Summer Long Course Meet Recap

PCST 2009 Long Course Summer Meets Recap

Between all of the short course and long course meets this season, there have not been many weekends where there hasn’t been a meet.  I’m proud to say that this also means there have not been many weekends this summer in which the Tsunami haven’t swam absolutely great!  In the words of a great Alabama coach and friend of mine, the Tsunamis are "Ready to Explode"!  Well, the fuse was lit earlier this year and we’re ready to blow up!  Here’s a recap of all the great long course meet accomplishments so far this summer as we head into our greatest championship meet in PCST team history.

16 Tsunamis Live & Swim In the Lap of Luxory in Orlando!
Yes sir, you got it right.........the picture at the top of this news article is one from our first annual PCST Senior/Pre-Senior Trip, and boy oh boy was it a trip to remember!  I sure hope that next year all Senior and Pre-Seniors can make that trip because we were living it up and swimming fast all the while.  After caravaning down to Orlando (with some great music thanks to Coach Jonathan), we arrived at Shingle Creek where we stayed in the grand suites all weekend.  Although it’s not officially called a "resort"............it’s a resort!!  Wow what a place!!

We had a fun warm-up on Friday morning in the hotel pools, including a "Scuba Steve" warm-up in the jacuzzi, "Fish Out of Water" warm-up in the main pool, and "Underwater Dolphin Relays" in the lap pool.  We had incredible rooms to stay in, great food all weekend, VIP treatment in the VIP lounge (free desserts and drinks everynight), and views from the balcony that were to die for.

Oh yeah.......and we swam while we were there, haha!  The Tsunami Seniors competed in 2 days at the Trinity Prep Invitational against over 640 swimmers from all over Florida.  It was neat to get to swim against new faces in a new place, and our swimmers stepped it up.  Most swimmers would have not cared about racing on a vacation weekend, but not our Tsunamis.  We had  7 swimmers finish in the top 10 in individual events as well as 4 relays.  After a weekend of great racing, our Tsunamis finished off the trip with an unforgettable day of rides, roller coasters and soaking wet faces at Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure!  Wow, what a day!

Here are some great results from the Trinity Prep Invitational:

Swimmers/Relays in the Top 10 at the meet
Jamie McDonald 400 IM (9th)
Kyle Olstad 50 Breast (2nd), 200 Breast (6th)
Allison Troia 50 Breast (8th)
Jonathan Ratliff 400 Free (3rd)
JD Clutch 400 Free (7th), 100 Free (10th), 200 Breast (7th), 100 Fly (8th), 200 Back (4th)
Michael Commins 400 Free (8th), 100 Free (5th), 200 Breast (8th)
Chet Seaman 200 Breast (8th)
Senior Girls 200 Medley Relay (3rd)
Senior Girls 200 Free Relay (6th)
Senior Boys 200 Medley Relay (10th)
Senior Boys 200 Free Relay (10th)

New Tsunami Awards from Trinity Prep Meet
"BB" Kristen Ratliff
"AA" Chet Seaman

New All-Time Age Group Top 10 Rankings
11-12 Boys: Jonathan Ratliff 400 Free (2nd), 50 Breast (3rd)
13-14 Girls: Jamie McDonald 100 Fly (4th), 400 IM (4th), Kristen Ratliff 100 Fly (5th)
13-14 Boys: JD Clutch 400 Free (10th), 200 Back (5th)
15-16 Girls: Kyle Olstad 100 Free (10th), 400 Free (5th), 200 Back (7th), 200 Breast (2nd), Nicole Gazia 400 Free (3rd), 200 Back (6th), 100 Fly (10th), Victoria Hove 400 Free (8th)
15-16 Boys: Chet Seaman 200 Back (10th), 200 Breast (5th), 100 Fly (10th), Phoenix Rine 200 Breast (9th)
Senior Girls: Brielle Seaman 400 Free (7th), 200 Back (4th), 200 Breast (3rd), 100 Fly (8th)

