Hit or Miss: Jen Blanco

I’m pretty sure I’ve read more articles on Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte in the past week than I did the entire year prior. 

That’s what happens when the Summer Olympics are a mere five weeks away and the hype surrounding two of the United States’ most decorated swimmers is building. 

If you’ve picked up a newspaper, surfed the internet or turned on the TV in the last decade, then you know Phelps and Lochte essentially punched their tickets to Rio de Janeiro well before they even set foot in the Century Link Center, in Omaha, Neb. this week for the U.S. Olympic team trials. 

Although that doesn’t mean everyone in attendance won’t have their eyes glued to the pool when those two hit the deck. 

“I’m so excited to watch them go at it,” 2015 Booker graduate Bethany Leap, who swam the 200-meter butterfly June 29, said of Phelps and Lochte. 

For those two, the trials are merely a formality. For others, it's an opportunity to swim alongside some of the best swimmers in the country and build for the future. That’s where Leap and the rest of the Sarasota Sharks come into play. 

Ten local swimmers posted Olympic trials cuts to earn a spot in what has been described as the nation’s fastest swim meet. 

Riverview senior Austin Katz has led the Sharks' contingent heading into the final four days of competition. Katz advanced to the semifinals of the 100-meter backstroke, finishing 15th in the nation with a personal best time of 55.43 seconds. Teammate Matthew Garcia, a 2016 graduate of Cardinal Mooney, was 128th in 57.47. 

Katz also finished 51st in the 200 freestyle (1:51.40). His older sister, Taylor, finished 52nd in the 400 freestyle (4:17.56). 

Austin Katz, Garcia and Matt O’Donnell will continue their Olympic Trials experience June 30 in the 200 backstroke while Drew Clark will make his debut in the 1,500 freestyle July 2. 

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Florida District 16 Little League crowned its first set of champions during the Little League All-Star Tournament June 25, at Twin Lakes Park. 

Sarasota American captured both the 9-and 10-year-old and 10-and-11-year-old divisions while Sarasota National walked away with the intermediate 50/70 division. All three Sarasota teams beat Venice in the championship game to win their respective tournaments. 

Congratulations to this year’s champions!