CCY Dragons Win Regional Championship

The CCY Dragon Swim Team lived up to expectations, taking first place over nine teams at the 2001 Pacific Regional Championship swim meet held Jan. 27 and 28 at El Monte Aquatic Center.

Twenty-seven swimmers in the older group swam both preliminaries and finals over the two-day event and in the end Alex Park, 17, went home with gold medals in all five of his events.

In the younger group, 8-year-old Summer Otazu, 6, and Yvette Kim, 6, were golden girls taking first place in all of their events.

Tricia Dobson and Michelle Du once again dominated the girls 13 and above division with Du taking first in the 200 IM, 200 free and 100 fly. She placed second in the 100 free and third in the 50 free, while Dobson went for the gold in the 100 and 200 back, and 100 free. She also won silver in the 50 free.

Twelve-year-old Rachel Ku swam in the 13 and above group where she scored a bronze in the 200 IM, silver in the 100 back and fly and grabbed first in the 11-12 division’s 100 IM, 50 breast and 50 back.

Madeline Corpuz, 11, showed great promise taking gold in the 11-12 girls’ 50 fly.

The Dragon boys also did well in the senior division.

Christopher Park took gold in the 200 breast, silver in the 100 breast, and bronze in the 100 free.

Young Tae So, 12, went gold in five of his events: 100 IM, 100 breast, 50 fly, 50 back and 50 breast. He finished with a silver in the 100 fly, while Harrison Thai, 11, took gold in the 100 back, silver in the 50 back and bronze in the 50 fly, 50 breast, and 500 free.

Seth Biaggini scored a pair of bronzes in the 200 IM and 200 free, with Matthew Riek swimming for silver in the 200 IM and bronze in the 100 back and 200 free. Ho Jean Yoon took silver in the 200 breast, 200 back and 100 fly.

David Jakl won the 200 back, then took silver in the 100 back and 500 free, while Gregory Ha took silver in the 50 breast and Alexander Najarian went for silver in the 100 IM and 50 back.

Outstanding among the younger divisions was Kyle Otazu in 9-10 boys with gold medals in the 100 IM, 50 and 100 back, 100 free, 50 and 100 fly, and silver in the 50 breast and free.

Joshua Lo had gold performances in the 50 breast, 50 free and 100 breast, with silver in the 100 IM, 100 free, and 100 and 50 fly.

Samuel Jo took first in the 7-8 100 IM, 25 free and 50 free with silver in the 25 back, breast and fly.

Allison Kimball won the girl’s 9-10 100 fly; Caitlin Seto swam for gold in the 100 back with a bronze in the 100 free, and Sophia Stefan picked up gold in the 100 free and silver in the 100 IM.

Dragon swimmers are working hard at practice with coaches Richard Hamilton, Joy Lim and John Loussararian, preparing for YMCA finals in February, followed by Junior Olympics in March.