Charger Aquatics News:
Top row from left, Sara Shiina, Sarah Lott, Kaan Unal, Radhika Iyer.
Bottom row from left, Presley Gao, Katherine Elton, Takuma Shiina, Injie Mourad and not in picture Maria Venneri. Courtesy Photo
The 14 & Under under New Mexico State Short Course Swim Meet was held Feb. 24-26 at West Mesa Aquatic Center in Albuquerque.
Eighteen teams from across New Mexico participated in the 3-day event and 112 different events were raced.
Nine swimmers from the Charger Aquatics – Los Alamos (CAQ-LA) team helped cinch the win that brought the 14 & Under state banner back to Los Alamos. CAQ-LA is a branch of Albuquerque Academy’s Charger Aquatics.
From Kaan Unal, Sarah Lott, Sam Harris, Maria Venneri, Sara Shiina and Radhika Iyer. Courtesy Photo
The branch team was started in September 2010 with one senior swimmer. In April 2011 it started an age group program and has grown to 20, ages 6 and over.
Kaan Unal (12) led the pack placing in the top 8 in seven individual events as well as four relays. Maria Venneri (14) was top 10 in six individual events as well as 5 relays. Sarah Lott (14) and Sara Shiina (12) both placed in the top 10 in five of the seven individual events they swam as well as the 5 relays Lott and 4 relays Shiina participated.
Radhika Iyer (12) and Presley Gao (9) also added to the team point totals with their individual and relay swims. New state meet qualifiers Katherine Elton(9), Injie Mourad (9) and Takuma Shiina (9) had fun with great swims and cheering on their teammates.
(L-R – Kaan Unal, Sarah Lott, Sam Harris, Maria Venneri, Sara Shiina, Radhika Iyer)
Charger Aquatics repeated their first-place success this past weekend, March 3– 5, at the New Mexico Swimming Senior State Meet also at West Mesa Aquatic Center in Albuquerque.
Two CAQ-LA swimmers participated in this meet. Maria Venneri was again in the top 5 in all of her individual events bringing in 44 points to the team and helping her relay teams score 94 points.
Sam Harris (15) also had an impressive showing this past weekend scoring 37 individual points and helping his relay teams bring in an additional 38 points for the club.
14 & Under Combined Team Scores:
- Charger Aquatics 1192
- Vipers of Albuquerque Swim Team 1049
- Lobo Aquatic Club 960
- Swim Rio Rancho 368.5
- Duke City Aquatics 338.5
- ABQ Dolphins Swim Team 185
- Las Cruces Aquatic Team 134
- Clovis Swim Club 123
- Wild West Aquatic Club 94
- Santa Fe Aquatic Club 68
- Los Alamos Aquatomics 59
- Sudden Thunder Aquatic Racers 50
- Taos Swim Club 48
- Northern Aquatic Club 28
- Albuquerque Triton Aquatic Club 24
- San Juan Swim Club 16
- Pajarito Aquatic Club 11
- Tidal Wave Swim Team 6
Senior State Combined Team Scores:
- Charger Aquatics 1337.5
- Swim Rio Rancho 1160
- Vipers of Albuquerque Swim Tea 1130
- Las Cruces Aquatic Team 831
- Clovis Swim Club 555
- Duke City Aquatics 473
- Wild West Aquatic Club 370.5
- Sudden Thunder Aquatic Racers 345
- Pajarito Aquatic Club 38
- Four Corners Aquatic Team 36
- Tidal Wave Swim Team 18
