Great experience for swimmers in HK

Saipan Swim Club’s Olivia and Gabriel Walsh and P.J. and Vince Seman Jr. had a great experience in Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Island Stingrays Swim Club Annual Summer Invitational Swim Meet 2024.

The two sets of siblings competed in their first ever international event with over 500 swimmers from Hong Kong, the Philippines, China, and Vietnam last Friday to Sunday.

Even if they didn’t bag a podium finish, they swam their hearts out and represented the CNMI and SCC with great pride. Their coach, SCC’s Richard Sikkel attested to their efforts and said, “the kids did great. What an experience for them.”

“I am super impressed with the way they conducted themselves during the meet and how well they executed the technical parts of their swims. Their starts (first time diving off a block for them), underwater, and turns all looked good,” he said.

Since this was the swimmers’ first ever official meet, Sikkel said they entered them with estimated times for their event. With that, he said, “They all beat their expected times and were very poised during their prep and individual events.”

P.J., who was the oldest of the group at 11 years old, won his heat in the boys 10-and-over 50m freestyle event. He also finished in the finals of the 100m backstroke with a time of 1:46.96; finished a 1:36.23 100m freestyle; finished at 48.74 seconds in the 50m backstroke; and 38.94 seconds in the 50m freestyle finals.

The Saipan International School student said the experience was “a lot of fun. I was very nervous, so to win my heat was extra special. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to race in future international swim meets if possible.”

For Vince Jr., who was first in the heat of the 50m backstroke, said he was excited but nervous at the same time. In the 50m breaststroke, he finished at 1:04.25; 48.68 seconds in the 50m backstroke; and 44.57 seconds in the 50m freestyle.

“I wanted to do well representing Saipan Swim Club,” the 8-year-old said. He shared, although he was first in his heat, the touchpad didn’t register, but he was glad when the replay video showed his win.

Eight-year-old Olivia, for her part, said that initially she was scared because it was her first time traveling for a sports event. But on the second and third day, she felt a lot better because she got used to the environment.

She finished at 2:00.59 in the 100m individual medley; 1:07.68 in the 50m breaststroke; 54.49 seconds in the 50m backstroke; and 43.11 seconds in the 50m freestyle.

“It was a very fun experience,” said the SIS student. “I enjoyed the medley on the first day the most. My favorite part was flying to a different country. I love traveling like Mommy.”

For older brother Gabriel, he finished at 1:51.68 in the 100m IM; 54.39 seconds in the 50m breaststroke; 50.83 seconds in the 50m backstroke; and 40.40 seconds in the 50m freestyle.

He said of the experience, “My first international swim meet was scary yet fun. I also enjoyed the medley because I got second in my heat.”

The 9-year-old SIS student said, “Swimming and representing the CNMI was my favorite part of the whole trip. I want to do more events in the future.”

After the event, the team, which included the Walsh’s father Adam and the Seman’s father, Vince, went up The Peak tram to enjoy a view of Hong Kong. They then checked out the bird, flower, and goldfish markets in Kowloon, and took a stroll down Hong Kong Harbour.

The Walshes flew back home yesterday, while the Semans and Sikkel are flying back today.