Pacific Northwest Swimmers excel at the 2014 Paralympic Spring Can-AM Championships

Pacific Northwest athletes joined the World’s best Paralympic Swimmers in Miami for the USA Paralympics Spring National Championships.  Kayla Wheeler (Lynnwood) - Shadow Seals  Courtney Gross (Issaquah) - Issaquah Swim Team  Olivia Lautman (Kirkland) -Wave Aquatics  Haley Beranbaum (Snohomish)- Stingray Swim Team

2013 world champions Cortney Jordan, , , and Ian Silverman of the United States, as well as athletes from Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico and Russia competed in the event, which was the U.S. team qualifier for the Pan Pacific Para- Championships.

Courtney Gross (Issaquah) and first time National Qualifier Olivia Lautman (Kirkland) had across the board best times and each made it into 4 Championship Finals. Shadow Seals Head Coach

Kiko Van Zandt said “it doesn’t get any better than that!” Courtney took a 2rd in the 200 freestyle and a 3rd in the 50 butterfly. Olivia Lautman took a 3rd in the 50 backstroke and a 4th in the 50 breaststroke. “A great experience for these two

Courtney Gross - Issaquah Swim Team promising athletes” said Van Zandt.

Olivia Lautman and Courtney Gross continue to improve and have their eyes set firmly on the 2016 Paralympic Trials. Coach Van Zandt said that “there is nothing holding these two young athletes back”. A solid performance in 2016 would put Olivia and Courtney on track for a run at the 2020 Paralympic Team.

Olivia Lautman - Wave Aquatics

Kayla Wheeler of Lynnwood is no stranger to the National/International swimming scene. Kayla won all 5 of her events over the three day competition in Miami and 17-year-old Wheeler (Lynnwood, Wash.) broke a world record in the 50m butterfly (S2), the Pan American record in the 200m free (S2) and American records in the 50m breaststroke (SB1) and 50m freestyle (S2) for her classification.

Kayla Wheeler - Shadow Seals Kayla was also chosen to represent the US at the Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships which will be held in Pasadena, Ca. this summer.

Coach Van Zandt said “Kayla is on track to set several more American Records at the upcoming Marin Morrison meet” the weekend of May 3 & 4th.

Haley Beranbaum of Snohomish will also represent the US in Pasadena at the Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships . Haley had great meet and placed first in the 50 butterfly, 100 freestyle and 200 IM while placing second in the 100 backstroke, 50 backstroke and 50 freestyle. Congratulations to Haley as she is also headed to Colorado Springs to join the US Paralympic Resident Swimming Program at the US Olympic Training Center.

Congratulations to all the Pacific Northwest Athletes on a fine 2014 Spring Can-Am Paralympic Championship Meet.