STAQ Weekend Update 4/2/2025- Golds Edition

STAQ had an incredible showing at both of the 2025 Niagara Gold Championships! Many swimmers shattered their PRs, and several rose to the challenge and secured spots in the finals among the top 24 swimmers in the LSC- all shining examples of their hard work and determination. Throughout it all, the team's spirit remained high, fueled by their unbreakable bond, numerous smiles and playful pranks on the coaches. Although we only brought 16 athletes, our team achieved an impressive 13th place among all competing teams, amongst giants such as many Buffalo and Rochester metro-area teams! The unwavering support of our wonderful coaches and the dedication of our amazing parents were the cornerstone of the team's success. And our athletes cheering each other on was the crowning jewel of a very long but rewarding weekend!

• Ellie Ballard placed 83^rd in the 100 free (PR), 102^nd in the 50 free (PR), and 66^th in the 200 free
• Joey Crisco placed 10^th in the 100 breast, 24^th in the 100 free (PR and STAQ record), was part of the 12^th place 200 Medley Relay team, placed 7^th on the podium in the 200 breast (PR and STAQ record), 51^st in the 50 free, was part of the 13^th place 400 Free Relay team, was part of the 12^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 8^th on the podium in the 100 IM (PR and STAQ record), 16^th in the 100 back, 21^st in the 200 IM, and was part of the 10^th place 400 Medley Relay team (STAQ record)
• Shawn De Pedro placed 22^nd in the 100 breast, 55^th in the 100 free (PR), was part of the 12^th place 200 Medley Relay team, placed 62^nd in the 100 fly, 19^th in the 200 breast, 77^th in the 50 free, was part of the 13^th place 400 Free Relay team, placed 41^st in the 100 IM (PR), 50^th in the 200 IM, and was part of the 10^th place 400 Medley Relay team (STAQ record)
• Liam Gill placed 81^st in the 100 free, 80^th in the 50 free, was part of the 26^th place 400 Free Relay team, was part of the 12^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 78^th in the 100 IM (PR), 83^rd in the 200 free (PR), and was part of the 26^th place 400 Medley Relay team
• Derek Guo was part of the 28^th place 200 Medley Relay team, placed 41^st in the 200 breast (PR), 117^th in the 50 free, was part of the 26^th place 400 Free Relay team, was part of the 28^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 66^th in the 100 IM (PR), 62^nd in the 200 IM, and was part of the 26^th place 400 Medley Relay team
• Mark Hong placed 54^th in the 100 breast (PR), 104^th in the 100 free, was part of the 28^th place 200 Medley Relay team, placed 100^th in the 50 free, was part of the 26^th place 400 Free Relay team, was part of the 12^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 60^th in the 100 IM (PR), and was part of the 26^th place 400 Medley Relay team (honorable mention: he stepped up to swim the fly leg and dropped 20 seconds from his previous 100 fly PR!)
• Gabby Janeski was part of the 28^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 49^th in the 100 free (PR), 45^th in the 100 fly, 65^th in the 50 free (PR), and 39^th in the 200 free (PR)
• John McKane placed 43^rd in the 200 back, 86^th in the 100 free, was part of the 28^th place 200 Medley Relay team, placed 101^st in the 100 fly, 109^th in the 50 free, was part of the 26^th place 400 Free Relay team, placed 21^st in the 100 back, and was part of the 10^th place 400 Medley Relay team (STAQ record)
• Alexys Nale was part of the 28^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 43^rd in the 200 back, and 30^th in the 100 breast
• Alyssa Reimsnyder placed 86^th in the 100 fly, and 115^th in the 50 free
• Marvin Reimsnyder was part of the 12^th place 200 Medley Relay team, placed 18^th in the 100 fly (PR), 30^th in the 50 free, and was part of the 13^th place 400 Free Relay team
• JP Sierzant placed 18^th in the 100 breast (PR), 19^th in the 100 free (PR), was part of the 12^th place 200 Medley Relay team, placed 49^th in the 100 fly (PR, as well as PR and STAQ record in the 50 fly), 33^rd in the 50 free, was part of the 13^th place 400 Free Relay, led off the 12^th place 200 Free Relay team with a new PR and STAQ record in the 50 free, placed 12^th in the 100 IM (PR and STAQ record), 59^th in the 200 IM, and was part of the 10^th place 400 Medley Relay team (PR and STAQ record)
• Aiden Spoors was part of the 28^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 52^nd in the 100 free, 40^th in the 500 free, and 58^th in the 100 fly
• Kyle Williams placed 86^th in the 200 free, and 86^th in the 100 back
• Winston Wu was part of the 28^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 68^th in the 100 breast, 130^th in the 50 free, was part of the 28^th place 200 Free Relay team, and placed 84^th in the 100 IM (PR)
• Ethan Yarnell placed 110^th in the 100 free, was part of the 28^th place 200 Medley Relay team, placed 127^th in the 50 free (PR), was part of the 28^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 45^th in the 100 back (PR), and was part of the 26^th place 400 Medley Relay team

