POQSWIM:Napa Valley Swim Team 3rd at zone meet

With the flu bug running through the Napa Valley Swim Team, only 28 members competed in Pacific Swimming’s Zone 3 Winter Championship Swim Meet Jan. 17 and 18 at Santa Rosa Junior College.

But the smaller contingent rose to the occasion by placing third out of 36 teams from more than nine Northern California counties.

The boys medley relay team of Will Flanders, Iona Pascual, Eric Tapia and Barrett McMichael highlighted the meet for NVST by taking down its 25-year-old record in the 11-12 age division, and placing second in the event.

The team of Megan Minor, Mia Facey, Kelsea Wright and Gracie Murphy, meanwhile, won both the 200-yard freestyle relay and 200 medley relay in the girls 15 & over division.

Swimming 100-percent best times were Jack Larsen, who was third in the 50 backstroke, fourth in the 25 butterfly, fifth in the 25 free, and sixth in the 50 free; Rachel Galvin, who was sixth in the 50 fly; and Rachel Arndt, who swam six events in her first zone championship and placed seventh in the 100 fly.

In the boys 8 & Under division, Lucas Padowan won the 50 fly, was second in the 25 fly, and was fourth in the 25 free, 25 back and 50 back.

The boys 9-10 division saw Matthew Larsen place second in the 50 and 100 breaststrokes and eighth in the 100 back.

In the girls 11-12 division, Grace O’Dwyer earned three lifetime-best times — in the 50 free, 100 back and 100 fly, where she placed seventh. Sophia Samson competed in the 100 free, 50 fly and 200 individual medley.

For the 11-12 boys, Eric Tapia competed in his last meet in this division and placed in the top eight in five events — including a third in the 50 fly, a fourth in the 100 fly, sevenths in the 200 free and 200 IM, and an eighth in the 100 free.

Barrett McMichael cracked the top eight in four events, including a fourth in the 50 back, a sixth in the 50 free, a seventh in the 100 fly, and an eighth in the 50 fly. Will Flanders finished eighth in the 100 back, and Keoni Cisco swam to a new BB time in the 200 free.

In the girls 13-14 division, Emily Dusky swam to victories in the 50 free, 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke, 200 IM and 400 IM, and placed second in the 100 free.

For the 13-14 boys, Iona Pascual swam to first-place finishes in the 100 free, 200 free, 100 fly, and 50 and 100 breaststrokes. Nicholas Cisco earned top-eight finishes in four events — fourths in the 500 free and 100 fly, and fifths in the 200 free and 400 IM. Gabe Wright earned best times in the 50 free and 50 fly, placing second in the 50 fly, fourth in the 400 free and sixth in the 200 IM.

In the girls 15 & Over division, Mia Facey captured the 50 free, 50 fly, 100 fly and 100 free, and was second in the 50 back and 50 breaststroke. Megan Minor was third in the 50 free, fifth in the 50 back, fifth in the 100 back, and eighth in the 200 back. Gracie Murphy won the 50 and 100 breaststrokes and was fourth in the 50 free, and eighth in both the 100 back and 200 IM. Kelsea Wright claimed the 200 and 500 freestyles and was third in the 100 free, fifth in the 50 free, and sixth in both the 50 back and 100 fly.

For the 15 & Over boys, Quinn McMichael was third in the 50 fly, fourth in the 100 back and 400 IM, fifth in the 200 IM, and sixth in the 100 fly. David Wiley was fourth in the 50 free, fifth in the 100 fly and sixth in the 100 back and 50 fly. Louis Ayers was fifth in the 50 fly.

Napa Valley Swim Team is a year-round program offering competitive swimming with high-quality professional coaching and instruction for all ages and abilities. It also offers a non-competitive training program, summer swim classes and pre-competitive swimming instruction.