Oakdale High School

Locals Fare Well In Year-Round Swim Action

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Thirteen year-old Oakdale swimmer Soren Dickens out-touched some of the best swimmers in the western hemisphere to finish fourth in the 200 meter breaststroke at the Speedo International Age Group Invitational in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Friday.

Dickens’ 2:41.10 second time was just behind swimmers from Maryland, Puerto Rico and Florida in a tough field of 10 finalists and 33 qualifying competitors.

Dickens made the trek to the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex with Oakdale year-round teammate Kelsey Knollmueller and coach Russ Van Cleave to see action from some of the best young swimmers in the world.

“The competition is very challenging at this event,” Van Cleave said via telephone from Florida on Friday. “You see some of the best swimmers from all over the United States and Puerto Rico here.”

Dickens had qualified for the 200 breast finals after finishing third in preliminary action on Thursday. He competed in four events, qualifying and eventually placing in one.

Knollmueller took on competitors in the open division and swam well in a field that saw as many as 86 open division opponents in any single event.

“It’s hard to grasp the gravity of how big this thing is,” Van Cleave said. “There are so many teams represented and so many kids competing.”

Dickens’ solo stanza led Oakdale to a 35th place finish among 47 teams in the men’s division.

Oakdale also sent four year-round competitors to the Contra Costa invitational at Contra Costa College in San Pablo on Saturday and Sunday. The local quartet saw rare looks at a 50-meter pool and over 500 standout swimmers.

Adrian Rojas and Robert Winders both did well in the tough field of boys. Rojas shined in a strong 100 free while Winders stepped up with a sharp 200 individual medley.

Shelby Panter highlighted her meet with a first-ever 800 freestyle, setting the pace for a grueling 16 laps across the pool.

 “I was really excited for her because her laps got faster and faster and she was able to swim her own race,” Oakdale Aquatics swim coach Andrew Van Cleave said. “She did really well.”

Panter also nailed down a superb time in the 100 free and Katie Vanderburg competed and shined with an excellent performance in the 200 I.M. and 100 free.

Oakdale year-round swimmers are preparing for a run at Junior Olympic competition later this summer.