Tsunami Saipan rules SSC Invitational

Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan topped the 2009 Saipan Swim Club International Invitational Meet held over the weekend at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi.

Tsunami Saipan collected 962 points from 150 events calendared in the two-day meet. Points were awarded based on how swimmers finished in their respective events.

Coming in at second place was host and last year’s overall champion SSC, which earned 747 points. Tarakito Swim Club of Guam placed third with 293 points, followed by Manukai Swim Club of Guam (225), Guam Typhoon (154), and the SSC Masters (45).

Tsunami Saipan claimed this year’s championship, as five of its swimmers won individual high point awards.

In the male open division, Rezne Wong led Tsunami Saipan’s Top 3 finish, as the 18-year-old swimmer earned 70 points after competing in the 400m and 200m individual medley races, 100m backstroke, 100m butterfly, 50m freestyle, and the 400m freestyle relay.

Wong defeated teammates Kai Staal (62 points) and Cooper Graf (49 points). Staal is eligible to compete in the 13-14 age group, but decided to join the open division.

Grace Kimball, who is only 13 years old, also participated in the female open division and won the event after gaining 70 points. She prevailed over Tsunami Saipan’s Marystar Welch (60 points) and teammate Keanna Villagomez (37 points).

In the boys’ 8-and-under division, Tsunami Saipan’s Hiroto Yanai gathered 64 points for a two-point win over teammate Ryosei Toda. SSC’s Kento Akimuru placed third with 44 points.

Brooke Lamoureux of Guam Typhoon triumphed in the girls’ 8-and-under with her 72 points, beating SSC’s Emma Martinsen (44) and Sarah Klassen (35).

Angel Tan, also of Tsunami Saipan, prevailed in the girls’ 9-10 age group after collecting 70 points. She won over Danielle Atoigue (55) of Manukai and Tsunami Saipan teammate Angel De Jesus (53).

Kaito Yanai was the fourth Tsunami Saipan swimmer to rule his age group, collecting 66 points in the boys’ 9-10. Kaito defeated last year’s champion Maxi Braig (64) and Tarakito’s Justin Fell and Diego Shimizu, who tied for third with 44 points.

Kaisei Toda, also of Tsunami Saipan, earned 70 points to finish on top of the boys’ 11-12 age group and downed SSC’s Andrew Kimball (54) and Matthew Klassen (50).

In the girls’ 11-12 age group, Tarakito’s Pilar Shimizu scored 72 points to outclass Manukai’s Taloani Atoigue (51) and SSC’s Abigail Martinsen (46).

Emma Rione won the girls’ 13-14 age group with her 72 points, while Tsunami Saipan’s Thea Minor (56) and Alexis Babinec (35) finished second and third, respectively.

Tarakito’s Benjie Schulte dominated the boys’ 13-14 age group after tallying 72 points. SSC’s Lester Lapuz placed second with his 60 points, while Manukai’s Chirag Bhojwani was third with 44 points.

The Top 3 placers in each age group received plaques, while the Top 3 teams took home miniature trophies.