New All-Time Overall Top 10 Rankings
Nicole Gazia 400 Free 5th (4:59.11), 50 Back 8th (37.66), 50 Fly 3rd (34.17)
Kyle Olstad 400 Free 8th (5:02.70), 50 Breast 1st (36.91)
Victoria Hove 50 Back 3rd (35.96), 50 Fly 5th (34.71)
Allison Troia 50 Back 10th (38.39), 50 Bresat 2nd (39.14), 50 Fly 4th (34.31)
Brielle Seaman 50 Breast 9th (43.17)
Kristen Ratliff 50 Fly 6th (34.72)
Jamie McDonald 50 Fly 10th (35.30), 100 Fly 10th (1:16.28)
JD Clutch 50 Back 9th (35.13)
Chet Seaman 50 Breast 5th (36.00), 200 Breast 6th (2:46.42), 50 Fly 9th (32.05)
Phoenix Rine 50 Breast 8th (38.34)
Michael Commins 50 Fly 10th (32.81)

New Southeastern Qualifiers at Trinity Prep Meet!
Phoenix Rine (15-16 Boys) 200 Breast

PCST Alter Ego Team Competes Simultaneously at GPAC during Trinity Meet
No, they were not the "Bizarro Tsunamis".............(any Seinfeld fans?).............but they did compete the same weekend as the Trinity Prep meet.  We had a small crew of 9 swimmers at the GPAC meet that weekend but they sure did swim great!  Here are some results from what turned out to be a terrific overall weekend to kick of our summer long course schedule.

Team Record Broken at GPAC
Chad McGuire 10 & Under Boys 100 Breast (1:42.68)
previously Chad McGuire (1:43.59) 2009

New Tsunamis Awards at GPAC
"BB" Cameron Fitzgerald, Sami Rifai
"A" Alex Phlegar, Josh Perdomo

New All-Time Top 10 Age Group Rankings from GPAC
10 & Under Girls: Sarah Rifai 100 Free (9th), 50 Back (9th), 100 Breast (5th), 50 Fly (9th)
10 & Under Boys: Alex Phlegar 50 Free (6th), 100 Free (8th), 50 Back (3rd), 100 Back (3rd), 50 Breast (9th), 100 Breast (6th), Sami Rifai 50 Back (5th), 50 Fly (9th), Chad McGuire 50 Back (6th), 100 Breast (1st), 200 IM (4th)
11-12 Boys: Cameron Fitzgerald 100 Fly (10th)
13-14 Boys: Josh Perdomo 100 Back (8th), 200 Back (7th)
Senior Boys: Michael Perdomo 100 Back (7th), 200 Back (4th), 200 Breast (6th), 200 IM (7th)

New All-Time Top 10 Overall Rankings from GPAC
Michael Perdomo: 50 Back 3rd (32.62), 200 Back 7th (2:30.62), 50 Breast 6th (37.53)
Josh Perdomo: 50 Back 10th (35.90)

New Southeastern Qualifiers from GPAC
Sami Rifai (10 & Under Boys) 50 Back, 50 Free
Josh Perdomo (13-14 Boys) 100 Back, 200 Back

PCST Has One of the Best In-Season Meets in Team History at ATAC Meet!
We took a great crew of over 40 swimmers to Tallahassee for the ATAC meet this summer and came home with boatloads of great swims to put in our books!  In seasons past, the three day prelims/finals meet has proven difficult for our swimmers to maintain high levels of racing all weekend long.  I’m proud to announce that our Tsunamis are in better shape than ever and swam incredibly great all weekend long.........all 9 sessions!  There was some great competition at the meet where we finished 5th place overall out of over 20 great teams with nearly 500 total swimmers!  Here are some great swims from the meet.

