In our Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming series, we celebrate swimmers of every age and experience level with age group profiles of some recent results.
John Zheng, 12, The Spartans of La Canada (CA): Zheng had a standout performance at the Southern California Swimming Age Group Championships in Pasadena, winning the boys’ 11-12 High Point Award as he swept his events and set personal best times across the board. In the 50 breast, Zheng clocked a time of 29.00 to rank 75th all-time in the boys’ 11-12 age group and 7th this season, while his time of 1:03.46 in the 100 breast ranks 8th in the 2023-24 campaign. The Spartans of La Canada product added wins and best times in the 100 free (51.20), 50 back (26.96), 100 back (57.34) and 100 IM (58.47).
Penelope Lopez-Casula, 12, Eagle Aquatics (FG): Lopez-Casula swept her events last weekend at the Sunshine State Showcase meet in Fort Pierce, Florida, setting a trio of best times and continuing her ascent up the all-time age group rankings. Lopez-Casula’s time of 23.42 in the 50 free ranks her 3rd all-time among 11-12 girls, moving up from 7th where she previously stood with her former PB set last year (while 11) at 23.57. She also went 25.66 in the 50 fly, ranking 35th all-time in the 11-12 age group, and added a best time in the 200 IM (2:13.85).
Connor Christopherson, 15, SwimAtlanta (GA): Christopherson dropped a full second from his best time in the 200 free at Georgia Swimming’s Best of the South meet earlier this month, clocking 1:38.19 to snag the victory with a noteworthy 24.87 third 50. The swim moved Christopherson into 7th this season among 15-year-old boys. The SwimAtlanta product, who came into the meet with a 200 free PB of 1:39.13, also set a best time of 20.92 in the 50 free.
Addy Koenig-Song, 13, NASA Wildcat Aquatics (IL): Koenig-Song broke an Illinois state record and added two more personal best times at the NCSA Spring Championships in Orlando, which had short course prelims and long course finals. In the final of the girls’ 50 fly, Koenig-Song clocked 28.06 to break the Illinois Record for 13-14 girls, which previously stood at 28.70 held jointly by Athena Ye and Maeve Collins. Koenig-Song also swam to new personal best times in the 100 fly (1:02.89) and 200 fly (2:21.86), ranking 2nd and 1st, respectively, among 13-year-old girls this season.
Wilson York, 14, Lakeside Swim Team (KY): Primarily known for his breaststroke talents, York set a pair of best times in some ‘off’ events at the Kentucky SCY Championships last weekend in Louisville. York, who won all nine events he contested, set new lifetime bests in the 200 back (1:53.23) and 100 fly (50.88), ranking 38th and 27th in the boys’ 13-14 age group this season, respectively. The Lakeside Swim Team member also topped the 50 free (22.14), 100 back 951.54), 100 breast (55.61), 200 breast (2:01.38), 200 fly (1:52.90), 200 IM (1:51.90) and 400 IM (3:59.06).
Margot Levesque, 14, Bluefish Swim Club (NE): Levesque dropped back-to-back best times in the 400 IM at the Speedo Sectionals last weekend in Providence, bringing her PB down from 4:17.91 to 4:15.56 to jump into 38th all-time in the girls’ 13-14 age group. She also went 4:16.71 in the prelims. Levesque also set new bests in the 200 breast (2:19.43) and 200 fly (2:03.72).
