Three members of the Carson Tigersharks swim team depart on Thursday for Portland, where they will compete at the second annual Junior Invitational this weekend.
Eighteen-year-old Ryan Hudson will join Justin Barber and Lauren Costella, both 16, in representing the Tigersharks Friday through Sunday. Costella is the defending champion and meet record holder in the 800-meter freestyle. Hudson and Barber are attending this meet for the first time.
The meet is hosted by the Tualatin Swim Club, which is coached by Paul Bergen, coach of the Netherlands' Olympic sensation Inge de Bruijn. The meet is open for girls 16-and-under and boys 18-and-under competitors, and with its 25-meter course, is the only meet of its kind in the U.S., according to Tigersharks coach Jack Simon.
"This has quickly become a major meet in the country," Simon said. "We stayed home from the U.S. Open to prepare for this meet. This is a great opportunity for the kids to compete at a high level with kids in their own range."
Swimmers from China, Italy, Ireland, Japan, France, Canada, as well as the Pacific Northwest will compete.
The Carson Tigersharks will host the Pacific Senior Swimming Championships next weekend, Dec. 15-18.