In it’s bid to prepare the country’s elite junior swimmers for the upcoming international competitions this year and next year’s Youth Olympic Games, the Philippine Swimming Incorporated, through the initiative of Secretary General Lani Velasco, is set to send seventeen swimmers to participate in a Swim Camp in Santa Clara, California, USA next month.

This swim camp will be under the mentorship of the Santa Clara Swim Club Head Coach John Bitter.

The Santa Clara Swim Club is considered a Gold Medal Club in the USA Swimming Club Excellence Program. It has been developing champions since its founding in 1951. To date, it has produced 33 Olympic Gold Medals, 12 Silver Medals and 9 Bronze Medals and a host of other awards and recognitions throughout its history.

Upon the recommendation of Coach Bitter, the selection of the participants was based on the ranking of swimmers according to accumulated FINA points.

The selected seventeen swimmers set to join the swim camp are :

– Barlisan, Miguel Karlo (VVSC-AK)

– Barreto, Rafael (AHSC)

– Chua, Jexter Janzen (PSSC)

– Ilustre, Maurice Sacho (DLSZ)

– Santos, Phillip Joaquin (AHSC)

– Guerrero, Gabriel (QCWSC)

– Limfilipino, Ianiko Grieco (QBSC)

– Mangilinan, Robi (LAUB)

– Pogiongko, Andrae (VVSC-AK) – Castrillo, Regina Maria Paz (PSSC)

– Chua, Xiandi (TOP)

– Daos, Kirsten Chloe (QBSC)

– Baluyut, Althea Michel (AWSC)

– Buico, Camille Lauren (MSC)

– Coronel, Samantha Therese (GSE)

– Newberry, Bhay Maitland (AGSC)

– Pamintuan, Nicole Meah (DLSZ)

Following the leadership of George Haines, the founder of Santa Clara Swim Club, John Bitter, has remained committed to developing champions not just in the pool but in all walks of life. Discipline, sportsmanship, hard work, and team involvement are stressed throughout the program. Through the dedication of its swimmers, coaches, and parents, Santa Clara Swim Club carries on this tradition, continuing to contribute to the sport of swimming.

Velasco, PSI’s Secretary General, initiated and pursued this partnership to provide training opportunities for Philippine Junior Athletes, as well as for seven coaches. She is in close coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission, USA Swimming and Santa Clara Swim Club to ensure a successful program. This training camp is designed and geared towards the preparation for the SEA Games, the Asian Indoor & Marital Arts Games (AIMAG) and the FINA Junior World Champs, to name a few.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), thru the kindness of Chairman Butch Ramirez and all the PSC commissioners and staff, has provided funding for this swimming camp.

PSI has been truly grateful to the PSC board as this is the first time that it will be funding an all-expense-paid overseas training camp for local Filipino junior swimmers. PSC also extended its support for two (2) local coaches who will also be sent to the said camp.; while Velasco has tied up with sponsors to add four (5) more coaches to the camp, allowing PSO to bring a total of 6 coaches to the camp.

The seven coaches who have been selected to join the training camps are Jenny Rose Guerrero of Ace Seawolves Swim Club, Maria Georgina Gandionco of Rising Atlantis Swim Club, Ma. Elena Cristina De Guzman, Sherwyn John Santiago of Qcsc Buccaneers Swim Club, Noel Ilustre of Green Mariners & De la Salle Zobel, Reynaldo Galang of Valle Verde Aqua Lasers Swim Club and Emmanuel Dominic Quilala of D’ ACE Seahawks.

PSI aims to provide exposure to local coaches via this swim camp, where they will be exposed to best practices as far as coaching techniques and skills that they can bring back home; while Philippine swimmers stand to benefit from this world class training as it will help them prepare for major international meets such as the SEA Games, among others.

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