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Oakdale Aquatics Impressive In Morgan Hill
9-19 OAK Swim
A dominating performance leads Mackenzie Brown to a sharp time in this butterfly stroke race. - photo by Photo Contributed

Oakdale’s year-round youth swim team, Oakdale Aquatics, recently took eighth place out of 51 teams at a three day meet in Morgan Hill.

It was at this meet where coaches Russ Van Cleave, Ronny Thompson, Brian Fogarty, and Zach Bethel were impressed to see 78 percent of races swam by Oakdale swimmers resulting in best times. Considering Oakdale took 49 swimmers to the meet, Oakdale coaches were ecstatic to see the high percentage of success from novice through experienced swimmers.

Standout swims of the meet were seen by likes of Tori Blanc, who placed second overall in the eight-and-under 25 back with a 20.35 second time. Breelie Gibson had multiple top-10 finishes in the same age group with her most notable swim being her 100 free in 1.24.99.

Brayden Costa won the six-and under boys 25 fly in a time of 28.00 while simultaneously swimming the event legally for the first time. Oakdale 9-10 swimmer Maris Basnight posted two new Junior Olympic times in the 50 and 100 yard breaststroke events. Boys 11-12 standouts Caden Nord and Dustin Vandenbosch posted new Junior Olympic qualifying times as well. Nord got his in the 100 yard breaststroke and Vandenbosch did it in the 100IM, 50 breast, and 100 breast.

Scarlett Green, new to the 13-14 age group, swam a 27.04 in the 50 yard free earning her the fastest ever time for the team. Summer Thompson swam to a Junior Olympic qualifying time in the 200 back and a Far Western time in the 200 breast, taking third overall in the 200 breast among 15-18 girls. Joseph Guerrero swam to a Junior Olympic time in the 100 breast and a Far Western qualifier in the 200 breast.

Soren Dickens earned Far Western times in all three of his swims and took second overall in the men’s 200 breaststroke. Oakdale High senior Ryan Jones swam to a Junior Olympic time in the 200 freestyle.

Zach Rivera dropped over 22 seconds in his 50 free, improving from a 1.07.60 to a 44.82. Morgan Bright’s drop of nearly 15 seconds was notable in her 50 fly (1.05.77 to 50.85). Mackenzie Brown’s seven second drop made for a fantastic swim in her 50 free. Emily Basnight had the biggest time drop of the meet with a 41 second drop in her 200 I.M. CeCe Hurst swam well enough to qualify for the IMXtreme USA Swim meet in Arizona, a swim meet emphasizing excellence in all four competitive strokes.

Oakdale Aquatics’ next meet will take place in Roseville on the first weekend of October. The Oakdale Swim Team’s Second Annual Crab Feed is also coming up (Feb. 2, 2013). To order tickets call Kelley Blanc at 209 322-3048.