PENELOPE YAMAUCHI: Montgomery, junior, swimming Montgomery's Penelope Yamauchi was determined to perform well last weekend at the NCS swimming championships, and she did, winning the 200m individual medley in an Empire record 2:00.98 and finishing third in the 100m breaststroke. Yamauchi had qualifying times in eight different events at NCS, showing her versatility. She also set an all-time Empire best in the 100m breaststroke. "I wanted to win so bad," Yamauchi said. "I didn't do as well as I'd liked at the nationals in New York. This helps my confidence."...

Before she was even a teenager, Amanda Sims was an inspiration. When she was 12, Sims sat in a Starbucks in Santa Rosa and answered questions from Maya DiRado, a starry-eyed 7-year-old. The purpose of their meeting was DiRado?s third-grade project. The assignment? Tell the class about your hero. For a young swimmer such as DiRado, Sims, then a sixth grader at Strawberry Elementary, inspired more awe than any Olympian. Six years later, DiRado, like Sims before her, has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at age 13 and...

CONCORD -- Emerging from the pool Saturday at the Concord Community Center, Montgomery's Amanda Sims was enveloped with a crescendo of applause and cheers. It was a fitting tribute for Sims, who moments earlier had won the 100-yard backstroke, her seventh overall North Coast Section championship and second of the day. She received a glowing tribute from the meet announcer, who called her one of the North Coast Section's "best-ever" swimmers. High praise when you consider the talent that has come through the Redwood Empire, including Olympian Jenna Johnson and...

NCS prelims were contested today in Concord and the Redwood Empire athletes set the water on fire. Neptune swimmers qualified in 30 Finals with 3 placed 1st and 3 placed 2nd. Congratulations to Penelope Yamauchi for setting the High School Empire Record in the 200 IM. Heather Cramer had to compete in a swim-off for the 16th spot in the women's 100 Fly, beating her opponent by 2 seconds and setting her personal best time. Sophia Yamauchi took off 2 seconds in her 100 Breast to qualify in the finals...

Press Democrat video interview from May 17, 2007. Congratulations Amanda on a great interview. We are so proud of all the graduating seniors. Good luck at NCS. Click here to see the video

Congratulations athletes, parents and coaches on your 2007 Silver Medal Club award. Neptune swimming has been recognized as a Silver Medal club the past 2 years. In 2005 we scored 906 points, in 2006 we scored 3,639 points and this year we scored 4,505 points. Way to go!! For a complete list of 2007 Gold / Silver / Bronze medal clubs click here

Spring is here and long course swimming is under way. 84 Neptunes took part in Vallejo Long Course CBA+ meet over the weekend. There were 103 first time swims and 88% of athletes had time improvements in one or more events. The hard work is paying off. Congratulations to Hank Poppe for setting another team record in the 50m Free (35.92-old record set in 1990). That makes 5 new team records in 5 different events in three consecutive meets. A special mention to River Poze (50 Free), Julia Personeni (50...

Don Walsh (15 years, Healdsburg) and Colin Andrews-Gibson (12 years, Santa Rosa), competed and placed in this years 9th Annual Napa Valley Sprint Triathlon which took place Sunday, May 6, 2007 at Pukah Creek Resort in Napa, California. The event consisted of a half mile swim, 15 mile bike, and 4 mile run at Lake Berryessa. Don Walsh (who has done this event previously with his father Mark Walsh) finished 2nd in his age division (13-15) with a final time of 2:02:10.3. Colin D. Andrews-Gibson (who was competing in his...

From top to bottom the Neptune athletes continue to display an exciting showcase of talent. This weekend at the Pacific Swimming 10 and Under Short Course Championships held in Sunnyvale was a clear example of the strength of our age group program. 14 Neptunes competed in this BB+ qualifying meet and 100 percent of the athletes had time improvements. 8-under Hank Poppe set fire to the water for the second weekend in a row setting two new short course team records 50 free (31.44) old record 1981 and 100 IM...

54 Neptunes braved the weather and traveled to 3 different meets this past weekend setting many personal best times on the way. With two of the meets long course Cabrillo & Terrapins, swimmers, coaches & parents could gauge the improvement over the past short course season when you compare last years long course times with the times achieved this past weekend. The improvement from our 12-under swimmers is quite impressive and sheds a little light on the strength of the Neptune program for the future, exciting!!! Great job to all...