Diving Into Delight: Highlights from Age Group Swimming (1/11/2025)

In our Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming series, we honor swimmers of every age and skill level by showcasing profiles of some recent performances.

Emma Li, 12, Pacific Dragons Swim Team (PN): Li achieved a new personal best in the 100 free and secured the 2nd-highest point total in the girls’ 11-12 category at the Pacific Coast All-Star competition last weekend in Hillsboro, Oregon, representing Pacific Northwest Swimming. Li posted a best time of 54.29 in the 100 free, placing her 15th this season in the 11-12 category, and she added victories in the 200 free (1:58.63) and 200 IM (2:14.66) at the event while finishing as the runner-up in the 500 free and 100 fly.

Hayes Feng, 12, Olympic Cascade Aquatics (PN): Representing the Pacific Northwest Team at the All-Star event, Feng secured wins in two events and established three personal records in the 11-12 boys’ category, with his performance in the 100 breast being particularly noteworthy. Feng recorded a time of 1:03.27, surpassing his previous best of 1:03.58 to rank 5th this season in the 11-12 category. Additionally, he triumphed in the 100 IM in 58.91, which places him 11th this season in the age group, and he achieved another personal best in the 200 free (1:58.48) while also winning the 50 breast (29.53), just shy of his PB.

Nicholas Lacson, 11, Aquazot Swim Club (CA): Lacson achieved five personal best times while representing Southern California Swimming at the Pacific Coast All-Star Meet, earning three podium positions in the boys’ 11-12 age group as an 11-year-old. Lacson’s standout performance was in the 100 IM, where he recorded a time of 59.95, securing the #2 rank among 11-year-old boys nationally this season. He also achieved a time of 59.76 in the 100 back, ranking 4th, while his times in the 50 back (28.21) and 100 breast (1:09.41) each rank 9th.

Sofie Vanyo, 16, Atlantic Coast Athletic Clubs of VA (VA): Vanyo recorded a new lifetime best in the 200 fly and won all six events she competed in at the Jeff Rouse Invitational in Stafford, VA, last weekend. The 16-year-old clocked a time of 2:04.37 in the 200 fly, improving upon her previous best of 2:05.95 achieved in December 2023. Additionally, she triumphed in the 200 free (1:52.78), 100 back (58.49), 200 back (2:07.65), 100 fly (56.58) and 200 IM (2:07.12), with her 200 free and 100 fly performances marking season-best times.

Ethan Han, 13, Whitewaters Swimming (NJ): Han achieved four personal best times at the EEX Holiday Classic in Piscataway, NJ, in December, positioning him among the top swimmers for 13-year-old boys in the country. Han recorded a time of 51.76 in the 100 back and 58.59 in the 100 breast, both ranking him 2nd this season for 13-year-olds, while his time of 4:40.10 in the 500 free ranks 4th and his 2:10.24 in the 200 breast holds the 7th position.

Ella Fuller, 13, Southern Utah Swimming Association (UT): Fuller improved by over 35 seconds in the 1650 free at the Utah Swimming SC Senior Championships in early December, winning with a time of 17:51.48. This performance ranks her 30th this season among 13-year-old girls. She also established personal bests in the 50 free (26.28), 200 free (2:01.57), 1000 free (10:50.60) and 200 fly (2:16.93) during the meet.