Three members of the Zeus Swim Team qualified for the U.S. National Sectionals Championships at the recent Connecticut Long Course championships at Wesleyan University. Jillian Carter qualified in the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly; Stephanie Czulewicz qualified for the 200 backstroke; andRachel Smolensky earned the national meet in the the 100 backstroke.
Oscar Castillo (18), Natalie LeBlanc (17) and Tyler Pramer (18) previously qualified for the national meet, but will not attend.
Thirteen Zeus age group swimmers qualified with long course time standards to be named an Eastern Region Zone All Star.Qualifying for the Eastern Zone All Stars were Joshue Balderrama (10), Jillian Carter, Lauren Czulewicz (14), Stephanie Czulewicz, Paige Delago (13), Edward Donovan (12), Olivia Fassett (10),Olivia Haskell (12), Gabrielle LeBlanc (14), Andres Ramos (14), Rachel Smolensky, Katie Wargo (12) and Nick Wargo (14). Katie Wargo is the only Zeus swimmer who will be attending the next level of competition at the Eastern Zone Long Course Age Group Championships in Rockville, Md. on Aug. 11-14. She will represent Zeus in the 100 freestyle and the 200 individual medley.
Overall, the Zeus Swim Team combined to finish eighth among a field of 59 club teams at the Connecticut State Long Course Age Group Championships. The team's top 10 overall combined team finish was the highest placing Zeus had ever attained in team history."Zeus took 36 swimmers to Age Group Championships where just qualifying with a fast time is an honor," said Zeus Swim Team Head Coach Omar Cruz. "This year we were particularly strongat the younger age levels. The 11/12 men and women combined for an outstanding fourth place, our highest age segment finish at the meet. But I am particularly thrilled by the performance ofour 10 and under swimmers who placed sixth overall. These kids are typically fresh out of swim lessons -- either at the YMCA or at Park and Rec. It shows they've gotten a great start in their learn-to-swim training. It is such a blessing to see so many of them rise to the competitive challenge."The Zeus team is not unfamiliar with outstanding swimming at young levels. It had a pair of swimmers -- Kristin Butler (10) and Paige Delago (then 12) -- who qualified for zones during theshort course season where only the two highest times in each event warrants an invite.
For more information about the Zeus Swim Team contact 203-838-5836 or visit the team's website.www.zeusswimteam.org.
Photo:
Zeus Senior Sectionals and Age Group Zone Champions: (from left/front row) Stephanie Czulewicz, Meredith Pramer, Oscar Castillo, Natalie LeBlanc, and Olivia Fassett; (middle row) Nick Wargo, Gabby LeBlanc, Lauren Czulewicz, Tyler Pramer, Rachel Smolensky, Jillian Carter and Andres Ramos; (back row) Paige Delago, Katie Wrgo, Eddie Donovan and Kristin Butler.
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