30 athletes to represent SMSC in Bakersfield

(Santa Maria, CA) - 30 athletes from the Santa Maria Swim Club will represent the team at the Central California Junior Olympics, to be hosted at Cal-State Bakersfield on March 16-18, 2007. This represents the largest contingent of athletes that SMSC has ever been able to send to the 14-under competition.

Presenior coach Steve Lougee said, "Its really exciting! We've managed to finish as high as 4th place in the past. Maybe with a few more kids we could have a higher team finish. It should be a fun weekend."

While the 30 athletes is exciting...and 6 more than in 2006, the jump to 146 individual entries from last year's 110 is a bigger deal.

"Not only did we get more athletes to the meet, our athletes are all making more events each. Quite a few of our athletes are competing in the maximum allowed 7 events," said Gold group Coach Matt Brown.