18 Individual Team Records Broken at ATAC!
Cody Bronnenberg 15-16 Boys 400 Free (4:31.36)
previously Paul Erben (4:35) 2001
Cody Bronnenberg 15-16 Boys 800 Free (9:16.80)
previously Paul Erben (9:35.42) 2001
Cody Bronnenberg 15-16 Boys 1500 Free (17:26.70)
previously Paul Erben (18:40.32) 2001
Astrid Escobar Senior Girls 100 Breast (1:19.23)
previously Sara Evans (1:25.58) 2008
Astrid Escobar Senior Girls 200 Breast (2:47.78)
previously Marisa Sweetser (2:57.47) 2001
Evan Escobar 13-14 Boys 50 Free (26.61)
previously Kevin Faulhaber (26.73) 2006
Evan Escobar 13-14 Boys 400 Free (4:26.76)
previously Kevin Faulhaber (4:42.14) 2006
Evan Escobar 13-14 Boys 800 Free (9:24.46)
previously Troy vonBlankenburg (10:04.17) 2008
Evan Escobar 13-14 Boys 1500 Free (17:38.06)
previously Cody Bronnenberg (19:14.47) 2007
Evan Escobar 13-14 Boys 200 Breast (2:51.87)
previously Christian Sweetser (2:53.05) 1994
Sara Evans Senior Girls 200 Fly (2:37.79)
previously Elvira Chiccarelli (2:37.83) 2008
Sara Evans Senior Girls 200 IM (2:35.43)
previously Sara Evans (2:39.21) 2008
Sara Evans Senior Girls 400 IM (5:22.71)
previously Andrea Erben (5:34.30) 2001
Victoria Hove 15-16 Girls 100 Back (1:12.76)
previously Carlee McDonald (1:14.72) 2008
Victoria Hove 15-16 Girls 200 IM (2:34.21)
previously Genny Bean (2:38.91) 1987
Mary McDermott 15-16 Girls 400 Free (4:48.39)
previously Andrea Erben (4:50.23) 2001
Mary McDermott 15-16 Girls 1500 Free (18:57.09)
previously Mary McDermott (19:20.84) 2008
Jamie McDonald 13-14 Girls 200 Free (2:21.89)
previously Laura Kearns (2:22.95) 2008
Kari Troia 10 & Under Girls 50 Breast (43.79)
previously Kaci Hassler (45.18) 2000

New PCST Team Relay Records from ATAC
10 & Under Girls 200 Free Relay (2:41.72) Amelia Talkington, Kari Troia, Michaela Ashley, Emily Silver previously (2:43.73) Kari Troia, Michaela Ashley, Sarah Rifai, Brooke Sterrett 2009
13-14 Boys 400 Free Relay (4:20.61) Michael Commins, JD Clutch, Michael Whitehead, Dylan Mock
previously ("No Record")
13-14 Boys 400 Medley Relay (4:55.81) Michael Whitehead, Dylan Mock, JD Clutch, Michael Commins
previously ("No Record")
Senior Girls 400 Free Relay (4:20.69) Sara Evans, Mary McDermott, Nicole Gazia, Victoria Hove
previously (4:22.78) Sierra Seaman, Katie Branham, Brielle Seaman, Lauren Delaney 2007
Senior Girls 400 Medley Relay (4:58.32) Victoria Hove, Kyle Olstad, Sara Evans, Nicole Gazia
previously (5:00.82) Brielle Seaman, Katie Branham, Sierra Seaman, Lauren Delaney 2007

New Tsunami Awards from ATAC
"B" Tristan Gandy
"BB" Fallon Gelsleichter
"A" Allison Troia
"AA" Kyle Olstad, Victoria Hove, Sara Evans, Michael Whitehead, Sammy Reyes, Michael Perdomo
"AAA" Kari Troia, Astrid Escobar, Evan Escobar
"Sectionals" Astrid Escobar (100 Breast, 200 Breast)

New All-Time Top 10 Girl’s Overall Rankings from ATAC
100 Free Mary McDermott 4th (1:03.94), Nicole Gazia 5th (1:04.01), Kyle Olstad 6th (1:04.91), Sara Evans 8th (1:05.21)
200 Free Nicole Gazia 5th (2:21.07), Jamie McDonald 7th (2:21.89), Kyle Olstad 8th (2:22.47)
400 Free Mary McDermott 2nd (4:48.39), Victoria Hove 4th (4:53.88), Sara Evans 5th (4:54.30), Allison Troia 9th (5:01.30)
800 Free Sara Evans 4th (10:23.90), Kyle Olstad 7th (10:47.01), Brielle Seaman 9th (10:52.03)
1500 Free Mary McDermott 2nd (18:57.09), Sara Evans 4th (19:28.70), Kyle Olstad 6th (20:26.47), Brielle Seaman 7th (20:31.95)
100 Back Victoria Hove 1st (1:12.76), Mary McDermott 9th (1:16.86)
200 Back Mary McDermort 4th (2:41.74), Nicole Gazia 9th (2:49.35)
100 Breast Astrid Escobar 1st (1:19.23), Sara Evans 4th (1:22.49)
200 Breast Asrid Escobar 1st (2:47.78), Victoria Hove 3rd (2:57.99), Allison Troia 5th (3:02.22), Nicole Gazia 6th (3:02.52)
100 Fly Sara Evans 2nd (1:10.27), Victoria Hove 6th (1:13.37), Jamie McDonald 9th (1:14.69)
200 Fly Sara Evans 1st (2:37.79), Allison Troia 8th (2:55.83)
200 IM Victoria Hove 1st (2:34.21), Sara Evans 2nd (2:35.43), Astrid Escobar 8th (2:42.18)
400 IM Sara Evans 1st (5:22.71), Victoria Hove 3rd (5:33.86), Allison Troia 10th (5:51.03)

