The Turlock Seadogs summer swimming program placed first out of six teams at the Tracy Invitational, taking the tournament by storm and for the first time in the program's history coming home as victors. The Seadogs dominated the meet by 50 or more points, a tremendous feat in the swimming world. Swimmers ranged in age from 3 up to 18, and the Seadogs took 122 representatives out of its 180 strong squad.
“Every point counts,” head coach Erich Richter said. “I am really proud of the way everyone did and it takes more than first place finishes to win a match because we need everybody.”
Although it was a team win, there were a few standouts. Emma Burke, CJ Cossey and Mitchell Clark earned 10 first place finishes for the Seadogs. Cossey and Burke competed in the 15-16 age groups while Clark competed in the six and under age group.
Clark, 6, took two first place finishes in the 25 butterfly with a time of 27.43, in the 50 free he finished with a time of 1:03.12 and he also placed second in the 25 back with 31.83.
Burke not only took first place in four of her six events, but also took 10 seconds off every event. In the 50 back she finished with a time of 31.37, the 50 breast 36.20, in the 50 butterfly she finished with a 31.36, and in the 100 medley she had a time of 1:09.80. She also placed second in the other two events, the 50 free and 100 free.
“I tried a lot of new things and I was mostly just surprised of how I did,” Burke said. “I really enjoyed competing in all those events. I never tried a few of the events, but I liked some especially butterfly.”
Cossey also placed first in four of his six events, which consisted of the 50 free with a time of 23.85. In the 100 butterfly he finished with a time of 1:01.48, the 100 medley, 1:03.87, and in the 100 free, 51.83. Cossey also finished second in the 100 back and fifth in the 100 breast.
“It is something I have been doing since I was little and it comes easier than most things," Cossey said about swimming. "I am always in the pool.”
The next event for the Seadogs is a dual meet on Saturday against Modesto at Turlock High School.
