Youth roundup: Aquadarts assert their pool dominance

At a swim meet last weekend in Solano County, the Davis Aquadarts’ purpose was made clear by the name of the event: The Last Chance Qualifier.

The locals were up to the task, many swimming fast enough to earn spots in the regional Junior Olympics meet next month. After last weekend’s success, a total of 62 Aquadarts — the largest number ever — will compete in the 3012 Short Course 14U Junior Olympics.

Highlights of the Last Chance meet included Davis’ Mikaela Van De Heetkamp, 8, touching the wall in 18.91 seconds in the 25-yard butterfly, and Bryce Gregg qualifying in the 1,000 free with a time of 22:47.78, despite never having raced that event before.

Other locals to earn spots at the meet were Celia Cariou Gomez, Emily Prussel, Amelia Allison, Selby Anderson, Carmine Fisk, Olivia Harris, Grace Hickerson, Lilah Kalish, Quinn Brown, Anthony Cannata, Theo Cariou Gomez, Avery Asera, Scout Brown, Sophia Castiglioni, Zoe Cosgrove, Sophia Gatmon-Sandrock, Laurel Krovetz, Samantha Needham, Tyler Babcock, Steven Csaposs, Sean Kos, Keit Nguyen, Lauren Babcock and Isabella Ruffalo-Burgat.

The older Aquadart swimmers spent the same weekend traveling down to Pacifica for an indoor invitational. Twenty-eight Aquadarts, including Coach Oliver Spees, participated in the trials-finals meet and Davis took second overall.

This meet was also a last-chance qualifier for local swimmers to achieve their NSCA Junior National cuts. Jonathan Pun’s 59.40 in the 100 breaststroke was good enough to earn a spot.

Other Aquadarts swam well in preparation for the Junior Nationals next month in Orlando, Fla.

Dragons baseball

The Dragons — a 13U baseball team with players from Davis Dixon and Esparto — are on a roll, having made it all the way to the championship game in a Woodland tournament before capturing a title last weekend in Sunnyvale.

At the recent USSSA Super NIT, the Dragons did not lose in five games, averaging just 2.4 runs allowed in the early rounds, before beating the Delta Dawgs, 6-3, in the championship contest.

The locals saw John Treat of Esparto named tournament MVP, and three other players — including Ryan Bell of Davis — selected  to the all-tournament team.

The Dragons, who are coached by former UCD baseball standout Rikki Foster, end their season this weekend in Woodland at the Weekend Warriors tournament.

Batting cages to open

The city-operated batting cages at Playfields Park will reopen for the season on Saturday, weather permitting. The cages will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Starting Monday, March 5, hours will expand to include 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The cages also are available for private rental.

For more information, contact Lori Conrad at (530) 753-7731 or lconrad@cityofdavis.org or visit www.cityofdavis.org.

AquaStarz

Interested in synchronized swimming? A preseason meeting for those who would like to join Davis’ competitive synchronized swimming team is set for 4 p.m. Sunday at the AYSO Building near Community Pool.

Parents of current and potential new members of the Davis AquaStarz synchronized swimming team are invited to the meeting to learn about the swim schedule, league competition and the annual synchronized swimming show.

If your swimmer can swim the length of a city pool using basic strokes she or he could qualify for the team. Swimmers ages 6 to 18 may qualify, based on coaches’ recommendations.

For more information about the Davis AquaStarz, visit www.aquastarz.org or email info@aquastarz.org.

Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=140407

Posted by Enterprise staff on Feb 22 2012.
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