Brought to you by Spectrum Aquatics, a SwimSwam partner, our Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming series celebrates swimmers of every age and experience level with age group profiles of some recent results.
Steven Zhou-He, 14, TAC Titans (NC): Zhou-He had an incredible showing at the Futures Championships in Greensboro at the beginning of the month, setting four new best times, making one ‘A’ final and winning another ‘B’ final as a 14-year-old. The TAC Titans product put up a time of 2:04.27 in the 200 fly, moving him into a tie for 14th all-time in the boys’ 13-14 age group. He also clocked 56.07 in the 100 fly, ranking him 24th all-time in the age group, while in the 200 IM, his time of 2:09.40 ranks 59th all-time. In the 50 fly, though official NAG rankings aren’t available, Zhou-He sits in a tie for 11th all-time per our research.
Grace Pinto, 15, SwimAtlanta (GA): Pinto went four-for-four in personal best times at the U.S. Junior National Championships a few weeks ago in Irvine, highlighted by earning a pair of top-10 finishes in the girls’ 800 and 1500 free. A member of SwimAtlanta, Pinto put up a time of 2:02.77 in the 200 free, placing 2nd in the ‘C’ final to move into a tie for 5th this season among 15-year-old girls. She also dropped nearly 10 seconds off her best time in the 800 free, clocking 8:52.43 to rank 6th this season among 15-year-olds, while her swims in the 400 free (4:19.38) and 1500 free (17:07.26) rank 8th this season.
Reef McMeeking, 15, Laker Swim (FL): McMeeking set a new lifetime best of 1:01.99 in the boys’ 100 breast at Junior Nationals, earning himself a 3rd-place finish as a 15-year-old. The performance lowered his week-old best time of 1:02.18, set at U.S. Nationals, to rank him 6th all-time among 15-year-olds in the U.S. and 14th in the 15-16 age group. At Senior Nationals, he also set best times in the 50 breast (27.99), 200 breast (2:19.67) and 200 IM (2:04.54), with his swim in the 50 ranking him #1 all-time among 15-year-olds.
Lauren Tacha, 13, Aquawolves Swimming (CO): Representing the Colorado Zone Team at the Western Zone Age Group Championships in Boise, Tacha set a pair of best times in the 50 and 100 back, earning one 2nd-place finish and another 4th-place showing despite being in the younger half of the girls’ 13-14 age group. The Aquawolves Swimming product clocked 1:06.61 in the 100 back, ranking her 17th this season in the 13-14 age group, while her time of 31.16 in the 50 back ranks 26th. She also narrowly missed her PB in the 200 back, clocking 2:26.04.
Beckum Rychnovsky, 13, Des Moines Swimming Federation (IA): Rychnovsky set five lifetime bests at the Central Zone 14&U Championships, picking up a pair of victories in the 800 and 1500 free for the Iowa Zone Team. He posted a time of 8:40.66 in the 800 free, knocking nearly three seconds off his previous best to rank #1 this season among 13-year-old boys and 28th all-time. He also moved to 2nd this season among 13-year-olds in the 400 free (4:11.45), 4th in the 1650 free (16:50.02) and 7th in the 200 free (1:58.92), while he added another PB in the 200 fly (2:16.18), which ranks tied for 13th this season.
About Spectrum
Since 1972, Spectrum Aquatics has been setting the standard for excellence in competition. Backed by a team of driven professionals, we proudly design and manufacture high-quality, custom products in our Missoula, Montana facility. With unmatched expertise and an unrelenting commitment to innovation, we don’t just meet expectations—we exceed them, delivering superior solutions tailored to your specific needs and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in competitive swimming.
Follow Spectrum Aquatics
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpectrumAquatics
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spectrum-products
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spectrumaquatics
Spectrum is a SwimSwam partner.
