Local swimmers in regional meet

Menlo Park's SOLO Swim Club is sending 18 local swimmers to the biggest age-group championships in Northern California -- the Pacific Swimming Far Western Short Course meet, to be held this week in Walnut Creek.

A total of 1,200 swimmers from 160 West Coast teams will compete from Thursday through Sunday, April 2 to 5, at the Swim Center in Walnut Creek.

SOLO head coach Tom McRae says the following team members will compete: Karl Erickson, Anna Erickson, Paul Gyorfi, Kylie Hepper, Danielle Hildebrandt, Jamie Massey, John McKay, Gina Merlone, Meg Norton, Pat Norton, Matthew Prior, Kaitlyn Ramirez, Kathleen Rissi, Laura Rissi, Christopher Sakai, Sara Sinicropi-Yao, Michael Skowronski and Paul Skowronski.

"This year's team features many outstanding swimmers who stand a very good chance of finishing in the top eight," said Coach McRae.

Paul Gyorfi and Gina Merlone will be trying to set Junior National times at the meet, McRae said.

Other SOLO coaches are Ricky Silva, Jim Dyer and Alan Weisman.

McRae also is head coach for a National Age Group Camp for top Northern California swimmers, ages 11 and 12, to be held at Menlo School in Atherton on April 18 and 19. Some 50 swimmers are expected to participate.