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Happy New Year: South Florida Aquatic Club Celebrates 2017, Looks Forward To New Goals In 2018

SHARON ROBB • January 1, 2018

It takes a village for a successful swim program like South Florida Aquatic Club. Coaches, swimmers, parents, booster club, office staff, facility, officials, sponsors, school support, media and fans all play an integral role. Then there are goals, hard work, dedication, motivation and sacrifice. There’s also the down side. The losing and not swimming a best time at every meet. That’s the learning experience that teaches a swimmer humility and also a powerful motivator to work harder. Year in and year out, SOFLO swimmers have learned their lessons well and continued their successful climb in 2017. As everyone celebrated the New Year and took a little time off away from the pool, it’s always fun to look back to see what SOFLO accomplished over twelve months. From world-class international meets to sizzlers and masters meets, the tireless work ethic, commitment and passion were never more evident this year. Success is never taken for granted at SOFLO. After outstanding past seasons, SOFLO improved across the board enjoying success at every level during 2017 and raised the bar once again for 2018. The largest team in the Florida Gold Coast and one of the state’s largest never lost sight of the importance of the team concept which has become its trademark through the years.


“Our kids challenge themselves and push themselves past their comfort zone and it does show,” said SOFLO CEO and head coach Chris Anderson. “SOFLO has created an infrastructure with its coaches and staff that cultivates a high level of continuing excellence. We have a winning culture.” Now entering its 18th year, the first ten as Comets Swim Team and eighth year as SOFLO, the team is looking forward to even more success at the local, state, national and international levels in 2018. As the New Year gets under way with new dreams, goals and resolutions, let’s reflect on some of last year’s highlights including team and individual accomplishments.SOFLO’s Top 10 Moments in 2017 were:1. SOFLO makes team history by capturing its eighth consecutive team title and 14th overall at the Florida Gold Coast 14 and Under Long Course Junior Olympics. It was the fifth consecutive year that the club won back-to-back short and long course titles in the same year. 2. SOFLO five-peats Florida Gold Coast Senior Championships in its home pool. It was the fifth time SOFLO swimmers accomplished the feat in the same season. 3. Longtime SOFLO swimmer Marc Rojas represented the Dominican Republic at the FINA World Championships.4. SOFLO earned the highly-coveted USA Swimming Bronze Medal Club Excellence Award for the seventh time in eight years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018). 5. SOFLO sent more than three dozen swimmers to the BCAA and FHSAA High School State Meets including Kathleen Golding, Molly Golding and Heath Brames of Cooper City, Paige Lane and Juan Diaz of Cypress Bay and Kelley Heron and Ricardo Roche of Pembroke Pines Charter. Golding and Heron were named 2016-17 Scholastic All-Americans.6. At age 44, SOFLO masters swimmer and triathlete Evelyn Herrmann Salama crossed the finish line at the Hawaii Ironman in Kona, the granddaddy of all Ironmans. It was her fourth completed Ironman distance event. She is now training for the 2018 Boston Marathon. 7. SOFLO masters swimmer and City of Pembroke Pines police sergeant Jennifer Martin won seven gold medals, one silver medal and broke five world records over four days at the World Police and Fire Games in Los Angeles.8. Gina Grant, a first-year SOFLO masters swimmer, raised awareness and became a role model for Special Olympics athletes. At the recent Aquascalientes, Mexico for the Athletes Without Limits USA Team, she brought home a bronze medal in the 400 individual medley. At the Rowdy Gaines Masters Classic in Orlando, she won 13 gold medals and one silver medal, high point award and broke three records. 9. SOFLO swimmers shined at All-Stars, Speedo Sectionals, Futures Championships and Speedo Junior Nationals. 10. SOFLO swimmers make college commitments including Kathleen Golding (Florida), Kelley Heron (Michigan State), CJ Kopecki (Seton Hall) and Ricardo Roche (Florida State).


- WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB - Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

South Florida Aquatic Club Awarded USA Swimming National Club Excellence Silver Medal, First Time In Team History

