Following several months of hard training, including dry land training such as running, Ultimate Frisbee games, and calisthenics, the Sweet Home Swim Club is ready to start its summer championship meets. The youngest members will compete in the Oregon 10 and Under State Championships on July 11-12 in Albany.
Qualifying times for the meet are known as “A times,” and these youngsters have worked very hard since spring to achieve these time standards. The state meet takes place twice a year, in February and in July. Age 10 and under qualifiers this year are: Makayla Nelson, 10, in the 200 freestyle, 50 backstroke, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke, and 100 freestyle; Lauren Yon, 9, in the 100 backstroke; Lucie Davis, 10, in the 200 free, 200 IM, 100 back, 100 breaststroke, and 100 free; and Mia Davis, 9, in the 200 free, 50 free, and 100 free.
The four girls are also in two relays: the 200 medley and the 200 freestyle.
The 11 and Over State Championships this summer are on July 30-Aug. 2 at Mt. Hood Community College. Qualifiers for this meet must also achieve “A” time standards. Qualifiers are Gabriel Gunselman, 16, in the 200 butterfly; Naomi Gunselman, 14, in the 200 IM, 100 back, 100 fly, 200 back, 400 IM, and 200 fly; Zachary Pearce, 15, in the 800 free, 100 fly, and 400 free; and Michael Simmonds, 17, in the 200 IM, 800 free, 400 free, and 1500 free.
The Western Region Senior Sectionals meet will be July 21-25 at Mt. Hood Community College. To qualify for this meet, swimmers must achieve time standards faster than the state qualifying times. Sweet Home Swim Club’s sectional swimmers this summer are Kieran Schaefer, 17, in the 100 free, and the 200 free; and Jayce Calhoon, 17, in the 200 back, 400 IM, 100 back, and the 200 IM.
The US Swimming Junior National Western Championships, or Junior Nationals, are Aug. 10-14 in Federal Way, Wash.
These time standards are faster than sectionals. Calhoon so far is the only qualifier for Sweet Home, and he will swim the 100 backstroke, and 200 backstroke.
The team’s summer finale will be the Bend swim meet Aug. 7-9. This meet is a low-key celebration of a summer’s hard work, and everyone has a lot of fun. The team will take a four-week break after this meet and resume practices Sept. 8.
Anyone interested in joining Sweet Home Swim Club this coming fall can come and visit a practice between 5 and 7 p.m. and arrange a tryout. Additionally, the team will host tryouts at a later time to be announced.
The Sweet Home Swim Team is coached by head coach Junia Calhoon and assistants Rene Gunselman and Joel Gunselman.