I am so proud of our team’s performance this weekend, which resulted in the Amador Polar Bears being the Nugget Conference champions!! The final score was very close, with us beating the second place team, Sacramento Stingrays by 66.5 points. When both of the top two teams each score over 1,700 points, 66 points is a very small amount and comes down to a few races, a few swimmers, and the season long effort by the swimmers to improve. 

I told the team on Sunday morning that although swimming is an individual sport while they are in the midst of their race, we can only win as a team, which was apparent at the end of Sunday. There were numerous families that attended this year’s championships who had never gone. There were several families who did not intend on coming to championships due to previous plans, but changed their plans to support the team and their swimmer’s desire to race at championships. There were several swimmers who were injured or sick during championships, but were adamant that they wanted to race. Without their participation, we would not have won. Our team’s success was directly related to every Polar Bears swimmer who attended championships this year and I am so proud of their dedication and effort this past weekend. 

We had an amazing amount of personal best times throughout the weekend, which as a coach, is my personal goal for the swimmers at championships. The coaches push the swimmers throughout the season to build technique, endurance, and speed with the intent that the swimmers make vast improvements, which our swimmers accomplished this weekend. A lot of those personal time improvements resulted in excelling during finals at championships this year. The following swimmers placed in the top three swimmers of their age bracket for the entire conference:

6 & Under Boys: 

• 1st place: Maverick Nunley 

7-8 Girls: 

• 1st Place: Teralyn Taukeiaho 
• 2nd Place: Haylee Simmons 
• 3rd Place: Cora Taukeiaho 

7-8 Boys: 

• 3rd Place: Logan Rust 

9-10 Boys:

• 3rd Place:Jasper Monioz 

11-12 Girls: 

• 3rd Place: Ann Marie Wilson 

11-12 Boys:

• 1st Place: Buck Sutton 
• 3rd Place: Evan Berg 

13-14 Girls: 

• 1st Place: Blayke Schoen 
• 2nd Place: Leilani Harmon 
• 3rd Place: Pennie Cowan 

13-14 Boys: 

• 3rd Place: Michael Roller 

15-18 Girls: 

• 1st Place: Aja Fuller 
• 2nd Place: RaeAnna Johnson 

Also during Championships, we had two swimmers who broke team and league records: Blayke Schoen broke every single 13-14 girls APB record (6 total) and broke the league record in the IM, 50 Breaststroke, and 50 Butterfly! Aja Fuller broke two 15-18 girls APB records (her own) and broke the league record in 50 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke, and 100 Freestyle! 

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our entire coaching staff for everything you did throughout Championship Weekend. Your encouragement, motivation, and guidance before and after every race helped our swimmers perform their best and made the weekend a memorable experience. 

Thank you as well to our board members and the many parents who dedicated countless hours before, during, and after the championships to set up, organize, and run a successful event. Your hard work behind the scenes made it all possible. 

A special thank you to all of the parents who participated in the parent relay—one of the most anticipated and enjoyable traditions of Championship Weekend. Your enthusiasm and willingness to join in the fun helped create lasting memories for everyone. 

Finally, thank you to all of our Polar Bear families for your unwavering dedication and support of your swimmers. Your encouragement, commitment, and countless hours spent cheering them on throughout the season gave them the confidence to compete against the best in our conference at Championships. We are grateful to every family for being such an important part of the Amador Polar Bears.

Way to go Bears! 

Coach Josh