Xenavee is most valuable swimmer in Virginia meet

In word recently received from the Occoquan Swim Club, where Xenavee Pangelinan is now competing while finishing her senior year at Colonial Forge High School, her team won the Women’s Title at the final session of the Speedo Eastern State Senior Invitational meet in early January in Annandale, Virginia.

Competition was among the top swimmers in the Virginia and Maryland area, in preparation for the Potomac Valley Short Course Championship Swim Meet in march and qualifying for the US Open also in March.

Occoquan won 4 of the 5 women’s relays. Coach Dave Tonnesen said the relays were the key for their outstanding finishes. The men’s team took 4th place, led by Xenavee’s teammate Brett MacLennan.

Xenavee led the Occoquan women capturing wins in the 200 Butterfly, 200 Individual Medley and 400 Individual Medley events, amassing 326 points to win the Overall High Point and Most Valuable Swimmer awards for women.

The 326 points came over a series of Seniors Invitational Meets over the past three months.

What is most impressive about these performances is that they came right after a heavy week of intensive training of up to six hours a day and 75,000 meters, or an equivalent of 48 miles during the six-day Christmas holiday period.

Xenavee left Saipan last summer to swim and study in the states in hopes of attracting college offers to continue her education. She has already been contacted by three to four schools but will not make a decision until April, when colleges require Letters of Commitment.

Other News:

Former Saipan resident Bill Tavares, who lived on Saipan until the 70’s with his parents Tom and Vivian Tavares, and daugther Kim, is now coaching the USA Women’s Bobsled Team. Bill attended Mt. Carmel School and competed for the Saipan Swim Club while on Saipan.

Since he left Saipan, he attended high school and college in the states and was on the USA Luge National Team for several years, and met up with Anneka Sakovich during the last Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. He was coaching and she was working for Mizuno.

Bill is now Head Coach for the Women’s US Bobsled Team which finished 1st, 2nd and 6th in last year’s World Championships. Currently the team is ranked 1st, 2nd, and 12th in the world, having had to deal with several injuries this year. His team just returned from training and competition in Canada.

Bill recently married Sheila and they reside in Lake Placid when he is not in training in Utah for the 2002 Winter Olympic.