PORT ANGELES — The 2024-2025 club swim season ended on a high note for the Port Angeles Swim Club, highlighted by impressive team finishes and numerous personal bests as six swimmers represented the club at the Pacific Northwest Swimming Long Course Championship and six masters swimmers competed at the 2025 USMS Summer Nationals.
The standout was Almaz Faskhutdinov’s national championship performance at the U.S. Masters Summer Nationals in Federal Way earlier this month. He posted a 25.18-second time in the 50-yard butterfly, leading from start to finish to claim first in the 18-24 age category. This victory came just one day after his third-place finish in the 50 freestyle.
Port Angeles Swim Club member Almaz Faskhutdinov won a national championship in the U.S. Masters Summer Nationals in the 50-yard butterfly. (Port Angeles Swim Club)
Thomas Jones and Adam Kaminski represented Port Angeles in the senior championship meet. Kaminski reached the “B” finals in both the 50 butterfly and 50 backstroke, finishing ninth and 10th, respectively. Both swimmers also achieved personal bests in their events.
At the 12-and-under championship, four young swimmers powered the team to a 17th-place finish out of 31 teams. The youngest swimmer, Kai Hapoff, recorded personal bests in the 50 breaststroke and 200 freestyle.
Kenzie Hapoff competed in four events, improving her time in the 200 freestyle by 4.5 seconds and 200 breaststroke by five seconds. Rising seventh-grader Annechie Ridle delivered season-best swims in the 50 and 200 breaststroke, as well as the 400 individual medley.
Building on her success at November’s short course championships, Abby Zajkowski advanced to two “A” finals, two “B” finals, and earned an alternate spot in a fifth event. She placed fourth in the 50 backstroke, sixth in the 100 backstroke, 10th in the 200 backstroke and 16th in the 200 freestyle.
The following weekend, Faskhutdinov and five other PASC Masters swimmers turned in outstanding performances at the USMS Summer Nationals, with all earning medals in their age groups
Thomas Herschmiller’s top swim was a seventh-place finish in the 50 breaststroke. Jason Ridle earned fourth in the 200 breaststroke and fifth in the 50 breaststroke, while Elizabeth Hogan added an eighth-place finish in the 50 breaststroke. Nicholas Jones recorded his best result with an 11th-place finish in the 50 backstroke, and Alex Vanderheiden gutted out a 10th-place finish in the challenging 200.
The new season begins Sept. 2, and registration is now open. Those interested in joining PASC can contact paswimclub@gmail.com for more information.
