STAQ Gets To Work with Record Breaking Few Weeks

Good evening STAQ!

It's a fresh new year, and our kids are already wasting no time with finding new successes in the pool and rewriting both their own personal records and the team records!

STAQ senior boys made a phenomenal contribution to the C-PP varsity team, securing first place with an impressive haul of 9 gold medals, 4 silver, and 2 bronze medals at the Waverly Invitational. Joey Crisco's exceptional performance earned him the Wolverine Meet's MVP award after achieving the state qualifying standard in the 100 breaststroke. The team of Joey Crisco, JP Sierzant, Mark Hong, and Marvin Reimsnyder demonstrated remarkable teamwork achieving the state qualifying time in the 200 free relay as well! Additionally, Jack Casper, Shawn De Pedro, Liam Gill, Derek Guo, Keith Huff, John McKane, Winston Wu and Ethan Yarnell showcased their skills with podium finishes. This outstanding performance is a testament to the team's unwavering dedication and perseverence.

The next day, 26 STAQ swimmers rose to the challenge at the STSL Distance Meet, pushing their limits in demanding long-distance events and expanding their boundaries competing in events many had never done before! Beyond the impressive results and numerous personal records, the sense of unity and camaraderie among the team was truly inspiring. The team's enthusiasm and sportsmanship created an electric atmosphere as they cheered each other on and celebrated their victories together. Sincere appreciation is extended to all STAQ parents who volunteered to officiate or time during the meet! The coaching staff is proud to see our kids trying new events and overcoming apprehension surrounding what are typically considered more difficult races, and pushing outside of their comfort zones.

Meanwhile, the Stroke School instructors successfully concluded the Winter session of the program with smiles all around. These remarkable achievements not only reflect the team's hard work and commitment, but also highlight the strength of our program top to bottom and the drive to grow our community. The kids enjoy teaching our budding young new swimmers how to be safe, comfortable in the water, and the beginnings of competitive swimming, all while keeping it fun and light-hearted. We're proud of the leadership they demonstrate in teaching during this program.

Finally, a week later the 2025 Power Point Championship was an exhilarating event filled with fast swimming, personal bests, and of course a healthy dash of silliness that made the experience unforgettable for STAQ swimmers and coaches alike. Over the course of three action-packed days, our team demonstrated not only exceptional athleticism, but also the camaraderie and fun that makes swimming so special in our community. While the focus was on speed and performance, the fun didn't stop there. Our coaches and swimmers made sure to inject some silliness into the competition, reminding everyone that swimming is not just about the medals but also about the friendship and laughter.

Throughout all this, many a team record was broken and re-broken!

• Sharon De Pedro: 200 freestyle, 50 fly, 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 IM
• Marlo Treacy: 200 IM
• Tyler Nale: 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 100 fly, 200 breaststroke
• John McKane: 1000 freestyle
• Anna Sun: 500 freestyle, 400 IM, 50 fly, 50 backstroke, 100 backstroke, 100 fly, 200 fly
• Joey Crisco: 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke
• Michael Jin: 50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke
• Alexys Nale: 50 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 50 backstroke, 200 backstroke
• Ellie Ballard: 1000 freestyle
• 200 Medley Relay of Joey Crisco, Shawn De Pedro, JP Sierzant, Marvin Reimsnyder
• 200 Freestyle Relay of Joey Crisco, JP Sierzant, Mark Hong, Marvin Reimsnyder

Finally, to all the supportive parents in our community surrounding the team we want to extend a special THANK YOU for playing a vital role in the team's success! Our community comes together to support each other, see success, and it's because of this that our program can continue to grow and thrive. We're excited to see how the season continues as we enter championship season soon here! The kids have put in the hard work, and now it's time to show off the hard-earned results. Proud of all of them each day!

~STAQ Coaches & Board