The Magnolia community was well represented at the 2005 Seattle All-City Swim Meet on Aug. 6 at Madison Pool, as members from the Penguins swim team of "Pop" Mounger Pool competed in both individual and team events.
The Magnolia Penguins, with swimmers ranging in age from 7 to 18, scored 585 league points for their efforts.
The city championships are held at the conclusion of the summer league season on July 30 at the Rainier Beach Pool, and participation is limited to those swimmers who have qualified for their events in district finals held in late July.
The meet began with relay events and it didn't take long for the Penguins, who are coached by the team of Heidi Reich, Chris Conroy and Natasha Palewicz, to strike gold.
The 8-and-under girls medley team scored a come from behind victory with Holland Roza swimming backstroke, Anabel Roza swimming breaststroke, Haileigh Knutsen swimming butterfly and Morgan Wilkes anchoring with freestyle.
Knutsen would later follow that gold-medal performance with two individual podium appearances, taking first place in both the 8-and-under 25-meter freestyle and 25-meter butterfly.
Outstanding medley relay efforts were also turned in by the 12-and-under girls and the 8-and-under boys teams, both of which brought home bronze medals.
In the freestyle relays, the girls 12-and-under, boys 10-and-under and boys 8-and-under teams all took third place finishes.
The Penguins delivered in the individual events as well. Along with Knutsen's three gold medals, Andy Johnston took first in the boys 8-and-under 25-meeter freestyle; Tia Monahan placed first in girls 10-and-under 50-meter freestyle; Katie Johnston place first in girls 12-and-under 50-meter freestyle; and Nikki Martin took first in girls 12-and-under 50-meter breaststroke.
Freestylers Katy Martin, Megan McCaslin and Allison Schroeder all scored 100 points or more. Sprint freestyle standouts included Alex Cavazzoni in boys 8-and-under; Bailey McCaslin in girls 10-and-under; Nick Ulacia and Jimmy Sheldrup in the Boys 10-and-under; Martin in girls 12-and-under; and Alex Yuly in Boys 14-and-under.
In the backstroke competition, Cavazzoni, Johnston, Megan McCaslin and Rose Cotter all scored in their respective age groups.
Breaststroke points were delivered by Matthew Hertog, Bailey McCaslin, Colin Vandervort, Emily Vandervort and Katy Martin in Girls. Boys 10-and-under breaststroke was a particularly strong event for the "Pop" Mounger swimmers, with Ulacia, Sheldrup and Kyle Garrity all finishing in the money.
Butterfliers Andy Johnston, Christopher Ilenstine, Alexa Rust, Schroeder, Cotter and Yuly all added to the team point total.
Showing all around versatility and proficiency in all the major strokes were Monahan (girls 10-and-under) and Rust (girls 12-and-under), who competed in 100-yard individual medleys.
One of the day's inspirational highlights was a special coaches relay which gave the kids a chance to show their very vocal support for their team leaders.
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