AGE GROUP SWIMMING

The 1997-98 Hawaii Age Group Swimming Short Course season got under way on

November 8 at the Coach Soichi Sakamoto Pool. The former War Memorial

Pool was rededicated in May, 1997 in honor of the world-famous swimming

coach. Coach Sakamoto passed away only a few months later just as the

1997 Long Course Championships began in August at the Lahaina Aquatics

Center.

Traveling to Maui for the first meet of the season were Mahinameli and

Leoho`onani Reyes and Lenn and Loni Yonemura. Still working to get back

into competition condition after a short layoff after the conclusion of

the long course season.

Mahina earned a state qualifying time in the 100 Y Freestyle and Hawaii

"AA" times in the 50 Y Breaststroke, 200 Y Individual Medley, and the 100

Y Backstroke.

Leo blazed to a zone-qualifying time in the 50 Y Breaststroke, a

state-qualifying time in the 100 Y Freestyle, and "AA" times in the 200 Y

Indvidual Medley and the 100 Y Backstroke.

Loni achieved "AA" times in all four of her events. She swam the 200 Y

Individual Medley, the 100 Y Backstroke, the 100 Y Freestyle, and the 1650

Freestyle.

Lenn earned a state qualifying time in the 1650 Freestyle and "AA" times

in the 200 Y Individual Medley, 100 Y Backstroke, and 100 Y Freestyle.

The swimmers are under much more pressure to earn state-qualifying times

this season. Nearly all of the standards have been raised in every event

across all age groups. Although the season is just underway, the faster

qualifying times were quite evident in the opening meet as many of Maui's

top age group swimmers found themselves just short of qualifying.

Nearly a dozen swimmers have taken out registration forms for the new

season. The Molokai Swim Team is hoping to attract more youngsters

interested in learning to swim. If anyone is interested, please contact

Coach David Kalani or Assistant Coach Lloyd Yonemura or any of the

lifeguards at the pool.