Those doing well at USA Swimming Zones in California in the back from left to right are Jason Richmond, coach Randy Walker and Michael Richmond and in the front are Hailey Uhrig, Abigail Robinson and Lilly Munoz.
Members of the Sweetwater Aquatics Team returned home from zones with more competition experience.
SWAT Team coach Randy Walker said this year zones was hosted in northern California. The swimmers in this organization practice about nine times a week depending on their ability, level, age and their level of commitment. They also compete about once a month.
What makes this team unique is it's composed of swimmers throughout Wyoming and they are competitive at both the age group meet and senior-level competition.
"All our athletes swam well and gained valuable experience," Walker said.
Fourteen-year-old Hailey Uhrig came home with two medals after taking third in the 100-meter breaststroke and eighth in the 200-meter breaststroke in the 13-14 age division.
Uhrig broke Wyoming's 100-meter breaststroke record by 2.5 seconds and the 200-breaststroke record by 4.5 seconds.
"She is within half a second of qualifying for the Junior National Championships," Walker said. "She had an outstanding meet."
Not only did Uhrig compete in individual events, but she competed in the 200-meter medley relay with local swimmers Lilly Munoz and Abigail Robinson and a Cheyenne swimmer. They took 16th in that relay. Walker said since it was an All-star team, they compete with swimmers from across the state.
Munoz took 24th out of 48 competitors in the 100-meter breaststroke, while Robinson took 38th out of 71 in the 100-meter butterfly.
"I felt like my stroke was very smooth, but I do feel I could have tried harder," Robinson said.
Lauren Lee competed in the senior meet even though she was only 14 and did pretty well.
Michael Richmond competed in the 17-18 age group and took 11th in the 100-meter butterfly, while Jason Richmond competed in the 15-16 age group. J. Richmond couldn't remember what he competed in or the places he received.
"I didn't make any finals," J. Richmond said. "That's OK."
"There were like 1,000 kids at the entire meet," M. Richmond said.
"Our team has come a long ways in five short years," Walker said. "We have developed a program that develops great young people both in and out of the pool, consistently placed into one of the top three teams at state, winning two team state championships, and increasing our number of athletes competing at the upper level and elite competitions have all been accomplishments our community, can be proud of."
Other achievements
The team was also proud to show off its 2018 Wyoming Summer Long Course State Champion banner. Walker said Gillette is the only championship caliber long course pool in the state and meet has taken place there since 1983.
"It is my understanding that Sweetwater Aquatics Team was the first team to win the long course championships at that facility other then Gillette since its opening in 1983," Walker said. "That being said, Gillette has had an outstanding team and a super supporting community these many years and we applaud them for their outstanding program and many, many accomplishments."
Reader Comments(0)