The Connecticut Aquatic Club (CAC), coached by Christine Pelham, attended the U.S. Swimming, Connecticut State Age Group Championship held at Wesleyan University in Middletown last month.

Wesleyan's 18 lane, 25-yard pool hosted 1,100 swimmers from Connecticut's 52 U.S. swim teams. Thirteen of CAC's 15 qualifying swimmers, representing all age groups competing at the Short Course Championship, were in attendance. CAC's Rhianna Blake and Jessica Hespeler opted not to attend as they were preparing for Southern Zone Sectionals in Fort Lauderdale in late March.

CAC achieved an overall place of 20th in team points scoring. This was the strongest showing for southeastern Connecticut's U.S. swim teams.

Westerly's Lea Kopperman, 10, placed 25th overall in points scoring in the 9-10 girls division. Kopperman placed 10th in the 200 freestyle (2:23.95), 13th in the 100 IM (1:16.38), 50 freestyle (30.11), 100 freestyle (1:06.98), 16th in the 200IM (2:47.31), and 25th in the 100 backstroke (1:18.75).

Hailing from Pawcatuck, boys 9-10 division swimmer, Wes Rea, 9, placed in the boys 9-10 division; 17th in the 50 freestyle (30.63), 19th in the 50 butterfly (35.22), 25th in the 50 backstroke (36.92), and 30th in the 200 freestyle (2:33.32).

North Stonington's Lea Janz, 12, swimming in the girls 11-12 division was 16th in the 500 freestyle final (5:47.16). In preliminaries, Lea was 21st in the 50 freestyle (27.88), 22nd in the 100 freestyle (1:00.65), 26th in the 200 freestyle (2:13.26) and 200 IM (2:31.49), and 33rd in the 100 IM (1:12.50).

Westerly's Logan Hellwig, 14, placed sixth overall in points scoring in the boys 13-14 division. He qualified to swim finals in every event; however, on Sunday he scratched the 200 backstroke to concentrate on the 100 butterfly. In championship finals, Logan placed first in the 200 freestyle (1:49.93), second in the 100 backstroke (54.90) and 100 freestyle (49.46), and third in the 100 butterfly (54.58) and 50 freestyle (22.78). Logan has qualified for Southern Zone Sectionals.

Pawcatuck's Julia Gavin, 13, swimming in the girls 13-14 division preliminaries was 25th in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.32) and the 200 breaststroke (2:39.01) and 30th in the 50 freestyle (27.00). Julia has qualified for Southern Zone Sectionals.

Westerly's Kyle Rohdin, 17, swimming in the boys 15-over division preliminaries was 22nd in the 200 backstroke (2:13.40) and 50 freestyle (24.08) and 37th in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.76).

Swimmer Andy Janz, 15, from North Stonington, placed 16th overall in points scoring in the boys 15-over division. Janz qualified to swim finals in every event; however, on Sunday he scratched the 200 backstroke to concentrate on the consolation final 100 breaststroke. In the championship finals he placed sixth in the 100 backstroke (1:00.14), seventh in the 200 breaststroke (2:22.94) and the 400 IM (4:33.50). In consolation finals, Janz placed first in the 100 breaststroke 1:03.07, and fifth in the 200 IM (2:10.06). He has qualified for Southern Zone Sectionals.