Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics is on a growth spurt. Nine of their swimmers earned perfect meet honors during its “Makin’ Waves IV” swim meet held at the Kaua‘i High School pool Saturday, states a press release from SKA head coach Greg
Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics is on a growth spurt.
Nine of their swimmers earned perfect meet honors during its “Makin’ Waves IV” swim meet held at the Kaua‘i High School pool Saturday, states a press release from SKA head coach Greg Davis. This comes on the heels of SKA’s strong showing at the state age group long course meet several weeks ago.
Additionally, SKA achieved 79 swims out of 126 “lifetime best performances” for its swimmers in the event that saw more than 40 swimmers competing in an official USS- sanctioned meet.
SKA also welcomes a swimmer from Florida as well as one from Minnesota who took advantage of the meet to compete here while on vacation.
Kara Dastrup, 15, and Matt Holzman, 13, led the SKA perfect meet group with improvements in five of the five events they each swam in. Bryson Baligad, Rex Linthicum, David Pigott, Juan Pigott, Makoa Pratt, Tania Rames and Emma Rausch also posted perfect meets.
“Every SKA swimmer achieved at least one best time, and the entire team swam great,” said Davis. “We are improving tremendously as a team. I could not be happier with the way we are training and competing.”
Among the big field of swimmers earning best times, Tyson Chihara and Matt Ross each swam the 400 Individual Medley for the first time in their careers.
According to Davis, both boys finished 20 seconds under the Hawai‘i state qualifying time, and missed achieving Zone cuts by two seconds or less.
“(These were) simply amazing swims for the very first time swimming the event and after swimming five events before,” said Davis.
Chihara stopped the clock at 4:44.53 while Ross followed at 4:45.51.
Davis said with more than 55 swimmers in the water, SKA is looking forward to continue building on the base it has created.
Two of the events SKA will be involved in include participation in the First Annual Hanalei Pier Swim on July 7, and hosting a two-day “Makin’ Waves V” swim meet July 14-15.
Currently, Davis is expecting between 80 and 100 swimmers from across the state and the Mainland to compete and have fun. SKA is expected to host some of the top swimmers from Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island as well as the Mainland who are here vacationing.
“It will be an excellent meet with great competition,” Davis said. “We really want to offer a quality swim meet and have swimmers from all over the Outer Islands and the Mainland compete and have fun.”
For more information, visit the SKA Web site at www.swimkauai.com.
