Tuesday, Aug. 03, 2010

LB Tiger Sharks make it 18

Tiger Sharks set nine new league records on their way to an 18th team league title in a row; newcomer Los Banos Hydrocats place 16 swimmers in top eight in their first appearance at the league championships

Setting league records, winning league titles -- all in a day's work for the Los Banos Tiger Sharks.

They brought home their 18th consecutive Merced County Swim League championship July 24 and 25 at Dos Palos High, setting nine new league records in the process.

Kyren DiMarzio set three new records alone -- 1 minute, 1.19 seconds in the 100-yard individual medley, 53.36 in the 100 freestyle and 56.99 in the 100 butterfly.

Other new record holders include Joel Birchard in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.87) and 100 butterfly (57.28), Mayra Garcia in the 100 backstroke (1:09.75) and 100 butterfly (1:06.25), Jade Fachin in the 50 butterfly (29.91) and the 200-yard freestyle-relay team (1:59.44).

The Los Banos Hydrocats, in their first season, placed 16 swimmers in the top eight, including Paige Roseman, who won the 6-and-under 25 breaststroke, and Madeline Andrade, who placed second in the 17-18 100 backstroke.

"The timing officials were impressed that our swimmers' times were so much improved compared to the beginning of the season," said Hydrocats coach Scott Brady. "We will continue to work on endurance and skills in our extended season that will only make us stronger and faster in 2011, but this season has exceeded my expectations for a first year team."

The Dos Palos Dolphins produced a couple of winners in Evelyn Esquivel in the 15-16 50-yard freestyle (27.00 seconds) and Kevin Cozzi in the 17-18 50-yard freestyle (23.84 seconds).

Enterprise reporter David Witte can be reached by phone at 388-6565 or by e-mail at sports@losbanosenterprise.com