5 swimmers off to Guam Champs

Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan will be sending five of its top swimmers in this weekend’s 2008 Guam Swimming Championships at the Hagatna Swimming Pool in Guam.

According to head coach Hiro Kimura leading the crack five-person team is the CNMI’s top swimmer Rezne Wong, brothers Shin and Kensuke Kimura, Marystar Welch, and Daniel Villegas.

The 2008 Guam Swimming Championships is the final meet of the Guam Swimming Federation for the year and only swimmers that meet qualifying times based on “BB” and U.S. time standards are allowed to compete.

Coach Kimura said he expects nothing less than a bumper-crop of medals from Wong, the 17-year-old wunderkind from the Marianas High School who, save for this year’s virtual meet, has been undefeated in the pool this season.

“He must take home a lot of gold medals,” said coach Kimura.

He also expects a lot from his son, Shin, who has slowly become the islands’ No. 2 long distance swimmer. Coach Kimura said Shin will compete in the 800m freestyle in the 2008 Guam Swimming Championships.

Shin’s younger brother, 12-year-old Kensuke, meanwhile will only take part in the breastroke events of the meet, as his goal is to achieve the qualifying time for this summer’s Junior Olympics.

The only rose among the thorns, Welch, is also expected to bring home not one but multiple medals from Guam.

Meanwhile, coach Kimura said 17-year-old Villegas is not expected to win any individual medals in the Guam meet, but said his chances are good that he will take home some hardware in the relay events.

“Our biggest goal in this meet is to win a medal for the relay and to present Daniel the medal. That’s why none of our relay members will take part in their last individual events so they would be ready for the relay. One for all, all for one,” he said.

Villegas only started competitive swimming last October and the 2008 Guam Swimming Championships will be his last meet before going to the mainland this summer for college.

“Daniel only started swimming with us late last year. He improved greatly since then and he is well loved by all his teammates. His effort and fighting spirit has touched a lot of people, not only his teammates,” said coach Kimura.

Wong, the Kimura brothers, Welch, and Villegas will depart Saipan tomorrow, May 29.