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Swimmers from Colorado and Fayette counties proudly represented the SALT League (Smallest Aquatic League of Texas) at the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF) Region 5 Championship on Saturday, July 12, in Bryan, Texas.
Swimmers from Columbus, La Grange, and Schulenburg competed against strong teams from Hamilton, College Station, and Bryan, all hoping to qualify for the prestigious Games of Texas state meet later this month. As the final qualifying event of the summer, the region-al meet was packed with competitive spirit, personal bests, and tremendous growth.
The swimmers showcased skill, determination, and team unity in individual and relay events. Many earned top finishes and punched their tickets to the state championship.
Out of all of the swimmers, Alex Rester, Joshua Cardarelli, Brook Yearwood, Savannah DeMers, Nathaniel Hayner, Ben Hayner, Olive Vasquez, Eli Vasquez, Josh Mick, Ryan Goodwin, Adysen Janacek, Grayson Gartman, Mallie Toombs, Cora Prichard-Jones, Daniel Hromadka, Adalyn Emmel, Adeline Patterson, Garrison Ulrich, Makenna Emmel, Hannah Garza, Victoria Sherwood, Penny Bartek, Andy Wyatt, Tyler Wyatt, David Collins, Kalla Billeck, Emily Herzik, and Everett Kubenka all qualified to compete in the Games of Texas.
Their coaches said they could not be prouder of their group because they outswam teams that have access to a pool yearround while the CATfish practice for two months.
Individual Results are, in the 18-24 Men age group were, Joshua Cardarelli - 3rd in the 50-yard backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle, Ryan Goodwin- 2nd in 50-yard breaststroke and backstroke, 1st in 100-yard Individual Medley (IM). In the 15–17 Girl’s age group, Adysen Janacek – 1st in 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and 50-yard breaststroke; 2nd in 200-yard freestyle, Victoria Sherwood – 2nd in 50-yard backstroke; 3rd in 50-yard butterfly; 4th in 50-yard freestyle.
In the 15-17 Boys age group, Alex Rester- 3rd in 100-yard freestyle, 3rd in 50-yard breast-stroke, 5th in 50-yard freestyle, Ben Hayner- 5th in 50-yard breaststroke, 6th in 50yard free-style.
In the 13–14 Girl’s age group, Hannah Garza – 4th in 200-yard and 100-yard freestyle; 8th in 50-yard breaststroke, Makenna Emmel – 1st in 50-yard backstroke and butterfly; 4th in 50-yard freestyle, Mallie Toombs – 1st in 100-yard freestyle; 3rd in 100-yard IM; 6th in 50-yard backstroke, Kalla Billeck – 2nd in 50-yard butterfly; 3rd in 50-yard freestyle; 4th in 100-yard IM; 5th in 50-yard backstroke.
In the 13–14 Boy’s age group, Van Huette – 4th in 100-yard and 50-yard freestyle; 5th in 50-yard breaststroke and 100yard IM, Josh Mick- 3rd in 50-yard backstroke, 2nd in 50-yard breaststroke, 3rd in 100-yard IM, 4th in 50-yard Butterfly and Nathaniel Hayner- 1st in 50--yard breaststroke, 11th in 50-yard freestyle.
In the 11–12 Girls age group, Adalyn Emmel – 3rd in 50-yard backstroke; 4th in butterfly; 7th in 50-yard freestyle, Savannah DeMer-6th in 50-yard backstroke, 5th in 50-yard butterfly, 8th in 50-yard freestyle, Brook Yearword-2nd in 100-yard freestyle, 3rd in 50-yard breaststroke, 4th in 100-yard IM, Adeline Patterson – 4th in 50-yard backstroke; 6th in 50-yard butterfly and freestyle and Reagan Zapalac – 9th in 50-yard breaststroke; 13th in 50yard backstroke; 16th in 50-yard freestyle. In the 11–12 Boys age group Garrison Ulrich – 1st in 50yard freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly; 3rd in 50yard breaststroke, Andy Wyatt – 1st in 50-yard breaststroke and 100-yard IM; 2nd in 50-yard butterfly, Everett Kubenka – 4th in 50-yard butterfly; 8th in 50-yard backstroke; 9th in 50-yard breaststroke, Curtis Toombs – 6th in 50-yard backstroke; 10th in 50-yard freestyle and Eli Vasquez- 2nd in 50--yard breaststroke, 5th in 50-yard freestyle.
In the 9–10 Girl’s age group, Penny Bartek – 1st in 25-yard breaststroke; 8th in 25-yard backstroke, Emily Herzik – 6th in 25yard backstroke; 8th in 25-yard freestyle, Olive Vasquez- 2nd in 100-yard IM, 3rd in 25-yard butterfly. In the 9–10 Boy’s age group, Daniel Hromadka – 3rd in 25-yard backstroke; 5th in 25-yard freestyle, David Collins – 6th in 25yard backstroke; 9th in 25-yard freestyle, Lawson Zapalac – 7th in 25-yard backstroke; 14th in 25yard freestyle and Tyler Wyatt – 6th in 25-yard breaststroke.
In the 7–8 Girl’s age group, Lilah Huette – 2nd in 25-yard freestyle; 4th in 25-yard backstroke and 25-yard breaststroke and Cora Prichard-Jones – 1st in 25-yard backstroke; 2nd in 25-yard breaststroke; 3rd in 25-yard butterfly. In the 7–8 Boy’s age group, Brysen Ulrich – 7th in 25yard freestyle; 16th in 25yard backstroke and Finlay Prichard-Jones – 10th in both 25-yard freestyle and backstroke. In the 6 & Under Boys age group, Grayson Gartman – 1st in 25-yard backstroke; 2nd in 25-yard freestyle, Rhett Zapalac – 5th in 25-yard freestyle and backstroke and Everett Bounds – 6th in 25-yard freestyle and backstroke.
The relay results in the 11–12 age group 200-Yard Medley Relay, 1st – Savannah DeMers, Brook Yearwood, Adalyn Emmel, Adeline Patterson, 1st – Garrison Ulrich, Andy Wyatt, Stratton Masek, Harlo Mankin, 2nd – Parker Basco, Braxton Ingram, Everett Kubenka, Curtis Toombs. In the 13–14 age group 200-Yard Medley Relay, 2nd – Makenna Emmel, Hannah Garza, Kalla Billeck, Mallie Toombs.
In the 15–17 age group Mixed 200-Yard Medley Relay, 2nd – Nora Blackwell, Ben Hayner, Victoria Sherwood, Alex Rester. In the 15–17 age group Mixed Freestyle Relays, 1st (100Yard) – Alex Rester, Ben Hayner, Nora Blackwell, Victoria Sherwood, 1st (200-Yard) – Alex Rester, Ben Hayner, Nora Blackwell, Victoria Sherwood.
I n the 9–10 age group100-Yard Freestyle Relay, 1st – Emily Herzik, Penny Bartek, Emmerson Masek, Olive Vasquez, 1st – David Collins, Victor Hancock, Tyler Wyatt, Daniel Hromadka.
In the 11–12 age group 200-Yard Freestyle Relay, 1st – Savannah DeMers, Adeline Patterson, AO Gowers, Adalyn Emmel, 1st – Andy Wyatt, Harlo Mankin, Stratton Masek, Garrison Ul-rich, 2nd – Curtis Toombs, Parker Basco, Braxton Ingram, Everett Kubenka.
In the 13–14 age group 200-Yard Freestyle Relay, 1st – Kalla Billeck, Hannah Garza, Mallie Toombs, Makenna Emmel.
