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Flushing Y swimmers win 18th straight state title
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The Flushing YMCA Flyers Swim Team captured its
18th consecutive YMCA State Championship during the March 19 through
March 21 contest in Rochester, N.Y. Points are awarded in five age
groups for males and females from first through 16th place. The Flyers
won the 8-and-under girls’ and boys’, 9-10 boys’, 11-12 girls’, 13-14
girls’ and boys’ and the 15-18 boys’ age groups. The 9-10 girls and
11-12 boys finished second and the 15-18 girls finished fourth.
Leading the way for the Flyers was 10-year-old Agata Michalak, who
won five gold medals. Agata broke the state record in the 50-yard
backstroke with a time of 31.67. She added two first-place finishes
in the 50 butterfly (29.99) and 100 individual medley (1:08.63). Agata
was on two first-place relays, the 200-yard medley (2:14.70) and 200-yard
free (2:02.53) along with Sally Lim, Lauren Ng and Karina Hain.
Also having an outstanding meet for the girls were 12-year-olds Kirsten
Guelly and 14-year-old April Lu. Kirsten was victorious in the 50-yard
butterfly (28.20) and the 100-yard freestyle (57.25). She was also
part of two gold medal relays, teaming up with Sophia Mercurio, Jane
Kim and Andrea Yoo to win the 200-yard medley (1:59.54) and 200-yard
free (1:47.90).
April captured the 200-yard individual medley (2:18.09) and 100-yard
butterfly (1:02.50). She teamed up with Maureen McCluskey, Bianca
Martinez and Daniella Hill to place first in the 200 medley relay
(1:55.56) and with Maureen, Daniella and Marta Kristic to finish first
in the 200-yard free relay (1:44.74).
Other individual state champions for the girls included Jennifer Arana,
7, 50-yard free (33.76); and Elizabeth Kim, 8, 25-yard free, (16.69).
Jennifer and Elizabeth teamed with Daniela Giraldo and Jessica Ramirez
to win the 100-yard medley relay (1:14.71) and set a new state record,
winning the 100-yard free relay with a time of 1:03.13.
Winning three individual events for the boys were 12-year-olds One
June Chang and Kenny Kim. One June won the 50-yard free (25.34), 200-yard
free (2:03.74) and 50-yard butterfly (28.34). Kenny won the 200-yard
individual medley (2:18.12), 100-yard free (55.73) and 50-yard breaststroke
(32.74).
One June and Kenny combined with Lucas Knight and Justin Ng to win
the 200-yard medley relay (1:59.52) . Close behind was 13-year-old
Timothy Nam with first places in the 200-yard individual medley (2:07.00)
and 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.38).
Other state champions for the boys included 14-year-old Sung Moon
Chung, 200 free (1:53.12); Stefan Garcia, 10, 200 free (2:18.23);
and Jordan Knight, 8, 100-yard individual medley (1:25.75). Tim and
Sung Moon captured gold along with team members Karl Pepe and James
Pickel in the 200-yard medley relay (1:51.00) and 200-yard free relay
(1:38.05).
The 15-18 boys, Tony Zhang, Shunpei Okochi, Philip Dzieniszewski and
Paul Payabyab, were victorious in the 200-yard medley relay (1:41.97),
and Tony, Paul, Jason Yen and Kevin Kim took home gold in the 200-yard
free relay (1:29.82) and 400-yard free relay (3:18.70).
More than 1,100 swimmers representing 38 teams competed in the meet.
Next year’s meet will be at Eisenhower Park in Nassau County, hosted
by the Flushing and Huntington YMCAs.
Up next for Flushing will be the YMCA National Championships in Fort
Lauderdale, Fla. from April 5 to April 8. April Lu, Bianca Martinez,
Maureen McCluskey, Dorota Sawicz, Michelle Varga, Philip Dzieniszewski,
Daniel Moreno, Shunpei Okochi, Paul Payabyab, Jason Yen and Tony Zhang
will represent the Flyers.
The Flushing YMCA swim team is comprised of girls and boys ages 6
to 18. The Flyers are coached by Richard Finkelstein, Nancy Lampasso,
Len Galluzzi, Charles Lampasso, Dina Katz and Tim Hogan.
Tryouts for the summer program will be
Wednesday and Thursday, May 5 and 6, at 5 p.m., and Saturday, May
8, at 8 a.m. The YMCA is at 138-46 Northern Blvd. in Flushing and
can be reached at 718-961-6880, Ext. 140.
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| ©Times Ledger 2004
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