Seasonal celebration
Swim team dives into season in holiday style
Santa Claus made a grand entrance via a helicopter flyover to help kick off the start of the Pompano Piranhas Santa Claus Swim Meet.
The jolly old elf even took the time to swim a race with some of his biggest fans, as hundreds of supporters showed their appreciation with ovations for all the participants. Pompano Beach Mayor Lamar Fisher was on hand to open the ceremonies and make the introductions.
A total of 350 swimmers and 11 teams showed up for the recent USA Swimming sanctioned meet at the Pompano Beach Aquatic Center. Piranhas swim Coach and Meet Director Jesse Vassallo has resurrected an old-time meet that was a big hit with the local and national swimming community dating back to the 1970s. For the former worldrecord holder and U.S.A. Olympian, the sport of swimming provides an opportunity to create lifelong memories.
“What makes this meet so special is to see everyone getting into the holiday spirit and instead of admission, we requested everyone to come with unwrapped toys for kids under the age of five, which goes to BSO’s Family Central,” Vassallo said. “We hosted the Turkey Classic recently and had a food drive and now a toy drive with this Santa Claus meet. I was very fortunate to swim at a lot of different levels and the best memories come from small meets like this. The most important thing is for the kids to swim and have fun.”
The age categories ranged from 6-under, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12. The Blue Marlins of Hialeah Gardens was the team point’s leader with 1036, followed by Pine Crest Swim Team (922) and Pompano Beach Piranhas (699). Trophies went to the High Point Leaders for each age category.
Marley Scott of Westminster Academy Swim Club claimed top honors in the 6 & Under Girls division, while Becket Menacho of the
Pompano Beach Piranhas came in first in the Boy’s division. In the 7-8 age bracket, Mia Patton of Pine Crest Swim Team won in the girls group and Farouk Musa of Heritage Aquatic Team claimed the boys top honor. Tawanha McLemore of Broward Elite Swim Team and Luca Echeumuna of Azura Florida Aquatics came in first in the Girls and Boys 9-10 division. Summer Shulte of the Pompano Beach Piranhas and Joshua Hanks of Pine Crest Swim Team took top honors in the 11-12 age groups for girls and boys.
Schulte, a native of Pompano Beach, has been with the Piranhas since age four. The 12-year-old is a seventhgrade student at Pompano Beach Middle School and has made every Santa Claus meet since it was resurrected five years ago.
“This is my favorite meet because everyone gets dressed up and we put up decorations and really get into the Christmas atmosphere,” Schulte said. “Everyone brings in toys and this allows kids who can’t afford it to have a really nice Christmas.”