On the first weekend of January, Head Coach Duffy Dillon made a comment about how far his swimmers had come in a year, and that the team was way ahead of schedule when compared to last season’s 2007 New Year’s results.  He also said that if the January competition in Coral Springs was any indication, that the FLA National Team was going to have a superb Championship season.

Coach Dillon was right.  30 FLA swimmers traveled to Orlando to compete in the Southern Zone Sectional Championships.  Fort Lauderdale Aquatics placed in the top 5 for the first time in team history at Sectionals, only one half of a point out of 4th.  Lauren Driscoll and Chelsea Britt were individual event champions, with Britt winning both the 100 and 200 Butterfly, in new Olympic Trails Qualifying times for both events, and Driscoll winning the 200 Backstroke, also an Olympic Trails cut. 

The Team had never finished in the top 8, in the spring, at this meet, so moving directly up to the top 5 was significant.  “The swimmers needed to swim the meet of their lives, as a collective unit, in order to get top 8, let alone top 5,” said Coach Dillon after the meet.  “We knew we couldn’t just rely on one or two individuals in a meet like this.  Everyone from the rookies up to the veterans had to swim lights out, and that is exactly what they did.”

Speaking of the rookies, Diedre Milano, Payton White, Kaylee Petik, Ryan Rosenbaum, Martin Renwick, Molly Bresnahan, Kelley Yakymiw and Michael Marino made their first trip to sectionals with the team, having just made their cuts this season.  They did not, however, swim like rookies.  “When you get to the next level of competition like these kids just did, it can be very nerve wracking”, said Coach Ian Cross.  “There are so many new faces, everyone is faster than at the local level, and it can be intimidating when you are asked to get up and perform your best.  These kids swam like they had been here before.  Nothing scared them, and they didn’t back down to anyone.  All of the rookies went best times, and Rosenbaum even made a final.”

In total, 18 of the 30 athletes that participated in the meet went 100% best times.  Coach Eduardo had some words to say about the number of best times.  “For high school age kids, that number is unheard of.  Usually if you have a handful of swimmers at this age do it, then it is considered a great weekend.  But for 18 of our athletes to improve consistently over the weekend like they did, is simply amazing.  It also shows that we have much more to improve.” 

On the men’s side,  FLA Swimmers Dameon Nicholas, Hibai Iriondo, Leo Rodriguez, Roger Powell, Martin Renwick and Hunter Cwalinski combined to score top four in every single relay that they swam, scoring Silver in the 400 Medley Relay and Bronze in the 200 Free Relay.  Coach Lisa McLuckie was impressed.  “They are by far the youngest men’s team here, and they are competing against college teams from Gainesville and Tallahassee.  It isn’t easy, but they are definitely making a name for themselves.  You can really start to see the emergence of confidence in these guys.”

The Women’s team was not to be out done.  The combination of Lauren Cuervo, Meaghan Bresnahan, Lauren Driscoll, Chelsea Britt, Damaris Iriondo, Emily Ramirez, Kelly Schwantes,  Caylin Drews and Nathalie Bijlsma swam “A” and “B” relays and both scored in EVERY SINGLE RELAY.  “The depth on our girls team, in my opinion, is our greatest strength”, Said Coach Dillon.  “At any given time, any girl can step up and have a chance to score.  Any single one of them.”

Sectional Notes:  Nathalie Bijlsma, Meaghan Bresnahan, Molly Bresnahan, Chelsea Britt, Hunter Cwalinski, Caylin Drews, Eric Frey, Hibai Iriondo, Michael Marino, Dameon Nicholas, Chris Normann, Kaylee Petik, Roger Powell, Martin Renwick, Ryan Rosenbaum, Kelley Schwantes, Payton White and Tex Widmer all went 100% best times….The biggest time drops in the meet came from Roger Powell in the 1500 Free (32 Seconds) and Ryan Rosenbaum (26 seconds) in the 200 Breast…..Kristof Kertesz dropped time in 3 out of 4 races, including 3 seconds in the 200 IM….Marisa Folz showed great team spirit by making the trip, and swam well, even though she has been out of the water doing track and Field for Cardinal Gibbons High School…..Veronica Gruelach made her first ever  Sectional  Final in the 200 Butterfly…The 13-14 Girls relay of Damaris Iriondo, Chelsea Britt, Lauren Driscoll and Emily Ramirez broke all 5 Long Course Florida Gold Coast Records at Sectionals, giving them 9 out of 10 possible relay records in their age group.