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Meet of Champions
Dolphin standout swimmers Pata, Olanolan shine at 48-team competition
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Julia Pata, pictured left, and Alyvea Olanolan both competed at the Meet of Champions this past weekend in Roseville. - photo by Photo courtesy of Libby Pata

Two members of the Ceres Dolphins recreational swim club traveled to the Roseville Aquatics Center this past weekend to compete at the 13th Annual Meet of Champions.

Julia Pata and Alyvea Olanolan both qualified by meeting standard times and finishing in the top eight at the MVSL finals.

"It's not a meet we've gone to before," head coach Tracy Bull said. "They (Julia and Alyvea) decided they wanted to represent us this year. It was a big step up in competition. Both girls did a great job. I'm really proud of them."

Olanolan finished sixth in the 100 IM (1:17.22), ninth in the 50 free (30.42) and 25 fly (15.19), and 12th in the 25 back (17.70) while competing in the 9-10 girls division.

Alyvea set a personal record in the 100 IM.

"She swam phenomenal," Bull said.

Pata placed fourth in the 100 free (57.19), seventh in the 50 free (27.08), and 10th in the 50 fly (29.39) and 100 IM (1:08.20) in the 13-14 girls division.

She posted personal-best times in the 100 free, 50 free and 50 fly.

"She had a really good meet," Bull said.

Alyvea and Julia both trained with Modesto JC head coach Kurt Olson at Johansen High School leading up to the event.

Olson filled in for Bull, who was vacationing with his family in Crescent City.

"I came back early to watch them swim and help coach," Tracy said.

Olanolan and Pata both brought home medals and ribbons from the Meet of Champions.

The event featured 1,000 swimmers from 48 different teams.

"It's not a surprise those two wanted to go there (Roseville)," Bull said. "They've been our hardest workers all year. They didn't want to stop swimming. I'm very pleased with how they did. They represented the MVSL."