SSC promotes five tadpoles to tankers

The Saipan Swim Club is always searching for its next batch of medal winners and five youngsters took strokes to becoming the CNMI’s future stars after their recent promotion from the developmental squad to full-fledged members of the year-round Saipan Swim Team.

According to SSC head coach Michael Stewart, Hiro Kawahara, Junior Pamaran, Michael Moran, Lester Lapuz, and Ayana Kawahara were recognized for their efforts in the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool with placements on the SSC’s Blue Team.

Stewart said that he was proud to announce the advancement because his swimmers have put in the time and worked hard enough to graduate to the next rung on the ladder.

“This Fall we have had a great turn out for our Developmental Team, and these five swimmers have done such a great job in such a short time I am excited and honored to see them move up to the next level,” he said.

Fifteen-year-old Pamaran is the oldest of the bunch to make the grade and he did so by posting the fastest ever developmental times since its inception. Stewart said that he was impressed with Pamaran’s improvement in the Freestyle and Backstroke which came in a relatively short amount of time.

“His 50m Freestyle time of 39.54 is very impressive for a guy that has only been swimming for about six months. Junior also seems to excel in the breaststroke events as well,” he said.

The coach also praised 13-year-old Moran, a newcomer whom he watches with anticipation of things to come.

“The tall lanky guy has made some great improvements in his breaststroke events, and I really look forward to seeing him train at the next level. His build and work effort combine to a promising future in the sport of swimming,” he said.

Stewart also like what he sees and hears from 11-year-old Lapuz, who routinely plays the poolside role of Oliver Twist by asking for more.

“Lester is the hardest working developmental swimmer I have ever seen. Every workout every day Lester says ‘Coach, can I go one more?’ This effort is great to see in a young man, and will carry him far,” he said.

The deck side mentor sees the potential from a pair of Kawaharas, as 13-year-old Hiro and eight-year-old Ayana have impressed him since taking the plunge a handful of months ago.

“Hiro is the newest of our developmental boys—only swimming for three months, but his strength and stroke skills will take him a long way. Ayana, although being the youngest of our graduates, is like being a small fish in a big pond. But she is more like a piranha in that pond. Ayana accepts all challenges I give her and does it with a smile. Ayana is a swimming star of the future,” he said.

The Developmental Team continues with a three-week program (Nov. 27-Dec. 14) before breaking over the Christmas holidays and resuming on Jan. 7, 2007. For information about the Saipan Swim Club’s aquatic program, contact coach Stewart by calling 322-9474 or via email at swimsaipan@hotmail.com.