There were only three of them, but they managed to pick up 113 points and a 10th place finish at the Fall Senior Champs held recently at the University of Hawaii at Manoa aquatic facility on Oahu.
“We were a small team there, but we were mighty,” said Swim Kauai Aquatics coach Curt Colby of the three-day meet that wrapped up Nov. 12.
Zach Safford, Jack Machorek, and Xaveria Rodriguez put together the 113-point showing, Safford scoring in six events.
“Scoring in all these events gave him fifth place overall for High Point honors in the mens division,” Colby said.
Safford’s best showing came in the 200 breaststroke (2 minutes, 6.52 seconds) where he ended in second place. He also placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke (58.92) and in the 100 butterfly (51.21), fifth in the 100 freestyle (48.45), sixth in the 200 Individual Medley (1:57.85), and 10th in the 50 freestyle (22.87).
“Jack chose to focus on two events to work toward some Junior cuts, a top level meet on the mainland,” Colby said. “He finished with best times in both events while placing third to get him that much closer to his goals.”
Machorek touched the wall at 1:54.06 in the 200 IM, and picked up the bronze in the 200 freestyle on a 1:41.25 swim.
Rodriguez finished 17th and 19th in her top events — the 100 freestyle (55.15) and the 50 freestyle (25.45). She also dropped times in two other events, the 100 butterfly (1:05.18) and the 100 breaststroke (112.43).
“All in all a great result for these three swimmers,” Colby said. “Now, our focus shifts to getting faster and stronger for the state championships, three weeks away. The high school swimmers are getting ready for the Kauai Interscholastic Federation season with their first meet coming up, Dec. 23. I am very proud of the effort and improvement this team has shown.”
