Submitted by: Carol Martin
To: CMyers@mobileregister.com
For Immediate Press Release – Baldwin Sports Section
BMAC Swim Team Wins Big in Biloxi
Jon Klein Sweeps 7 Events and 2 Relays.
Biloxi, MS - The swimmers from the Eastern Shore’s Baldwin-Mobile Aquatic Club (BMAC) dominated in the team competition at the eighteenth annual Sun, Sand & Surf Swim Meet in Biloxi. The South Mississippi Surf hosted the 18th annual swimming competition from June 3-5, 2005 at the state of the art Biloxi Natatorium. There were 12 teams competing for the top prize of being meet champion.
BMAC of Daphne/Orange Beach/Brewton took home the honors for best team in the field by racking up an astonishing 1000 points in the competition. The second place team scored a mere 300 points.
The runners up to BMAC included: New Orleans, Huntsville Swim Association, Gulf Shores Swim Team, Hattiesburg HUB, Laurel Swim Association, Millbrook Aquatic Club, Ocean Springs YMCA, St. Bernard Aquatics, South Mississippi Surf, Nu Wave Swim Club, and Picayune Swim.
By amassing the most points and average of highest place finishes, the following BMAC swimmers were crowned High Point Champions for the Meet: J. D. Powell (9-10 Boys Champion); Helen Legg (6 & Under Girls Champion); Riley Laseter (8 & Under Girls Champion); Olivia Hudson (9-10 Girls Champion); Sam Beemster (11-12 Boys Champion); Jon Klein (Men’s Champion).
Men’s champion Jon Klein of Foley not only won the High Point title, he also won every event in every stroke. Proving his prowess and mastery of the sport, Klein won the 100-m Butterfly, 100-m Backstroke, 200 Individual Medley (IM), 50-m Freestyle, 200-m Back, 100-m Breaststroke, 200 Freestyle and was on two championship team relays. Klein’s performance was unmatched in the meet.
BMAC owner Terry Martin said, “I’m very proud that our team placed so well in this meet. Our team has won back-to-back District Championships, so top finishes have become a bit of an expectation around our pool. It’s great to see the team show the rest of the South what they’re made of.”
Other senior-division finishers included: Aaron Benandi‘s 2nd place finishes in the Men’s 50-m Freestyle, 100-m and 200-m Breaststrokes as well as Jimmy Renka’s 2nd place in the Men’s 200-m Backstroke and 3rd place in the 200-m Freestyle. Cecilia Boccardo placed 2nd in the Women’s 50-m Freestyle, 200-m IM and 100-m Backstroke.
Helen Legg, a year-round swimmer that is strong beyond her years, lead the BMAC 6 & under swimmers. Legg individually won the 50-meter Breaststroke and the 50-meter Freestyle.
The BMAC 8 & under girls were lead by 8-year-old Riley Laseter. Laseter placed 1st in the 50-meter Backstroke, 50-meter Freestyle, and the 200-meter Individual Medley (IM). Another top finisher was Tori Larson, who placed 3rd in the 50-meter Backstroke.
Tyler Powell of Spanish Fort lead the BMAC 8 & under boys in high points for the meet. Powell had top finishes in the 50-meter Butterfly (2nd) and the 50-meter Breaststroke and 100-meter Freestyle (4th). Other place finishers included Daphne’s Jake Melendez (5th in 50-m Breast and 6th in 50-m Free) and Ryan Simpson (2nd in 50-m Back, 4th in 50-m Free, 5th in 100-m Free).
J.D. Powell, elder brother of Tyler, was the 9-10 High Point Champion. Powell won individual events in the 200-meter and 100-meter Freestyle and 50-meter Breaststroke and placed 2nd in the 50-m Free, 50-m Back and 50-m Butterfly. Powell’s training partners and close competitors, Kyle Simpson of Daphne and Stephen Jellenc of Montross, also had strong showings. Simpson had one 1st place finish in the 50-m Backstroke and 2nd place finishes in the 200-m and 100-m Free, 200-m IM, 50-m Breast and 3rd place finishes in 50-m Fly and 50-m Free. Jellenc, 9, rounded out the BMAC sweep on the award stand by placing 3rd in the 100-m Free, 50-m Back and 50-m Breast. The 9-10 BMAC boys’ team also won both of their relays.
The BMAC 9-10 girls also won both of their team relays. High point champion Olivia Hudson, 9, of Fairhope, won individual events in the 200-meter, 100-meter and 50-meter Freestyle, 50-meter Butterfly, and the 200 IM. Other top finishers included Daphne’s Alona Melendez, who won the 50-meter Breaststroke, and Fran Harris who won the 50-meter Backstroke and placed 2nd in 50-m Butterfly and 50-m Freestyle, and Daphne’s Kaila MacDonald with 2nd place finishes in 200-m IM and 50-m Backstroke.
BMAC’s Sam Beemster of Lake Forest manhandled the 11-12 boys competition with wins in 50-m Backstroke, 50-m Breaststroke, 200-m IM and 200-m Freestyle. Beemster also had 2nd place finishes in the 50-m and 100-m Free and 50-m Butterfly. Joining Beemster on the award stand were Fairhope’s Ross Hudson, 2nd place finishes in 200-m IM and 200-m Freestyle, and William Legg, 3rd in 100-m Freestyle. BMAC’s 11-12 boys’ relays also won both of their relays.
BMAC’s extremely deep and talented squad of 11-12 girls spread the wealth on the award stand. BMAC’s Jessica Dubose of Lake Forest won the 50-m Butterfly. Catherine Hardyman won the 50-m Backstroke. Chelsea Harris placed 2nd in the 50-m Breaststroke and 11-year-olds Savannah Ekelund and Hannah Legg had seven 3rd-place finishes between them. The BMAC 11-12 girls’ squad won both of their team relay events.
Sarah Beemster, 14, lead the 13-14 BMAC girls’ team with a win in the 200-m Breaststroke and a 2nd place finish in the 100-m Breaststroke. Maria Boccardo earned a 3rd place finish in the 100-meter Butterfly.
New Southeastern qualifying time standards were achieved by: Sam Beemster (12): 50 back, 200IM, 50 breast; Aaron Benandi (15): 200 breast; Fran Harris (10) 50 back; Jon Klein (15): 100 fly, 100 breast
BMAC’s next meet will be in Tallahassee, Florida from June 24-26, 2005.
END
Photo #1 Caption:
SUN, SAND & SURF SWIM MEET HIGH-POINT CHAMPIONS:
Pictured are BMAC ace swimmers Helen Legg, Riley Laseter, Olivia Hudson, J.D. Powell, Sam Beemster, Jon Klein, and BMAC Coach Marc Sigler.
Photo #2 Caption:
J.D. Powell of BMAC races to a win in the 50-meter Breaststroke event at the Sun, Sand & Surf Swim Meet in Biloxi.
Photo #3 Caption:
Take your mark… GO! BMAC swimmers Sarah Williamson, Jessica Dubose, and Chelsea Harris launch off of their starting blocks as they dive into the pool during the Sun, Sand & Surf Swim Meet in Biloxi.