New All-Time Top 10 Boy’s Overall Rankings from ATAC
50 Free Evan Escobar 9th (26.61)
100 Free Michael Perdomo 9th (58.96)
200 Free Michael Perdomo 4th (2:08.14)
400 Free Evan Escobar 2nd (4:26.76), Cody Bronnenberg 3rd (4:31.36)
800 Free Cody Bronnenberg 1st (9:16.80), Evan Escobar 2nd (9:24.46)
1500 Free Cody Bronnenberg 1st (17:26.70), Evan Escobar 2nd (17:38.06)
200 Back JD Clutch 10th (2:31.80)
100 Breast Cody Bronnenberg 5th (1:12.78), Chet Seaman 9th (1:17.34)
200 Breast Chet Seaman 5th (2:44.71), Sammy Reyes 9th (2:50.77), Evan Escobar 10th (2:51.87)
200 Fly Sammy Reyes 8th (2:41.39)

Last Chance GPAC Meet Brings Ever-Lasting Swims!
While we only had a crew of 14 swimmers at the GPAC Last Chance meet in early July, we still had plenty of swims to brag about.  There were trememdous drops from swimmers in most age groups (especially our 11-12 year olds), but the meet was highlighted by a young swimmer named Jonathan Ratliff.  In his first meet as a 13-14 year old, only a few weeks after turning 13, Jonathan went from having 2 Southeastern qualifying times to 8 cuts in just two days!  His first ever 200 Fly and 400 IM swims were of veteran quality and were a great sight to see!

Jonathan was not alone in his quest for best times as we had loads of great swims from the rest of the Tsunami Squad in Pensacola.  In fact, 4 other swimmers finished in the Top 8 in individual swims that weekend!  Here are some more great swims from the GPAC Last Chance Meet.

Top 8 Individual Swims
Devin McGrew (13-14 Girls) 400 Free (8th)
Jonathan Ratliff (13-14 Boys) 100 Back (5th), 200 Fly (1st), 50 Free (6th), 200 IM (4th), 200 Free (3rd), 100 Free (3rd), 200 Back (4th), 400 IM (2nd)
Shane Young (15-16 Boys) 200 Fly (3rd), 100 Breast (7th), 50 Free (8th), 200 IM (7th), 200 Free (7th), 100 Fly (6th), 100 Free (7th), 200 Back (8th)
Cameron Fitzgerald (11-12 Boys) 100 Breast (7th)
Kristen Ratliff (15-16 Girls) 100 Fly (4th), 100 Free (5th), 200 Back (4th)
Hannah Retherford (11-12 Girls) 100 Fly (2nd), 50 Back (4th), 100 Free (5th)

New All-Time Top 10 Age Group Rankings from GPAC
Jonathan Ratliff (13-14 Boys) 200 Free (9th), 100 Back (9th), 200 Back (8th), 100 Fly (5th), 200 Fly (2nd), 200 IM (8th), 400 IM (5th)
Shane Young (15-16 Boys) 100 Fly (10th)

New All-Time Top 10 Overall Rankings from GPAC
Jonathan Ratliff 200 Fly 5th (2:34.39)

New Tsunami Awards from GPAC
"BB" Devin McGrew
"A" Shane Young

Tsunamis Get Ready to Bring Largest Team Ever to Southeasterns!
After breaking a team record by qualifying 34 swimmers for the long course Southeastern Championships in Nashville this summer, I’m proud to announce that will will have 31 of those swimmers competing in the meet!  Our previous team record was 19 swimmers from last year and we have demolished that total!  We have certainly put ourselves in a tremendous position to have a shot at finishing inside the Top 20 at the SES Champs (something never before accomplished by PCST), and might have a shot at our ultimate season goal of Top 15!!  Stay tuned because Southeasterns is less than 7 days away!

CATCH THE WAVE!

Coach Jonathan