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Newcomers kick off SSC season
Saipan Swim Club swimmers listen to race officials during a briefing for the “Minnie Me” meet last Saturday at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi. (Contributed Photo)
Twenty-five young SSC members, who just joined the club two to three months ago, participated in at least two of the 11 events in last weekend’s “Minnie Me” meet in front of an encouraging crowd. The club lined up 10m, 15m, 25m and 50m freestyle, 10m, 15m, 25m, and 50m backstroke, 15m and 15m kickboard, and 5m streamlines races for members of the club’s Guppies, Dolphins, and Sharks groups. Swimmers were categorized based on their age groups and skills.
For the Sharks group, there were five participants: Jan Matthew Millo, Christine Mago, Kaith Lynn and Mark Chavez, and Kisuk Lee. The Dolphins had Nicole Santos, Aubrey, Audrey, and Richard Castro, Nathan and Eunice Pagaduan, Julie Ann Chavez, Jan Marini Milo, and Tristan Raito, while Guppies had Traci Pillarina, Jack Raito, Nash Santos, Nolan Cultura, Jose Lopez, Hayden Sablan, Piper Raito, Alonzo Acosta, Dave and Diane Bautista, and Jonathan Sheu.
“The older SSC team members were mid-lane for encouragement and safety, as the younger ones swam their very first events. There was a lot of celebration and cheering as the swimmers finished their untimed events,” SSC president and assistant coach Emma Perez said in an email sent to Saipan Tribune last Saturday.
Meanwhile, the older SSC swimmers will have their season debut on Oct. 4 as Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation host its first timed (official) event at the Marpi pool. SSC swimmers have until Sept. 24 to register for the one-day competition, while the club is looking for timers for next month’s tournament and must confirm with the club on or before Sept. 26.
Entry fee for the competition is $5 per event (individual swim) and $7 for relay and are payable to NMISF. There are 12 individual events slated for the Oct. 4 competition. The list includes 50m, 100m, 200, 400m, and 800m freestyle, 50m and 100m butterfly, 50m and 100m breaststroke, 50m and 100m backstroke, and 200m individual medley. Relay events will be announced later.
