Blue Heron finish second in Halloween Invitational

Published 1:30 am Monday, October 24, 2016

The North Whidbey Aquatic Club finished second in the Halloween Invitational Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22 and 23, at John Vanderzicht Pool.

The Rapids of Richmond, BC, with over 50 team members, dominated the meet.

The Thunderbird Aquatic Club from Anacortes placed third, followed by the Bellingham Bay Swim Team and BC’s Surrey Knights.

NWAC produced plenty of highlights, led by its girls 9-10 team which captured the top three spots in multiple events. Kiersten Tyson paced the group with nine individual wins and was named NWAC Swimmer of the Meet by coach Dick Taylor.

Tyson, 10; Nick Shashaty, 8; Lindsay Brown, 11; Ashleigh Merrill, 13; and Jillian Pape, 16; won high point honors for their respective age groups.

Pape and Shashaty won eight events, and Christopher Shashaty, 10, won four.

Other event winners were Lola Chargualaf, 10; Kyle Coonan, 14; Macie Koelbl, 8; and Merrill.

Those collecting at least one second place were Haley Borja, Jasmine Borja, Brown, Chargualaf, Caitlin Dennen, Lila Forbes, Merrill, Jewel Nelson, Pape, Christopher Shashaty, Nick Shashaty and Tyson.

In all, 42 Blue Heron competed.

“Special kudos go out to the NWAC swim parents for a job well done,” Taylor said. “With 195 swimmers in the swim meet, and at least as many swim parents and siblings in the facility at one time or another as well, exceptional work was done to meet the needs and demands of everyone who attended.”

Some NWAC athletes will compete at an Age Group Invitational Nov. 19 and 20 at the Snohomish Aquatic Center.