KINGMAN - In 16 of the 20 events at the 2009 Arizona Swimming Short Course Age Group State Championships in Phoenix March 19-22, the Kingman Dolphins Swim Team dropped time and give the local swim club ideas about making waves in future state competitions.
Jacob Miyauchi was the Dolphins' top finisher when he took sixth place in the boys 11-12 division 1,650-yard freestyle. Jacob swam the distance in 21 minutes, 21.53 seconds to take off a whopping 24.22 off of his best time.
"The kid in the next lane was a lot faster and I tried to keep up with him," Jacob said about his drop in time. "I'm real happy about being the sixth fastest in state, and I'd like to get under 21 minutes by the end of the summer season."
Alexis Bathauer made the finals in four of her six events, which included the 50, 100 and 200 backstrokes and the 200 individual medley, and dropped time in each one. Alexis dropped significant time, 6.26, in the 200 IM when she finished in 2:31.98, and the 200 backstroke, 9.42, with a time of 2:30.54.
"It was really wonderful," Alexis said of her performance. "It was my first time making it to the finals ever and I did it four times."
Alexis said she hoped to break 1:08 in the 100 backstroke, her favorite event, by the end of summer.
Alek Dunton, 10, was able to drop time in four of his five events. Alek swam the 50 and 100 freestyles, 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke and the 200 IM.
Kael Juelfs, 9, dropped .28 off his 50 breaststroke time, and Patrick Tribbett, 14, bested his 50 breaststroke by 1.21 with a swim of 36.08.
This was the first state meet since interim coach Beth Mathe took over the Dolphins in December, and Mathe came away pleased.
"These kids impressed me," Mathe said. "They all swam really good and I was really excited for them."
Mathe said the Dolphins have great potential and hopes more swimmers will join the team for the summer season. By putting in a lot of hard work, Mathe said the Dolphins should be a strong contender in the future to place as a team at the state meet.
The Dolphins will switch gears next Saturday and Sunday when the team attends its first long-course competition at the April Fools' Day meet in Las Vegas. Instead of swimming the 25 yards across the width of the pool, the swimmers face the 50 meters down the length of the pool.
"Overall, we're doing well," Mathe said. "We're having a lot of fun."
Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, April 05, 2009
Article comment by:
alexis bathauer
this is an awesome article because it involves me haha just playing. i liked this article because i love the dolphins we will do very well in the future!!!
