The Wellington Wahoo swim club competed in the Jupiter Dragons Summer Short Course Invitational on Saturday, June 29 at the North County Aquatic Complex. The meet serves as a way for swimmers to work on cutting their time during summer training sessions.
The event was held under the sanction of USA Swimming and Florida Gold Coast Swimming. The Wahoos entered 20 swimmers into the competition from ages eight to 21.
“This is a developmental meet,” explained longtime Wahoo developmental coach Jeni Hollister. “Summer is typically long course, but we’re short course today, and these kids are just trying to get their J.O. [Junior Olympic] cuts and trying to get their best times.”
Some of the swimmers are college competitors who return for the summer to work on their times as well, according to Hollister.
July marks championship month for swimmers, so competitors are striving to work down their times in several of the short course events. “July is a busy month, there’s one weekend after the next with a championship,” Hollister explained. “We have a great team. Our 10-and-unders, they’re amazing. There are many kids who have cuts to go to these championship meets.”
One Wahoo swimmer who excelled in the weekend short course meet was 10-year-old Julian Granison, who has been swimming for three years. “The 100, I would usually just pace myself,” he said about preparing for meets. “I practice a lot.”
As evident in his persistence, Granison was one of the fastest swimmers in his age group and explained it felt great when coming in first place.
Wahoo swimmers also aspire to compete in the Futures Meet, which is a nationally ranked event with very high standards, so it is likely the club will see some swimmers enter, club head coach Rich Whalen said.
Fifteen-year-old Nicole Aguilar is one of the Wahoos’ top-ranked swimmers. She will forge ahead to work on her times with the goal to compete at the national level.
The Wellington Wahoos will host the Palm Beach County B Championships this weekend, July 6-7.
To learn more about the swim team, or this weekend’s meet, visit www.wellingtonswimming.com.
