Swimmer earns nine medals

Andrea Reigel, who will enter Laguna Beach High School in September,

turned in another strong showing at the 2005 Southern California

Junior Olympic Swimming Championships last weekend.

The four-day event was held at the Janet Evans Swim Complex in

Fullerton.

The event marked the sixth straight year that Reigel, who

graduated in June from Thurston Middle School, has competed at the

summer Junior Olympics.

Last year, she claimed nine medals -- five of which were gold.

Reigel, competing this year in the 13-14 age division, had not

been in the pool the past two months due to tendinitis in her knee.

Although expectations were not high for her at last weekend’s

meet, Reigel competed in six individual events and five relay races.

She made the consolation finals -- the top 16 -- in three events,

finishing 11th in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:13.70,

11th in the 100-meter freestyle at 1:03.70 and in ninth-place in the

200-meter individual medley at 2:34.53.

Reigel easily won the 200-IM consolation final by pulling away

from the pack and winning by more than a second.

She shaved four seconds off her time from the qualifying race she

swam earlier that same day and turned in the sixth fasted overall

time for age group.

Reigel swims for the Nelly Gail Gators club team and coach Lewis

Demitriades.