Two Ramona women rank excessive at aggressive Western states swim meet

Two 10-year-old Ramona women achieved excessive rankings within the aggressive Western Zone Age Group Championships swim meet held in Boise, Idaho on Aug. 4-8.

Isabella Atkins positioned sixteenth within the 15-meter breaststroke and Amelia Wilden positioned within the prime 16 in many of the relay competitions within the 10 and beneath age class, mentioned coach Dustin Walter.

The Ramona resident mentioned he was happy with the Ramona Swim Team women for putting effectively in a contest of about 700 swimmers from the Western U.S. states together with California’s Bay Area, Alaska, Hawaii, the Sierra Nevada area, Idaho and Wyoming.

“Isabella and Amelia were the first two girls from Ramona to compete in this meet in over 15 years,” mentioned Walter, who participated within the Idaho meet as one of many coaches. “It’s one of the highest levels you could reach as a competitive year-round swimmer.”

The Ramona Swim Team is a year-round aggressive swimming program for teenagers ages 6 to 18. At the tip of each summer season, the quickest swimmers in every age group in San Diego and Imperial counties assemble an All-Star group that competes within the Western Zone Age Group Championships, Walter mentioned. There are 46 youngsters among the many San Diego and Imperial counties groups, he mentioned.

Isabella and Amelia had been the 2 Ramona representatives on the meet and San Diego-Imperial counties despatched 5 swimmers within the beneath 10-year-old class.

“San Diego and Imperial counties placed fifth overall in the championships,” he mentioned. “They tied for the highest ranking they had in the past 30 years.”

Isabella mentioned competing at that stage was exhausting work, however she described it as “awesome.”

“I was so happy that I made it,” mentioned Isabella of her sixteenth place end. “I was so stunned. I didn’t think I was going to be in the finals.”

Isabella mentioned she trains by swimming two hours a day, 5 days every week and does energy coaching with health club gear at dwelling.

Isabella’s mother, Georgina Atkins, mentioned when Isabella ages out into the following division in December she’s going to want sooner instances to qualify for subsequent yr’s Western Zone championships. By then, Isabella mentioned she needs to qualify in additional than simply the breaststroke. Her purpose is to aim to qualify within the backstroke and freestyle.

“It’s a stepping stone in the right direction for her to take it as far as she can,” Georgina Atkins mentioned.

Isabella mentioned her final purpose is to be one of the best of one of the best and to compete within the Olympics. To get there, she mentioned she hopes to qualify for Junior Nationals earlier than the age of 18 and to symbolize her nation in swimming.

“The Zones is a great opportunity, and it was an eye-opening meet for her to be in that caliber,” mentioned Isabella’s mother, who took Isabella’s 4 siblings to Idaho to cheer her on. “It was a great experience for both her and Amelia.”

Isabella mentioned she’s going to deal with advancing to the following stage and getting sooner swim instances.

“It’s really fun for me because it’s a challenge and I like challenges,” mentioned Isabella, who earned a yellow ribbon on the Western Zone Age Group Championships.

Amelia Wilden competed in six particular person occasions and three relays on the Zones competitors.

Amelia mentioned she felt ready when coming into her first regional competitors.

“I work hard on my strokes to get to Zones,” mentioned Amelia, who practices two hours a day 5 days every week at both the Ramona High School or San Vicente Resort swimming pools. “I thought it was fun going to Zones and competing.”

Amelia mentioned she specializes within the 100 freestyle and the 100 butterfly strokes along with the 200 particular person medley. At the Zones competitors she mentioned she centered on the butterfly contests and the butterfly freestyle relays.

Her subsequent purpose is to enter Junior Nationals after which Nationals just like Isabella.

“I want to go to the Olympics someday because I think I would be good at it,” she mentioned.

Amelia’s mother, Erin Wilden, mentioned her daughter has been working lengthy and exhausting and with the ability to go to the Zones competitors was like icing on the cake this summer season.

“Amelia was able to meet friends and experience what it’s like to be in an ocean of talented swimmers,” Erin Wilden mentioned. “There are so many fast kids and to be a part of that was really significant. It’s just really fun to watch.”