Not to be outdone, at the 14&Under Golds a week later the parade of PRs continued while multiple STAQ swimmers secured spots in the top 8 of finals, with Alexys taking home a gold and silver medal! Everyone had a PR, many club records were broken, and Keith Huff achieved his first Zone cut time! Also adding to the excitement- Tyler's competitive spirit catapulted him to a 5+ second drop in the 100 fly snatching a 10th place finish! Although there were only a few swimmers in Buffalo at this meet, every swimmer achieved multiple awe-inspiring accomplishments.

• Sheldon De Pedro placed 36^th in the 100 IM (PR), 47^th in the 50 back, and 35^th in the 100 breast (PR)
• Gabriel Hartley placed 33^rd in the 50 fly (PR), 52^nd in the 100 free (PR), and 43^rd in the 50 breast
• Keith Huff placed 5^th in the 50 fly (PR and STAQ record), 11^th in the 100 IM (PR), 11^th in the 50 free (PR), and 7^th in the 100 fly (PR and STAQ record)
• Daniel Jin placed 19^th in the 100 IM, 20^th in the 50 back (PR), 19^th in the 50 free (PR), 12^th in the 50 fly (PR), 20^th in the 100 free (PR), and 22^nd in the 50 breast
• Michael Jin placed 25^th in the 200 free, 39^th in the 50 free (PR), was part of the 30^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 20^th in the 50 breast, and 36^th in the 100 free (PR)
• Alexys Nale placed 16^th in the 50 fly (PR), 4^th in the 100 breast (PR and STAQ record), 2^nd in the 50 back, 4^th in the 50 free, 1^st in the 50 breast (PR and STAQ record), was part of the 30^th place 200 Free Relay, and placed 14^th in the 100 back
• Tyler Nale placed 16^th in the 100 breast (PR and STAQ record), 22^nd in the 200 IM (PR and STAQ record), 17^th in the 100 IM, 10^th in the 100 fly (PR and STAQ record), was part of the 30^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 19^th in the 50 breast (PR and STAQ record), and 17^th in the 50 fly (PR)
• Alyssa Reimsnyder placed 25^th in the 50 back (PR), 32^nd in the 50 free (PR), and 15^th in the 100 fly
• Anna Sun placed 14^th in the 200 free (PR and STAQ record), 27^th in the 100 IM (PR and STAQ record), 46^th in the 50 free, was part of the 30^th place 200 Free Relay team, placed 19^th in the 50 breast (PR and STAQ record), 26^th in the 100 free (PR and STAQ record), and 29^th in the 50 fly (PR and STAQ record)
• Adam Zhou placed 22^nd in the 50 breast, 42^nd in the 100 free (PR), and 24^th in the 50 fly
• Amory Zhou placed 38^th in the 100 breast, 59^th in the 50 free (PR), 34^th in the 50 fly (PR), and 47^th in the 50 breast

The outstanding results of all our swimmers are a testament to all the hard work they have put in, and the dedication they have not only to the sport but to each other as teammates. Their determination makes STAQ proud as they represent across the Niagara LSC.