SSC hauls back 32 medals from Guam

Led by local swimming’s newest Golden Boy, Kai Staal, the Saipan Swim Club won 32 medals in last weekend’s 2008 Guam Swimming Championships.

SSC head coach Michael Stewart said Staal had the most impressive performance of the nine SSC swimmers that competed in the Hagatna Pool last Saturday, as the 13-year-old took home seven medals—a gold in the 50m freestyle and silver medals in the 100m and 200m freestyle, 50m and 100m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, and 200m freestyle relay.

But what was more impressive, according to Stewart, was that Staal’s time of 35.97 in the 50m breaststroke broke Rezne Wong’s age group record of 36.92 set during the 2005 SSC International Swim Meet.

“Kai is more than a year younger than Rezne was when he set this record. Kai is 13 years and four months old, while Rezne was 14 years and 10 months [when he set the record]. I believe if Kai continues to work as he has he will be the best 13-14 swimmer if not the greatest CNMI male swimmer overall ever. Before he turns 15, Kai can own at least 10 13-14 CNMI National Age Group records. He’s that good!” proclaimed Stewart.

Staal was not the only SSC member to medal in the 2008 Guam Swimming Championships, as the other eight tankers that made the trip for SSC also brought home at least a piece of hardware each.

Grace Kimball won eight in all, with silver medals in 50m, 100m, 200m, 800m, and 1,500m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke, and a bronze in the 400m freestyle.

Lester Lapuz and Abigail Martinsen won four medals apiece. Lapuz took home a silver in the 800m and 1,500m freestyle and 400m individual medley, and a bronze in the 400m freestyle.

Martinsen, for her part, struck gold in the 400m freestyle, earned a silver in the 200m freestyle, and a couple of bronzes in the 50m and 100m freestyle.

Andrew Kimball was also impressive in the pool, towing back to Saipan silver medals in the 200m and 400m freestyle and a bronze in the 100 backstroke.

Michael Moran also made his home islands proud with a silver in the 200m freestyle relay and a bronze in the 1,500 freestyle.

Victoria Chentsova, Blair Nicholls, and Junior Pamaran also medaled in the 2008 Guam Swimming Championships.

Chentsova finished third in the 400m freestyle to win a bronze, while Nicholls and Pamaran went home with medals as part of the silver medal-winning SSC team in the 200m freestyle relay.

The 32-medal haul notwithstanding, Stewart said SSC swimmers could have raked in more hardware if not for the absence of three outstanding swimmers.

Sarah Johnson, the CNMI’s premiere female swimmer, could have added eight more medals to SSC’s total, according to Stewart.

At least another half dozen medals were also missed because of the absence of Cooper Graf, who Stewart said is the islands’ top distance swimmer. He said Graf is currently in Texas visiting and training with his family.

Selyna Leon Guerrero, another top distance swimmer for the CNMI, could have also medaled in a couple events.

Stewart also extended his thanks to Tan Holdings Foundation and Tan Holdings Corp. president Jerry Tan, “for all their help in the success of Saipan swimming.”