Exactly one week before the Oakdale Gators Youth Swim team hosts its annual Oakdale Invitational, local swimmers proved they weren’t letting a little rain dampen their spirits.
With showers battering the Oakdale Aquatic Center on Saturday, June 4 the Gators saw all but one of their swimmers get action in a packed dual meet with the Ripon Sea Lions.
Parents huddled under umbrellas and portable shelters while shivering athletes braved the rain to compete in a series of events for the first time ever in the new Oakdale pool.
“To have 99 percent of our swimmers compete despite the pouring rain was pretty encouraging,” Oakdale coach Brian Fogarty said. “It shows the dedication these parents and swimmers have. They are very involved.”
The meet was Oakdale’s third week of action since a May 21 appearance in the Tracy Invitational to kick off the season. The team traveled to Turlock for a tri-meet on May 28, and had the opportunity to see their historic first contest in the new aquatic center on Saturday and rain certainly wasn’t going to prevent it.
Fogarty said access to the state-of-the-art complex has increased some buzz surrounding Oakdale’s youth swim programs, and may be one of the reasons the Gators have substantially improved upon last year’s participation numbers.
“There has definitely been some extra interest with the new pool, and everybody is excited about swimming the Gator season at the high school,” Fogarty said. “They are all responding really well to the new Gators’ style of using U.S.A Swim teaching to really advance these kids with technique-based instruction.”
Ripon, one of the largest programs in the area, took the advantage in team scores on Saturday, but Gator swimmers saw sharp times across the list of events.
Chris Terwilliger (17-18) won the 100 individual medley, 100 back and 100 free. Brandon Terwilliger (15-16) also took top honors in the 100 IM, 100 back and 100 free while Eric Terwilliger (15-16) took the 100 breast.
Victoria Blanc (six and under) was first in the 50 free, 25 back and 25 free while Hayley Rivera (9-10) ended first in the 50 fly. Michael Winders (11-12) also won the 100 I.M., 50 fly and 50 breast.
Dustin VandenBosch (9-10) claimed the best time in the 50 breast while Jacob Debow (9-10) won the 50 back. Tommy Torres (11-12) touched first in the 50 back while Joseph Guerrero (13-14) won the 100 I.M.
Eight other teams will converge on Oakdale this coming Saturday for action in the Oakdale Invitational starting at 8 a.m.
“We are hoping for it to be a little drier,” Fogarty said of the ‘game day’ conditions. “We had some improved times in the rain on Saturday, so I am expecting even better times and races in our invitational.”
With showers battering the Oakdale Aquatic Center on Saturday, June 4 the Gators saw all but one of their swimmers get action in a packed dual meet with the Ripon Sea Lions.
Parents huddled under umbrellas and portable shelters while shivering athletes braved the rain to compete in a series of events for the first time ever in the new Oakdale pool.
“To have 99 percent of our swimmers compete despite the pouring rain was pretty encouraging,” Oakdale coach Brian Fogarty said. “It shows the dedication these parents and swimmers have. They are very involved.”
The meet was Oakdale’s third week of action since a May 21 appearance in the Tracy Invitational to kick off the season. The team traveled to Turlock for a tri-meet on May 28, and had the opportunity to see their historic first contest in the new aquatic center on Saturday and rain certainly wasn’t going to prevent it.
Fogarty said access to the state-of-the-art complex has increased some buzz surrounding Oakdale’s youth swim programs, and may be one of the reasons the Gators have substantially improved upon last year’s participation numbers.
“There has definitely been some extra interest with the new pool, and everybody is excited about swimming the Gator season at the high school,” Fogarty said. “They are all responding really well to the new Gators’ style of using U.S.A Swim teaching to really advance these kids with technique-based instruction.”
Ripon, one of the largest programs in the area, took the advantage in team scores on Saturday, but Gator swimmers saw sharp times across the list of events.
Chris Terwilliger (17-18) won the 100 individual medley, 100 back and 100 free. Brandon Terwilliger (15-16) also took top honors in the 100 IM, 100 back and 100 free while Eric Terwilliger (15-16) took the 100 breast.
Victoria Blanc (six and under) was first in the 50 free, 25 back and 25 free while Hayley Rivera (9-10) ended first in the 50 fly. Michael Winders (11-12) also won the 100 I.M., 50 fly and 50 breast.
Dustin VandenBosch (9-10) claimed the best time in the 50 breast while Jacob Debow (9-10) won the 50 back. Tommy Torres (11-12) touched first in the 50 back while Joseph Guerrero (13-14) won the 100 I.M.
Eight other teams will converge on Oakdale this coming Saturday for action in the Oakdale Invitational starting at 8 a.m.
“We are hoping for it to be a little drier,” Fogarty said of the ‘game day’ conditions. “We had some improved times in the rain on Saturday, so I am expecting even better times and races in our invitational.”
