Larson, Lodi Swim Club enjoying record-setting success
Nathan Larson plays three sports. But the Lodi Middle School eighth grader made a splash at the Lodi City Swim League Championships at the Tokay High pool on July 13.
Competing in the boys’ 13-14 division of the 100 individual medley for the Seals, Larson broke a decade-old record with a time of 1 minute, 3.78 seconds. According to John Griffin, the Lodi High boys and girls swim coach who oversees the city championships’ trials and finals, the old time was 1:05.40, set by Lucas Salisbury in 2008.
“My dad (Eric) told me,” said Nathan of the new record.
During the summer season, the younger Larson battled to lower the time. He was hoping to accomplish that feat prior to the city championships.
“It was my goal for that year,” Larson said.
Larson has been competing with the Seals since he was 6 years-old. Learning how to swim at age 2, Larson enjoys chemistry within the program.
“There’s a lot of team work and friendship,” Larson said. “Probably the best part of the experience (is friendship).”
Griffin oversees the Lodi Swim Club, in which its members swim year-round. But Larson is not part of the program.
“I don’t swim year-round,” Larson said.
That is because he’s busy playing basketball and water polo, which he started playing earlier this year.
“(I) have really been enjoying it,” Larson said. “Water polo has been fun this year.”
Larson feels that water polo and basketball have similarities.
“In basketball and water polo, I enjoy the team work,” Larson said. “In swimming the determination (for lower times).”
Next summer, Larson plans to compete with the Seals again. Turning 14 in October, this will also mark the last time he competes in the same division.
Lodi Swim Club
Lodi High swimmer Madeline Woznick, who competed in the CIF Swimming and Diving Champi-
onships two months ago, was one of three members from the club who also broke records recently at recent meets. Competing at the Ca-Nv Summer sectionals in Santa Clarita, in the girls’ 17-18 division of the 100 freestyle, Woznick, now a junior, recorded a time of 59.47 seconds.
At the same meet, Rylan Stevenson, a Lodi High sophomore who also competed at the state meet, competed in the boys’ 15-16 division of the same event, clocked at 52.97. Rick Reeder had the club’s old record of 53.70, set in 1970.
Sophia Parises, competing in the girls’ 11-12 division, was at the Sierra Nevada Junior Olympics in Roseville. In the 50 backstroke, she finished at 31.60, which broke another club record by Sarah Sickich, who had the time of 31.75 set in 1994.