Hardy, Hughes Shine As Sarasota Sharks Dominate Florida Spring Age Group Championships South

2025 Florida Spring Age Group Championships South

• March 6-9, 2025
• Sarasota, FL
• SC (25 yards)
• Results

It was more individual and team dominance for the Sarasota Sharks at the Florida Spring Age Groups Championships South earlier this month.

From an individual perspective, few were better than Sharks’ swimmers Sydney Hardy and Vivian Hughes.

The 14-year-old Hardy won five individual titles and nine gold medals overall, setting personal best times in each event she won. Hardy won the 1,000 freestyle in 9:57.93, the 1,650 free in 16:41.02, the 200 breast in a time of 2:18.26, the 200 individual medley in 2:02.59 and the 400 IM in a time of 4:19.15.

Her time in the 1,000 free ranks sixth this season in the 13-14 age group, while her time in the 1,650 ranks eighth.

Hardy also recorded a personal best time of 52.65 in her 100 free leadoff leg of the 400 free relay.

In the 11-12 age group, Hughes won six individual titles and 10 gold medals.

Hughes won the 50 free in a time of 25.29, the 50 breast in a personal best time of 31.34, the 100 breast in 1:09.91, the 200 breast in 2:35.19, the 100 IM in a time of 1:00.88 and the 200 IM in a personal best time of 2:17.67. She also swam a personal best time of 55.21 in her leadoff leg of 400 free relay.

The Sharks swept the combined, girls’ and boys’ titles, with the girls earning a dominant 2,669.5 points.

Other individual standouts were:

• In the 13-14 girls’ age group, Sophia Malkowic of the Sarasota Sharks took home seven gold medals, three of which were from individual event victories. Malkowic won the 100 back in a personal best time of 55.52, the 200 back in a time of 2:02.94, and the 200 butterfly in a time of 2:04.71. She also swam a 25.93 backstroke leg in the 200 medley relay.
• Abigail Burke of T2 Aquatics was another 13-14 swimmer who had an excellent meet. She won five individual events and had one 2nd place finish all in new best times. This earned her the high point award in the 13-14 girls category. She started with a win in the 200 freestyle at 1:50.30. She also won the 50 free (23.50) and 100 freestyles (50.55). Her two other wins came in the 100 fly (55.51) and 50 backstroke (26.51). Burke finished 2nd in her only other event, the 400 IM, at 4:25.13.
• Noah Walker of the Palm Harbor YMCA Piranhas won seven gold medals in the 13-14 boys’ age group, winning six individual events. All of those victories came in personal best times. He won the 200 free with a time of 1:40.68, the 50 butterfly in 22.61, the 100 breast in 56.70, the 100 fly in 50.66, the 200 fly in 1:53.55 and the 200 IM in 1:53.22. He also swam personal best times in four relay events, clocking a 100 back time of 50.24, a 50 back time of 23.38, a 50 free time of 21.76 and a 100 free time of 46.97.
• Benett Christel of the Tampa Bay Aquatic Club won five individual events in the boys’ 11-12 age group, setting personal best times in winning the 50 free (24.37), 50 fly (25.91) and 100 IM (58.94). He also won the 100 fly (58.62) and 200 IM (2:08.23), while swimming a personal best time of 24.37 to finish second in the 50 free.
• Luca Ferrera of Saint Petersburg Aquatics had a good day in the 10-under boys’ age group, winning four events. He won the 50 free in a personal best time of 25.59, the 100 free in 56.65, the 200 free in 2:02.23 and the 50 fly in 29.09.
• In the 10-under age girls’ group, Lillian Segova of Tampa Bay Aquatics won the 50 back in a personal best time of 32.13, the 50 fly in a personal best time of 30.55 and the 100 fly in a personal best time of 1:10.68.

Combined Team Standings — Top 5

1. Sarasota Sharks, 4,661
2. Sarasota Tsunami Swim Team, 2,114
3. Saint Petersburg Aquatics, 1,856.5
4. T2 Aquatics, 1,486.5
5. Tampa Bay Aquatic Club, 1,231

Girls’ Team Standings — Top 5

1. Sarasota Sharks, 2,669.5
2. T2 Aquatics, 995.5
3. Sarasota Tsunami Swim Team, 954
4. Swim Florida, 522.5
5. Gulf Coast Swim Team, 504.5

Boys’ Team Standings — Top 5

1. Sarasota Sharks, 1,991.5
2. Saint Petersburg Aquatics, 1,363.5
3. Sarasota Tsunami Swim Team, 1,160
4. Tampa Bay Aquatic Club, 772
5. Palm Harbor YMCA Piranhas, 582