Academy Swim Club came in with little rest yet saw no drop in performance. In fact, its swimmers surged. The results hint at more high times in the future for the Waimea club and Hawaii Prep.
Kira Parker and Frederick Moller each won individual gold last weekend at the Bill Smith Invitational, while Tereza Kanalosova also made a name for herself at the age-group meet at Oahu’s Kamehameha Swim Club.
Moller, 17, accumulated the fourth-highest point total on the boys side, winning the 100-yard freestyle to go along with bronze in the butterfly and the 200 freestyle relay.
Moller is a BIIF champion for Hawaii Prep, as are Parker, Frida Berglund, Taylor Doherty and Karly Noetzel, who teamed up to win the 200 freestyle relay. Parker, 16, also won the 100 backstroke and took silver in the 200 backstroke.
Beyond all the medals his club took home, coach Mark Noetzel was happiest that many of his swimmers reached lifetime bests during a “hard-work session.”
Academy Swim Club didn’t taper for the midseason club meet, which featured most of the state’s top teams – though Warrior Aquatic Club was the only other Big Isle club to attend.
“It’s significant that many swam the fastest they’ve ever swam without resting,” said Noetzel, who also coaches Hawaii Prep. “I wasn’t expecting those fast times.”
Noetzel’s swimmers will put their focus on the state age-group short course championships in mid-December on Oahu, and then the HHSAA championships on Oahu in February.
Along the way, they’ll try to maintain their stranglehold on the BIIF titles as well.
Ka Makani will have a another new swimmer in their arsenal this season in the 18-year-old Kanalosova, who collected the third-highest female score. The native of the Czech Republic showed her versatility, taking home silver in the backstroke, individual medley, breaststroke and IM relay, and bronze in the 50 free.
“Just across the board, she was swam very well,” Noetzel said.
So much so, he said, that Oregon State contacted him and asked about Kanalosova after seeing her times.
Just behind Kanalosova was Doherty, an Academy veteran, who added silver in the 200 freestyle and two bronzes.
“I have to give a shout-out to our captain for coming up with her best times during a midseason meet,” Noetzel said.
In the boys 11-12 division, Kai Griley finished fourth, and Kimo Uyehara, Sebastian Satullo Yamashita, Hulton Chicoine and Finn Arrillaga won silver in 10-and-under 200 free relay.
Korrie Tengen, 13, claimed bronze for Warrior Aquatic Club in the 200 IM.