The Padonia Park Pooh Bears are not short on talented young swimmers.
That was evident in the Straehle Invitational.
Three swimmers came away with individual championships in a meet at the Four Seasons Sports Complex in Hampstead.
Nicholas Poulas (13-14 boys) won the 100-meter freestyle, Meghan Lee (13-14 girls) captured top honors in the 50 backstroke and Will Kunkel was first in the 50 free.
Poulas's performance — he also posted top-six finishes in the 25 breaststroke and 100 individual medley — jumps out at Padonia Park coach Morgan Stein.
"Nicholas whole family swam for Padonia," said Stein, referring to his two sisters. "He's the last sibling of the family to swim for us. Throughout the years, he has just improved and improved. He's probably the strongest swimmer in the family."
Lee also placed second in the 100 IM, but the backstroke is her passion.
She swims year-round for the Owings Mills-based Eagle Swim Team.
"When you watch her, you are like, 'How is she in first place,'" she explained. "She has a slower turnover with her arms, but it is effortless. Still, he flies through the pool."
Kunkel placed in two other events: 25 breast and 100 IM.
Yet the freestyle is his specialty. He broke an 8-year-old team record in the 50 free (30.99) held by Luke Mussellman.
"That was really exciting for him," said Stein, who has been a Padonia Park coach for 11 years. "He really wanted that team record."
Roland Run had two individual winners in Ryan Branon (11-12 boys, 50 butterfly) and Daniel Branon (8-and-under boys, 1st 25 fly) while Lily Mead (13-14 girls, 1st 50 fly) paced Dulaney. Ava Vercollone (8-and-under girls, 1st 25 breast) led Springlake.
Below are the swimmers from Padonia Park, Meadowbrook, Dulaney, Springlake and Roland Run who finished in the top six of each event.
Padonia Park Pooh Bears
15-and-over boys: Mason Cooper 2nd 50 breast.
13-14 boys: Nicholas Poulos 1st 100 free, 3rd 50 fly, 6th 50 breast.
13-14 girls: Meghan Lee 1st 50 back, 2nd 100 IM.
11-12 girls: Kira MacMullan 2nd 50 fly, 4th 100 IM, 6th 50 free; Mia Burke Dopson 6th 100 IM.
11-12 boys: Bryce Lloyd 3rd 50 back, 5th 100 IM, 5th 50 free.
9-10 boys: Will Kunkel 1st 50 free, 2nd 25 breast, 3rd 100 IM.
8-and-under girls: Jackie Freedman 2nd 25 back.
8-and-under boys: Charlie Kunkel 2nd 25 back, 3rd 25 fly, 6th 25 free.
11-12 girls 200 free relay: Ava Possidente, Min Joo Kim, Kira MacMullan, Mia Burke Dopson, 2nd.
9-10 boys 200 free relay: Max Mislow, Blake Lloyd, Will Kunkel, Oliver Drachman, 4th.
8-and-under mixed relay: Jackie Freedman, Lucia Possidente, Jack Mislow, Charlie Kunkel, 5th.
Springlake
13-14 girls: Emma Schultz 6th 100 free.
11-12 boys: Brody Schrepfer 6th 50 breast.
8-and-under girls: Ava Vercollone 1st 25 breast.
Dulaney Dolphins
9-10 girls: Rachel Cheung 4th 25 back, 4th 100 IM; Daphne Mead 4th 25 breast.
13-14 girls: Lily Mead 1st 50 fly, 2nd 50 breast, 3rd 50 back.
15-and-over girls: Caroline Pifer 4th 50 fly.
15-and-over boys: Zac Metzler 2nd 100 free, 3rd 100 IM, 3rd 50 fly.
8-and-under girls: Julia Mihok 2nd 25 breast.
Meadowbrook Tomatoes
13-14 boys: Ronan Nealis 1st 50 back.
11-12 girls: Caroline Benda 1st, 100 IM, 2nd 50 free, 2nd 50 back; Kacey McKenna, 1st 50 back, 1st 50 breast, 2nd 100 IM; Alexandra Harner 3rd 50 free. Gabriella Alaish 4th 50 back.
11-12 boys: Roshan Rao 3rd 50 fly.
9-10 girls: Tess Lankford 2nd 100 IM, 3rd 25 fly; Eliza McKenna 2nd 25 back, 2nd 25 breast.
9-10 boys: Teddy McQuaid 2nd 25 fly, 4th IM, 6th 50 free.
8-and-under boys: Dylan Mellendick 3rd 25 back; Liam McQuaid 2nd 25 fly.
9-10 girls 200 free relay: Mary Marquez, Shelby Jackson, Tess Lankford, Eliza McKenna 1st.
11-12 girls 200 free relay: Alexandra Harner, Kacey McKenna, Penny Celtnieks, Caroline Benda, 1st.
Roland Run Stringrays
15-and-over girls: Annabelle Lombardo 2nd 50 breast, 3rd 100 IM; Ellen Brooks 3rd 50 fly, 6th 100 IM, 6th 100 free.
15-and-over boys: Jack Sinton 3rd 100 free, 6th 50 back.
11-12 girls: Caroline Connolly 3rd 50 fly, 5th 50 free, 5th 50 back; Hope Byers 6th 50 fly.
11-12 boys: Ryan Branon 1st 50 fly, 2nd 100 IM, 4th 50 free; Patrick Verch 4th 50 back.
9-10 girls: Julia Byers 6th 25 breast.
8-and-under boys: Daniel Branon 1st 25 fly; 6th 25 back.
9-10 girls 200 free relay: Julia Byers, Cecilia Connolly, Elise Purcell, Holly Hirsch, 2nd.
15-and-over 200 free relay: Ellen Brooks, Annabelle Lombardo, Jack Guidera, Jack Sinton, 4th.