The next potential generation of Olympians and NCAA champions are competing for the title of state champion at the 2017 Short Course Texas Age Group Championships on Thursday, March 9, to Sunday, March 12, at the LISD Eastside Aquatic Center in Lewisville, Texas.

Below, we have profiled one girl and one boy in each of the different age groups (10 and under, 11-12, 13-14) to watch for this weekend. Keep your eyes glued on these promising young swimmers as they continue to flourish in the sport. They certainly are capable of reaching an elite level one day. 

Watch the 2017 Short Course Texas Age Group Championships on March 9-12 LIVE on FloSwimming!

10 & Under

​Girls

​​Who to Watch: ​​Emily Kitayama ​​(Alamo Area Aquatic Association)
Kitayama is the top seed in each of the eight events that she is entered in: 100 breast (1:18.59), 200 free (2:11.13), 100 IM (1:06.35), 100 fly (1:05.90), 200 IM (2:25.63), 50 free (26.72), 100 back (1:07.80), and 100 free (59.64). Kitayama possesses the most important quality of a strong age-group swimmer with potential down the line -- versatility. She is very well-rounded, swimming a lot of different events, and will look to continue to build her skill set as she develops.

​​Boys

​Who to Watch: ​Anthony Laurito (Aquastar)
​Laurito​ is the top seed in six of the eight events that he is entered in: 50 back (30.27), 100 IM (1:08.34), 100 fly (1:05.77), 200 IM (2:24.88), 100 back (1:04.41), and 50 fly (29.13). Just like Kitayama, Laurito is versatile and excels in the IM events, which is a key indicator of age-group swimmers who are fully developing their skill sets. Look for Laurito to challenge for state titles in the 500 freestyle (sixth seed) and 200 free (third seed) as well.
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11-12

Girls

Who to Watch: ​Annie Leblanc (Swim Streamline at Northampton)
​Leblanc ​is a breaststroke specialist who also excels in the IM events as well. She is the top seed in four events: 100 breast (1:07.12), 100 IM (1:01.63), 200 IM (2:11.51), and 200 breast (2:22.96). Notice a trend here? So far, each of the three swimmers we have spoken about are strong in the IM races. It cannot be overstating the importance of developing each of the four strokes at a high level from a young age in order to excel in the future. Leblanc certainly has done that and will be a force to be reckoned with this weekend.

​Boys

Who to Watch: Ethan Le (Cypress Fairbanks Swim Club)
Le​ is the model of consistency in the boys 11-12 age group. Le is not seeded lower than fourth in any of his events: third in the 500 free (5:07.24), first in the 200 fly (2:06.01), second in the 200 free (1:54.65), second in the 100 IM (59.17), third in the 200 IM (2:09.66), first in the 100 fly (57.19), and fourth in the 200 back (2:11.35). Look for Le to use his versatility to challenge for a state title every race he swims.

13-14

​Girls

Who to Watch: Lillie Nordmann (Michael Nordmann)
​​Nordmann is the dominant swimmer in the girls 13-14 age group. She is the top seed in six of the eight events she is entered in and has already thrown down times that would get her on a Division I college team. She claims the No. 1 spot in the 100 fly (53.48), 200 free (1:47.58), 400 IM (4:22.67), 200 fly (1:58.36), 50 free (23.22), and 200 IM (2:03.53). Nordmann currently holds the third-fastest time in the country for 14-year-olds in the 50 and 200 freestyle. She holds the fourth-fastest time in the country for 14-year-olds in the 100 and 200 fly events as well.

​​Boys

​Who to Watch: Cameron Dafoe (Cypress Banks Swim Club)
Dafoe​ is all over the top three in the psych sheet for the 13-14 boys. Dafoe is currently entered in 11 events and is not seeded lower than fourth in any of them, claiming the top seed in seven of them: 100 breast (57.48), 100 back (51.77), 400 IM (4:01.96), 500 free (4:37.03), 1650 free (16:00.04), 200 back (1:53.68), and 200 IM (1:51.78). He has a unique skill set, excelling in events from the 100 breast all the way up to the mile. It is fairly rare to see a swimmer with that kind of range and stroke variation, but Dafoe has managed to break the mold. Look for him to challenge for a state championship in at least nine of the 11 events he is entered in.
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Archived Competition Footage

Video footage from the competition will be archived and stored in a video library for FloPRO subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.