By Ervince Apatan |
Swimming is a graceful yet grueling sport. Each meticulously honed stroke that propels swimmers through the water in smooth, sharp glides can only be attributed to the hours they spend counting laps with their pruning fingers. A swimmer must have an unrelenting determination to prevail in this highly competitive sport, and the Salamanca Cluster is a significant marker of excellence.
After smashing multiple records throughout the one-day championships, the Salamanca Tigers left waves of a legacy last February 22, 2023, at Ateneo de Davao University - Senior High School (AdDU-SHS) Pool Area—proving they’re a force to be reckoned with in the water as they tallied a total of 8 medals to end their swimming championship stint. Amidst these cold waters, the Ateneans are more fired up than ever, igniting the poising spirit to make greater waves.
Making a big splash
The competition was held with 6 different sub-events: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, medley relay mixed, and freestyle relay mixed—the first four being divided into the men's and women's categories.
With a masterful command of the waters, the Salamanca Cluster was able to clinch the championship with a total of 3 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze, with the Manresa Cluster right at their heels with 3 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze. Concurrently, the Rome Cluster ended in third with 3 gold and 1 bronze.
Embracing the team spirit, the Salamanca Tigers swam out of their depths and into the waves of unfamiliar strokes by expanding their repertoire of events. The Salamanca Tigers snagged gold medals in three events behind the efforts of Emilio Marlou Cordero in the 50-meter backstroke men (36.40) and Johanna Ira Di Galan in the 50-meter backstroke women (44.81). Emilio Marlou Cordero, Johanna Ira Di Galan, Dioram Matilac, and Kirsten Orcullo have been formidable members as they made their mark in the 4x50-meter mixed freestyle relay by setting the record of 2:28.33.
The notable swimmer who repeatedly made podium finishes was Josh Michael Lao from Manresa, bagging 2 golds in 50-meter freestyle men (28.15) and 50-meter butterfly men (29.53), and 1 silver in 50-meter backstroke men (36.51) with only 0.11-second margin against Cordero from Salamanca. The Manresa Vipers also brought home another gold for Lei Margaret Opalla in 50-meter breaststroke women (49.22), another silver in 40x50m mixed medley relay (2:52.89), and one bronze for Audrey Jade Bulnosen in 50-meter backstroke women (48.45).
Maiki Samantha Gonzaga, Anna Gabrielle Orilla, Joanna Kayla Gonzales, and Raphael Andre Manigo of the Rome Gladiators raised the bar for the 4x50-meter mixed medley relay as they clocked in a time of 2:48.49. In addition, Gonzaga and Kharra Angela Sta. Maria brought in more points as they earned additional two gold medals in the 50-meter butterfly women (31.00) and 50-meter freestyle women (36.10), respectively. Lastly, Orilla claimed the bronze in 50-meter breaststroke women (53.97), behind Manresa’s Lei Margaret Opalla and Pamplona’s Tracy Lucero.
Meanwhile, the Pamplona Cluster came in fourth place with 1 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze. The Jerusalem Cluster racked up 1 silver and 2 bronze to finish in fifth place. Following in sixth was the Barcelona Cluster with 1 silver and 1 bronze. The Paris Cluster grabbed 1 silver to secure their spot in seventh place, and at last place was the Montserrat Cluster with 1 bronze.
EVENT | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE |
50-meter Butterfly (Men) | Josh Michael Lao (Manresa) | Zoe Sambas (Barcelona) | Charls Baron (Montserrat) |
50-meter Butterfly (Women) | Maiki Samantha Gonzaga (Rome) | Tracy Lucero (Pamplona) | Kirsten Eli Orcullo (Salamanca) |
50-meter Backstroke (Men) | Emilio Marlou Cordero (Salamanca) | Josh Michael Lao (Manresa) | Jed Isaac Mearns (Jerusalem) |
50-meter Backstroke (Women) | Johanna Ira Di Galan (Salamanca) | Tracy Lucero (Pamplona) | Audrey Jade Bulnosen (Manresa) |
50-meter Breastroke (Men) | Kevin Earl Pantaleon (Pamplona) | Francis Duenas (Jerusalem) | John Simon Decena (Salamanca) |
50-meter Breaststroke (Women) | Lei Margaret Opalla (Manresa) | Tracy Lucero (Pamplona) | Anna Gabrielle Orilla (Rome) |
50-meter Freestyle (Men) | Josh Michael Lao (Manresa) | Emilio Marlou Cordero (Salamanca) | Jed Isaac Mearns (Jerusalem) |
50-meter Freestyle (Women) | Kharra Angela Sta. Maria (Rome) | Johanna Ira Di Galan (Salamanca) | Julianna Remudaro (Pamplona) |
EVENT | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE |
4x50m Medley Relay (Mixed) | Maiki Samantha Gonzaga, Anna Gabrielle Orilla, Joanna Kayla Gonzales, and Raphael Andre (Rome) | Audrey Jade Bulnosen, Lei Margaret Opalla, Josh Michael Lao, and Lord Ahlla Borag (Manresa) | Emilio Marlou Cordero, Johanna Ira Di Galan, Dioram Matilac, and Kirsten Orcullo (Salamanca) |
4x50m Freestyle Relay (Mixed) | Emilio Marlou Cordero, Johanna Ira Di Galan, Dioram Matilac, and Kirsten Orcullo (Salamanca) | Ronaldo Jadcell Benito, Sophia Louise Martinito, Joey Antoinette Marie Mugas, and Hannah Billedo (Paris) | Naiser Red Romero, JB Orendain, Zoe Sambas, Angelo Dominic Sosmena, Alissa Amaikurut (Barcelona) |
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