Swimming
LEE NAMED MOST OUTSTANDING SWIMMER
16-year-old wins four gold, one silver
PRESS RELEASE – Amphibious Aquatics Guam is thrilled to announce the outstanding performance of its 14 swimmers at this weekend’s international swim meet held at Muntinlupa Aquatic Center in the Philippines, where over 300 athletes from 30 teams competed.
Swimmers Maverick Apiag, Skyler Dueñas, Matua Camacho, Tanom Camacho, Olivia Dierking, Tayvia Dierking, Logan Gandaoli, Demi Blu Hurchanik, JP Jin, Nina Lee, Tommy Phillips and Naleeyah Thompson, were led by Team Captains Mia Lee and John Moore IV, as well as Amphibious Head Coach Andy Lee and Coach Darren Apiag. These dedicated swimmers showcased exceptional talent and sportsmanship, bringing home numerous medals and personal bests.
The meet, which took place on Saturday, November 16, 2024, featured a variety of events that tested the skill, speed and strategy of all participants. Amphibious Aquatics swimmers not only excelled in their individual events but also contributed to the team’s overall success, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and competition.
Outstanding performances at the recent swim meet were highlighted by 16-year-old Mia Lee’s remarkable achievement of medals in every event including four gold, one silver and earning the prestigious Vamonos Most Outstanding Swimmer award. Additionally, 10-year-old Maverick Apiag showcased his talent by achieving personal bests in every event, including a remarkable 9.75-second drop in the 50m backstroke, culminating in a new PR of 51.68. Twelve-year-old Naleeyah Thompson also shone brightly, achieving personal bests across the board, particularly in the 100m freestyle where she made an impressive 26.24-second improvement, setting a new PR of 1:21.06. Individual results include:
| Athlete | 50m Free- style | Place | 50m Butterfly | Place | 50m Breaststroke | Place | 50m Back- stroke | Place | 100m Butterfly | Place | 100m Free-style | Place |
| Mia Lee – Most Outstanding Swimmer award | 28.07 | 1st | 29.89 | 1st | – | – | 33.39 | 1st | 1:10.64 | 2nd | 1:02.23 | 1st |
| Maverick Apiag – PR Smasher | 41.38 | PR Smasher (-3.43) | 48.36 | PR Smasher (-9.53) | 56.30 | PR Smasher (-8.47) | 51.68 | PR Smasher (-9.75) | – | – | 1:34.27 | PR Smasher (-7.68) |
| Naleeyah Thompson – PR Smasher | 35.29 | PR Smasher (-5.80) | 43.69 | 2nd; PR Smasher (-15.85) | 57.10 | PR Smasher (-12.58) | 48.80 | PR Smasher (-14.05) | – | – | 1:21.06 | PR Smasher (-26.24) |
| Athlete | Time | Place | Time | Place | Time | Place |
| Skyler Duenas | 32.92 | 50m Freestyle – 2nd | 43.26 | 50m Butterfly – 2nd | ||
| 40.11 | 50m Backstroke – 2nd | 1:16.87 | 100m Freestyle – 3rd | |||
| Tanom Camacho | 1:15.90 | 100m Freestyle – 1st | 46.02 | 50m Breaststroke – 3rd | ||
| 40.41 | 50m Backstroke – 3rd | 33.03 | 50m Freestyle – 3rd | |||
| Matua Camacho | 49.33 | 50m Backstroke – 2nd | ||||
| Olivia Dierking | 47.37 | 50m Breaststroke – 2nd | 41.98 | 50m Backstroke – 2nd | 1:17.16 | 100m Freestyle – 3rd |
| Tayvia Dierking | 47.54 | 50m Breaststroke – 3rd | ||||
| Logan Gandaoli | 36.97 | 50m Breaststroke – 3rd | 36.86 | 50m Backstroke – 1st | ||
| Demi Hurchanik | 42.45 | 50m Breaststroke – 1st | 42.36 | 50m Backstroke – 3rd | ||
| JP Jin | 51.12 | 50m Breaststroke – 3rd | ||||
| Nina Lee | 43.07 | 50m Butterfly – 1st | 37.0O | 50m Freestyle – 2nd | ||
| 50.59 | 50m Breaststroke – 3rd | 45.36 | 50m Backstroke – 3rd | |||
| John Moore IV | 26.17 | 50m Freestyle – 1st | 29.3O | 50m Butterfly – 2nd | ||
| 33.35 | 50m Breaststroke – 1st | 30.76 | 50m Backstroke – 2nd | 58.64 | 100m Freestyle – 2nd | |
| Tommy Phillips | 43.73 | 50m Freestyle – 1st |
Coach Andy Lee expressed pride in the team’s achievements, stating, “Our athletes demonstrated hard work, resilience, and smart swimming throughout the meet. Competing against a talented field in this long course facility has been an exhilarating experience for our team and we’re grateful to our hosts and the community for their support. Each swimmer pushed their limits, and it’s an honor to see them grow both individually and as a team”.
Event organizer and Head of Vamonos Sports League, Ms. Florence Dulce, added, “The energy and enthusiasm displayed by all the participants was remarkable. It’s inspiring to witness the dedication and passion that teams like Amphibious Aquatics bring to the sport, and we look forward to seeing them continue to thrive in future competitions.”
Amphibious Aquatics extends its gratitude to the coaches, parents, and supporters, as well as Ms. Florence Dulce and Coach Jay Ungoco who made this trip possible. As the team looks ahead to upcoming competitions, Amphibious remains committed to further developing our swimmers’ skills and fostering a love for the sport.
