South Florida Aquatic Club Makes History, Wins First-Ever Southern Zone South Sectional Championships

SHARON ROBB • March 11, 2018

South Florida Aquatic Club captured its first-ever combined team title at the Speedo Championship Series Southern Zone South Sectional Championships Sunday at Plantation Aquatic Complex. After leading the first two days and trailing going into the fourth and final day, SOFLO swimmers rallied to win with 1,642 points to overtake third day leader Azura Florida Aquatic, that finished runner-up with 1,591. Gator Swim Club was third with 1,588. SOFLO’s margin of victory was 51 points. The meet featured 60 teams and more than 600 swimmers. SOFLO women finished second with 715 behind East Coast Aquatic Club with 962. SOFLO men were third with 785 begind Azura with 1,170 and Gator Swim Club with 942.

It was one of the most impressive fields assembled for the four-day meet and featured Olympic and national champions including 12-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte of Gator Swim Club making SOFLO’s win even more special. “It takes a team” was SOFLO’s mantra throughout the meet. SOFLO depended on its talented relays and individual swimmers throughout the meet to add another page to the team’s successful history.Kathleen Golding, 17, won the 100-meter freestyle in 56.94, just off her best time of 56.20. Paige Lane was 18th in a best time 59.82, cracking 1 minute for the first time and dropping 0.26. Golding was also fourth in the 200-meter breaststoke in 2:42.02. Her sister Molly, 14, was fifth in a best time 2:43.00, dropping 0.52.Rafael Rodriguez, 16, was third in the 1500-meter freestyle in 16:35.43. Nicolas Rossi, 14, was eighth in a best time 16:59.87, breaking 17 minutes for the first time and dropping 3.26 seconds off his previous best. Rodriguez was also fourth in the 200-meter butterfly in 2:07.28. Luis Villanueva, 18, was 15th in 2:18.15.Kelley Heron, 18, was fifth in the 200-meter backstroke in 2:23.90. Ricardo Roche, 18, was fifth in the 200-meter backstroke in 2:12.36. Lance Lesage, 15, was tenth in 2:16.06. Nicolas Munoz, 15, was 22nd in the 200-meter backstroke in a best time 2:24.89, dropping 0.94 seconds. Mallory Schleicher, 14, was eighth in the 800-meter freestyle in a best time 9:27.28, dropping 0.04 from her previous best Heath Brames, 18, was 21st in the 100-meter freestyle in 56.09 after going 55.84 in prelimsSOFLO women were seventh in the 400-meter freestyle relay in 4:05.41 with Paige Lane, Kathleen Golding, Kelley Heron and Katrina Del Vecchio. SOFLO men were also seventh int he 400-meter freestyle in 3:43.67 with Heath Brames, Kevin Porto, Juan Serna and Rafael Rodriguez.

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

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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