Terrapins finally get to compete against another team for the first time in a year

CONCORD, CA — Swimming was less affected than many sports by the shutdown early last year when the coronavirus pandemic brought most of American life to a halt.

The Terrapins Swim Team halted in water training in mid-March but was able to resume practices at the end of May at Forest Park Swim Team pool in Concord (3 days a week, 45-minute session) until its home Concord Community Pool operated by the city of Concord re-opened in the middle of June.

What was impacted during the past year was putting the benefits from all those training laps into competition. It was just last month—fully one year after the initial COVID-19 shutdown–that the local USA Swimming club senior swimmers were in races against another team in a dual meet with the Pleasanton Seahawks.

Coach Dan Cottam said, “It was so great to see the swimmers get to compete against another team and they did a wonderful job with all the safety components. The Terrapin swimmers thrived in the environment and combined for 135 best times.”

Diego Castaneda of Clayton had six best personal times including a 13-14 Terrapin team record in the 400 individual medley. Dominic Maffei of Clayton Valley Charter High had four personal bests and a new Jr. Olympics qualifying swim. Concord’s Maile Andresen of Northgate High had a Jr. Nationals time.

Posting seven best times were Grace Cleary and Daniel Lewis (Northgate) while a trio of Terrapins, Davidka Skov, Brooke Koller and Mason Wendler (Northgate), had five best times.

Also logging multiple BT were Kaya Andresen, Aubrey Newton (Carondelet), Finn Cleary, Elizabeth Joseph, Logan Faulkner (Concord High) and Damien Donado (CVCHS).

In addition, the 13-14 boys 400 freestyle relay (Wendler, Castaneda, Aden Li and Skov) time currently ranks fifth in the US and their 200 free relay posted ninth fastest time in the country.

The Terrapins age group teams ended their 2020-21 short course competitive season at a special Age Group Intra-Squad Meet at the end of March in Concord Community Pool. The 52 swimmers racked up 341 best times, including many new A times, Junior Olympic cuts, Far Western cuts, new team records and Top 10 board qualifiers. Morgan Wendler broke multiple 10 and under team records and set a new Pacific Swimming mark in the 100-yard butterfly in 1:01.00.

Cottam added, “All of the swimmers did such a wonderful job following COVID-19 safety and social distancing protocols.  It has been amazing to watch the swimmers thrive, grow and persist through the past year under such unordinary circumstances.”