Lahaina Swim Club competed at the MAGSA Short Course Championships on Dec. 18 in Kihei.

LAHAINA — Youth athletic programs across the state continue to persevere through the restrictions of the pandemic, and here on Maui, the Lahaina Swim Club represents that true championship effort.

At the Maui Age Group Swimming Association (MAGSA) Short Course Championships held on Dec. 18 at Kihei Aquatic Center, the LSC qualified swimmers in 23 events.

The state meet will be held Feb. 24-27 in Hilo on the Big Island.

According to LSC Head Coach Tom Popdan, the club is coming into high-performance mode after being locked out of public facilities, but maintaining limited training at several private pools here on the West Side.

“We’re still adhering to COVID protocols, with less pool time and in smaller groups, and at present we’re getting close to back to normal,” he said last week.

“We’re really pleased as the team has made significant strides in a short time with their training habits. That effort is manifested in the results of the hard work they’ve put in their training during these COVID times,” said Popdan, who is assisted by Jen Wiseman, Erica Gaastra and Gabby Lindblad in mentoring the team.

Lahaina Swim Club qualifiers for the state championships include Emily Gorokhovsky in the Girls 11-12 100-yard freestyle event, Kaina Yamada (Boys 11-12 100 Free, 100 Backstroke, 200 Individual Medley), Noah Caiserman (Boys 13-14 100 Free, 200 Back, 100 Back, 200 IM, 1,000 Free), and Halia Caiserman (Girls 11-12 100 Breaststroke, 50 Breast, 50 Butterfly, 200 IM).

Also qualifying for the state meet were Sacha Salem (Girls 13-14 100 Breast, 200 IM), Tristan Rickard (Boys 11-12 50 Back), Cruz Storer (Boys 11-12 200 Back, 200 Breast, 200 IM), and Levi Stoddart (Boys 11-12 200 Breast).

Coach Popdan concluded by praising the effort of the entire club, including the student-athletes, the assistant coaches and the LSC Board of Directors that includes Dave Wintermeyer, Kari Alexander, Amy McGill, Bob DeZotell, and Jane Gorokhovsky.

“The entire club reaps the benefits of all the hard work that is put in to get back to normal during these COVID times,” he said.