Mountain Club simmers attend the 2025 New Mexico Long Course State Championships. Courtesy photo

By ANNA ZHANG
Mountain Club

The 2025 New Mexico Long Course State Championships were held July 10-13 at the West Mesa Aquatic Center in Albuquerque, hosted by Beast Aquatic Club. Mountain Club qualified 20 swimmers, 17 of whom competed in 98 individual events and 9 relays. They finished 4th overall with 389 team points among 18 teams.

Even though the championship meet was canceled after power and mechanical failures at the pool on Saturday afternoon (after Event 44) and all day Sunday. This timing system failure had cost Mountain Club the opportunity to challenge the New Mexico state long course record in the Mixed 10 and Under 200 IM Relay.

Despite this setback, the Mountain swimmers participated in three (10 and Under girls and boys, and 11-12 Boys) out of eight total (8 and Under, 11-12, 13-14, and 15 and Over girls and boys) divisions.

Historic Achievements for Mountain Club

• Preslee Robinson (10) and Alexander Yampolsky (9) are the first girl and boy to win the state titles in 50 Free.
• Zdenek Certik (12) and Benjamin Minko (12) are the first entries in the distance events. They finished second and fourth place in 1500 Free.
• Eleanora Minko (9) and Alexander Yampolsky (9) are the first 9-Year-Old girl and boy to qualify for the 10&Under zone times.

Recognition of Our Officials

Special thanks to the dedicated volunteer officials who demonstrated their proficient skills and professionalism throughout the championship. They are William Dai, Yaping Huang, Michelle Certik, and Jacob Robinson.

Team Standings

Here are the places, teams, points earned, numbers of swimmers in the State Championships each of the 18 teams:

 Outstanding Individual Performances

Justin Lei (12) in the Boys 11-12 age group, a son of Zhou Lei and Yaping Huang,

— 1st at 200 IM & 50 Back & 100 Breast, and 2nd @50 Fly.

— Took the FIRST place Individual High Point Award in the Boys 11-12 groups.

Preslee Robinson (10) in the Girls 10 and Under age group, a daughter of Jacob and Jessica Robinson,

— 1st at 200 IM, 50 Free, and 50 & 100 Fly.

— Took the FIRST place Individual High Point Award in the Girls 10 and Under groups.

Eleanora Minko (9) in the Girls 10 and Under age group, a daughter of Yury Minko and Tatyana Elkin,

— 2nd at 200 IM, 100 Breast, and 50 & 100 Fly.

— Took the THIRD place Individual High Point Award in the Girls 10 and Under groups.

Zdenek Certik (12) in the Boys 11-12 age group, a son of Ondrej and Michelle Certik,

— 2nd at 1500/400 Free and 400 IM, and 6th at100 Fly

Daniel Yampolsky (12) in the Boys 11-12 age group, a son of Nikolai and Kathrine Yampolsky,

— 4th at 0 Fly, 5th at50 Back & 100 Breast, and 7th at 200 IM.

Benjamin Minko (12) in the Boys 11-12 age group, a son of Yury Minko and Tatyana Elkin,

— 4th at 200 IM and 400 IM, 5th at 500 Free, 7th at 400 Free, and 10th at100 Back.

Jialiang Guo (11) in the Boys 11-12 age group, a son of a son of Fan Guo and Ting Chen,

— 6th @200 Breast, 11th @100 Breast, and 14th @50 Back.

Daniel Certik (10) in the Boys 10 at Under age group, a son of Ondrej and Michelle Certik,

— 2nd at 200 IM and 400 Free, and 3rd at 50 and100 Fly.

Alexander Yampolsky (9) in the Boys 10&Under age group, a son of Nikolai and Kathrine Yampolsky,

— 1st at 50 Free, 4th at100 Breast at 50 Back, 8th at 50 Fly.

Leandre Capolungo (9) in the Boys 10 and Under age group, a son of Lauert and Fanny Capolungo.

— 8^th at 50 Back, 9th at100 Fly, 11th at 100 back, and 14th  at 50 Fly.

Jiadong Guo (9) in the Boys 10 and Under age group, a son of a son of Fan Guo and Ting Chen,

— 6th at100 Breast, 8th at 100 Fly, and 10th at50 Fly.

James Lei (8) in the Boys 10 and Under age group, a son of Zhou Lei and Yaping Huang,

— 8th at100 Breast, 7th at100 Fly, and 13th at 50 Fly.

Simone Bowlan (10) in the Girls 11-12 age group, a daughter of John and Pamela Bowlan,

— 6th at 100 Fly, 9th  at 50 Fly and 50 Free, and 10th at 50 Back, and 16^th at 100 Back and 200 Free

Emma Fuentes (10) in the Girls 10 and Under age group, a daughter of Jahaira and Gamaliel Fuentes,

— 7th at 100 Breast, 9th at 200 IM and 50 Back, 18th at 100 Back.

Alicia Chen (10) in the Girls 10 and Under age group, a daughter of Bailian Chen and Jiajia Wang.

— 10th at 100 Breast, 13th  at 50 Fly, and 25th at100 Back.

Claire Robinson (9) in the Girls 10&Under age group, a daughter of Jacob and Jessica Robinson,

— 8th at 50 Fly, 15th at 50 Back, and 23rd at 00 Back.

Grace Walters (9) in the Girls 10 at Under age group, a daughter of Tim and Jiajia Walters.

— 5th at 50/100 Fly, 7th  at 200 IM, and 14th  at 50/100 Back.

Western Zone Qualifiers

• Justin Lei (12) in the Boys 11-12 age group
• Preslee Robinson (10) in the Girls 10 and Under age group
• Eleanora Minko (9) in the Girls 10 and Under age group
• Daniel Certik (10) in the Boys 10 and Under age group
• Alexander Yampolsky (9) in the Boys 10 and Under age group

The following swimmers will represent Mountain Club and New Mexico at the 2025 Western Zone Championships (Aug 6–10 at Elk Grove, CA): Justin Lei, Zdenek Certik, Preslee Robinson, Eleanora Minko, Daniel Certik.

Relay Highlights

The senior swimmer Simeon Capolungo exemplified leadership while inspiring younger swimmers. Relay achievements included multiple 1st and 2nd place finishes across girls and boys.

Congratulations to all our swimmers and parents for an exceptional season!

Your hard work, team spirit, and dedication were evident throughout the meet. We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished.

Interested in Joining Us?

Mountain Club is coached and operated by Anna Z and based in Los Alamos.

In addition to our club practices, Mountain also offers developmental 1:1 swim lesson for beginners.

• Join the club: mountainswimming@gmail.com
• Swim lessons: mountainclub.lessons@gmail.com
• Contact Anna: (505) 662-1900

Come swim with us — let’s make waves together!

Western Zone Qualifiers. Courtesy photo