard Freestyle: Chase Matheson and Aiden Root both with personal bests.
  • 200 Yard Butterfly: Chase Matheson.

In the distance finale, Zoe Defabrique—setting another team record for the 17-18 age group—and Jay Hickman both excelled, securing 5th place in their respective final heats while earning acclaim for their stamina and strong representation of SCAT.

SCAT's qualified athletes – Wren Collins, Allie Cooper, Zoe Defabrique, Claire Ferretti, Jay Hickman, Chase Matheson, Lucas Munoz, Maddyn Ortiz, Victoria Piwonka, Aiden Root, and Macie Weingarten – collectively broke multiple team records, secured numerous finals spots, and set dozens of personal bests. 

"This was a breakthrough meet for us," said a SCAT coach. "Our athletes showed incredible heart and preparation. Breaking records and hitting PBs across the board is a testament to their hard work." The Legends of Coaching Series continues to honor coaching icons like Peter Daland while providing a premier stage for young talent. SCAT heads into the winter season with momentum and eyes on future championships.

Congratulations to the Team Record Holders of the Meet! (L-R) Jay Hickman, Zoe Defabrique, Victoria Piwonka, Macie Weingarten and Wren Collins.

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