NWAC wins Thunderbird Invitational

The North Whidbey Aquatic Club (NWAC) raced to its sixth consecutive team victory in the 27th Annual Fall Thunderbird Invitational at Anacortes’ Fidalgo Pool Oct. 3 and.

NWAC scored 5,335 points to outdistance the host Thunderbird Aquatic Club (3,090 points) and the third-place Marysville Marlins (2,664 points).

Leading the way for the Aquajets were Josh Jepsen, with 9 wins in the boys 13-14 division, and Emily Huffer, with 8 wins in the girls 11-12 bracket. Both Jepsen and Huffer established new qualifying standards for the Washington State Senior Championships to be held in Federal Way in December: Jepsen in the 100 back (1:02.46), 50 free (24.66), and 100 fly (59.98); Huffer in the 100 back (1:04.77). Huffer’s time in the 100 back also qualified her for the Northwest Section Age Group Championships in Federal Way in March.

Other NWAC highlights included 14-year-old Cole Weinstein’s breaking 60 seconds (59.94) in the 100-yard freestyle to become the 34th Aquajet to join the Minute Club over the past seven years.

NWAC event winners: Jerrin Concepcion, Karina Concepcion, Joel Erickson, Ciara Hu, Price Hu, Huffer, Jacob Jepsen, Josh Jepsen, Marissa Morris, Laura Rosen, and Emily Schroeder.

Pacific Northwest Swimming Championships (Federal Way, December) qualifiers: Kaitlyn Chelberg, Erickson, Huffer, Kelly Huffer, Jacob Jepsen, Josh Jepsen, Morris, Olivia Tungate, Molly Vagt, and Weinstein.

Athletes Swimming 100 percent individual and relay best times: Mandy Brighton, Ella Schroeder, Tricia Desquitado, Erickson, Eric Jensen, Josh Jepsen, Angela Johnson, Kevin Levy, Clayton Livermore, Rachel Mueller, Andrea Ruben, Harrison Tack, Kaleb Thompson, and Weinstein

NWAC next competes at the Oct.17-18 Challenge Meet in Anacortes with a field 72 athletes.

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