By Thomas Conner • December 17, 2019
SOFLO is awarded the USA Swimming National Club Excellence Silver Medal for 2020 for the first time in club history. SOFLO has been a Bronze Medal club winner eight of the last nine years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), but had never earned silver. SOFLO moved up from 5,362 to 9,324 rating points and was the only Florida Gold Coast club to earn silver medal club honors and one of only eight teams from around the state. South Florida Aquatic Club, the largest and one of the most diverse clubs in the Florida Gold Coast, was awarded USA Swimming’s National Club Excellence Silver Medal Award for 2020 for the first time in club history. SOFLO has been a Bronze Medal club eight of the last nine years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), but has never earned silver. SOFLO’s first year of existence was 2011 after starting out as the Comets. The club will celebrate its 20th year of existence in 2020.The excellence award program is divided into gold, silver and bronze divisions. The rankings only include 18-and-under swimmers eliminating most pro and college swimmers. The Top-20 clubs earn Gold level ranking and those rated 21-100 are designated as Silver honorees. The next 100 clubs are recognized at the Bronze level. The rankings give points scores based on a power point rating system that gives swim points based on how fast it is relative to a swimmer’s age. The focus of the USA Swimming voluntary program is to identify and reward up to 200 USA Swimming-sanctioned clubs that have attained a high level of athlete performance.SOFLO is in good company around the state with Sarasota Sharks (18,918), Gator Swim Club (16,438), Sarasota Tsunami (16,425), Bolles (9,745), Episcopal Amberjax (9,354), Swim Florida (8,369) and Greater Tampa Swimming Association (6,962). Last year’s silver medal winners, Pine Crest Swimming (5,521) dropped to bronze medal and Gulliver Prep dropped out. Flood Aquatics (4,689) was the only other Florida Gold Coast awarded bronze medal status. - WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB - Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

Lares, Pinto, Torres Lead SOFLO Swimmers, FGC All-Stars Shine; Florida Swimming Sweeps Team Titles At FGC-Florida Swimming All-Star Meet

By SHARON ROBB • April 2, 2019
FORT PIERCE, April 2, 2019—South Florida Aquatic Club swimmers were successful as Florida Gold Coast All-Stars in the annual dual meet against Florida Swimming at Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex. Sebastian Lares, 14, had one of his finest meets in his young career. He was a member of two winning Florida Gold Coast relay teams and had six Top 6 finishes in individual events. Lares anchored the 200-yard medley relay that won in 1:36.85 with teammates Joshua Zuchowski, Parker Rosenthal and Matthew Tarafa. Lares swam third leg on the 200-yard freestyle relay that finished first in 1:28.68 with Tarafa, Agustin Rodriguez and Zuchowski. Lares was also second in the 200-yard butterfly in a best time 1:59.60. It was the first time he broke 2 minutes. His No. 12 seed time was 2:06.41. Lares was third in the 400-yard individual medley in 4:13.65, fourth in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:00.34 and sixth in the 100-yard backstroke in 55.59, 100-yard butterfly in 55.54 and 200-yard backstroke in 2:03.07. Mariana Pinto was second in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:22.39 and fourth in the 200-yard freestyle in 2:03.37. Victoria Torres was second in the 200-yard breaststroke in a best time 2:23.15. Natalia Sibug was fifth in the 11-12 100-yard breaststroke and Victoria Torres was also fifth in 13-14. Javier Colmenares was third in the 100-yard butterfly in a best time 1:00.52, fourth in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:12.37 and sixth in the 100-yard individual medley in 1:02.33 and 500-yard freestyle in 5:13.25. Stefano Mazzi was fifth in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:10.94 and sixth in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:37.81. Natalia Sibug was sixth in the 50-yard breaststroke in 33.65. Florida Swimming swept all three team titles. Florida Swimming won the combined, 871-556; men, 403-263; and women, 406-259. SOFLO had six boys and four girls on the team at the three-day meet that ended on Sunday morning. The boys who qualified were Sebastian Lares, Alejandro Mateus, Javier Colmenares, Kevin Moya, Stefano Mazzi and Juan Vallmitjana. The girls were Victoria Torres, Mariana Pinto, Anastasia Lutz and Natalia Sibug. - WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB - Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com

SOFLO’s Mallory Schleicher Leads FGC Zone All-Star Team On Opening Day Of Southern Zones

By SHARON ROBB • July 31, 2018
MIDLAND, Tex., July 31, 2018—South Florida Aquatic Club’s Mallory Schleicher was the top finisher Tuesday on opening day of the Southern Zones Age Group Championships at FMH Foundation Natatorium. Schleicher, 14, was fourth in the 13-14 800-meter freestyle in a lifetime-best 9:24.74, dropping 2.54 off her previous best of 9:27.28 to lead the Florida Gold Coast All-Stars.  SOFLO teammate Christian Tijero, 12, was 14th in the 11-12 400-meter freestyle in 4:45.98.Valerie Vank was a member of the mixed 11-12 200-meter freestyle relay that finished eighth in 1:54.02. Landon Kyser, Julianne McCranie and Evan Pelletier were other relay members.As expected Florida Swimming dominated opening day action and leads the combined (138), boys (34) and girls (52). Florida Gold Coast girls are fifth, boys are ninth and combined is seventh.The meet continues Wednesday with prelims and finals. - WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB - Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
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