By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
The Ateneo Blue Knights Swim Club (ABKSC) from Ateneo de Davao University (Addu) secured the overall championship at the Redsail Arcadia Swim Team (RAST) 1st Invitational Swimming Competition that concluded at Digos Sports Complex on Sunday, August 13.
The ABKSC amassed 979.50 points after harvesting 48 gold medals, 25 silvers, and 23 bronzes.
ABSKC team manager and head coach Rose Rodriguez said, "Though 60 percent of our swimmers are newbies, everyone performed well. They all set new personal best times in almost all their respective events."
Among the twelve individual categories featured during the two-day swimfest, five ABSKC swimmers shone as the most outstanding swimmers. They are Joguylen Thalia Sohier (72 points, girls eight and under), Jemeina Alexandra Pagaran (66 points, girls 13-14), Rissa Angelian Sahagun (71 points, girls 15-16), Maica Angela Garcia (72 points, girls 17-above) and Pietro Dominic Requiza (68 points, boys 15-16).
Host RAST bagged the runner-up honors with 610.50 points, while the DavNor Blue Marlins Swim Team garnered 546 points for the third spot.
The top 10 teams were as follows: Barracudas Swim Team (229.50 points) fourth, Mighty Dolphins Swim Club (222) fifth, Jerry Aquatic Swim Team (207.50) sixth, Lemmoda Aqua Gliders (186) seventh, Kidapawan Long Wave Swim Team (184.50) eighth, Panabo Aquatics Swimming Club (161) ninth, and HC Mantas Swimming Club (126) 10th.
Trailing behind were Silver Fins Swim Team (101.50), Tagum Green Dolphins Swim Club (93), Davao Red Sea Lions Swim Club (87), Black Manta Ray Swim Team (76), Tagum City Stingray Swim Team (65), Aquaverz Barracuda Swim Team (49), and Yu Swim Team (18).
Other exceptional swimmers who stood out include DavNor Blue Marlins Swim Team's King Achillus Lescano (boys 8U), Suncel Macapobre (girls nine to 10), and Kate Ytang (girls 11-12): RAST bets John Michael Catamco (boys 17-above), Almar Christian de Leon (boys 13-14), and Palarong Pambansa 2023 gold medalist Archibald Nicolas Lonzaga (boys 11-12); and Lemmoda Aqua Gliders' Nathan Monsanto (boys nine to 10). MLSA