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Dolphins Compete Against Pennsylvania, New Jersey

St. Croix Dolphin’s swimming pool (Image courtesy of the St. Croix Dolphins)

The St. Croix Dolphins Swim Team traveled to Pennsylvania to compete in the UDAC Closed Invite Swim Meet that took place Feb. 24 – 25.  The competition was held at Upper Dublin High School in Fort Washington, Penn.  Fourteen Dolphins swimmers competed in the meet, which had several hundred swimmers from all over Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 

The Dolphins ranged in ages from 10 to 18 years old. Webster Bozzo (18), Antonio Lewit (18), Javier Galiber (18), Ella Brownsdon (18), Dominic Pugliese (16), Lidia Boguslawska (16), Amani Estrill (15), Jaidan Camacho (14), Michael Dizon-Bumann (14), Erin Andrews (14), Eavenni Persaud (11), Mason Lambert (11), Gaby Evora (11) and Kaeden Gleason (10) represented the St. Croix Dolphins.  

This competition was a great experience for these St. Croix swimmers because it gave them a chance to race in a “short course yards” pool, which is the most common pool size for training and competing in the states.  The Dolphins train and compete mostly in a “long course pool,” which is 50 meters long.  Having this type of exposure in traveling and competition is very important for the athletes’ development. 

Almost all personal best times were swum by these 14 swimmers over the course of this two-day competition.  The events offered ranged from 50 yards of all strokes up to a 500-yard freestyle, which many Dolphins competed in.  

The Dolphins won multiple events throughout the weekend.  All 14 swimmers competed in six to seven individual events during the meet.  Senior swimmer Webster Bozzo was the overall winner in all seven of his individual events.  He competed in the open 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyles, 100- and 200-yard backstrokes, and 200-yard individual medley. 

Kaeden Gleason finished in the top five of all his 9-10 years-old events, finishing 1st place in the 500-yard freestyle. 

Lidia Boguslawska qualified for the Virgin Islands National Swim Team, which will be competing at the CARIFTA Games in Kingston, Jamaica, at the end of this month.  She qualified in the open 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. 

Antonio Lewit’s top events were the open 100- and 200-yard butterfly.

Javier Galiber’s top event was the open 100-yard breaststroke. 

Ella Brownsdon’s top event was the open 500-yard freestyle. 

Jaidan Camacho’s top event was the open 100-yard breaststroke.

Michael Dizon-Bumann’s top event was the open 100-yard breaststroke. 

Erin Andrews’ top event was the open 200-yard backstroke. 

Dominic Pugliese’s top event was the open 100-breaststroke. 

Amani Estrill’s top event was the open 500-yard freestyle. 

Eavenni Persaud’s top event was the 11-12-year-old girls 50-yard freestyle. 

Gaby Evora’s top event was the 11-12-year-old girls 100-yard breaststroke. 

Mason Lambert’s top events were the 11-12-year-old boys 50- and 500- yard freestyles.

The St. Croix Dolphins also visited Princeton University and Rider University, both located in New Jersey, and got a personal campus tour from the head swimming and diving coach at Rider.  Swimmers also visited the Franklin Institute, which is a hands-on science museum in Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall.

Anyone who is interested in being a part of this rewarding sport, should contact the Dolphins Swim Team at 719-7946 or email stcroixdolphins@gmail.com.

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