Walnut Creek, CA – The Walnut Creek Aquanuts have continued their legacy of excellence this month, competing in Croatia, the U.S., and ultimately the global stage in Singapore at the Aquatic World Championships next week.
At the 24th Primorje Cup in June, the Aquanuts sent one Youth team and one Junior team to
compete in Rijeka, Croatia. The Juniors won one gold medal in the free team event as well as four silver medals. The Aquanut Juniors placed just behind the Croatian National Team taking silver in tech solo (Marlo Goldhoff of Castro Valley), another silver in the technical duet where Goldhoff paired with Vivian Wu of Alamo, and a silver in the acrobatic event and the fourth silver medal in the technical team event.
WCA’s Youth team entered two duets, a solo, team and combo in the Primorje Cup. Juliet Moore and Emily Yuan (both of Walnut Creek) topped the podium, winning gold in duet and Scarlett Krulj of Walnut Creek paired with Summer Kim of Lafayette to place nineteenth in duet. Chloe Nicholas of Walnut Creek took a bronze medal in the solo event and WCA took two more gold medals in both the team and combo events. “It is a such a great opportunity for our Aquanut swimmers to experience an international event through a club option like this. Very proud of our team!” (WCA Youth Coach Kristen Smidstra)
Just after the Primorje Cup, the Aquanuts sent two different Youth and 12 and under teams to the U.S. Junior Olympics in
Arlington, Texas. WCA started the meet off by winning a gold medal in the 12 and under duet category. Katerina Qualk of Concord and Kira Polyulya of San Ramon had a clean swim and topped the podium over
eleven points ahead of any other competitor. In the 12u figure category WCA had two athletes place in the top ten in the country with Anya Lam of Lafayette placing eighth and Polyulya taking tenth. Team and combo were tougher events for the 12u Aquanuts, where they missed final qualification in both events.
In the Youth category the Aquanuts entered the combo and team events placing fourth and seventh respectively in the country. In the Junior category, the Aquanuts entered one swimmer in the technical solo event where Elizabeth Smerechuk of Walnut Creek placed tenth.
FINA World Aquatics Championships – Singapore (July 12–July 27, 2025)
In addition, this week the Aquanuts will be on the world stage. Representing Team USA are Morgan Woelfel of Concord, Karen Xue of Alamo and Ghizal Akbar of Walnut Creek. The U.S. team is led by WCA’s Tammy McGregor (Head Coach, 2x Olympian and 2008 U.S. Olympic Head Coach). Woelfel will be part of the Acrobatic routine while Xue
and Akbar will swim as part of the free and technical team rosters. In addition, Akbar will pair with Olympic veteran, Jamie Czarkowski, to represent the U.S. in the duet events. Two additional Aquanuts are part of the Senior National Team as alternates: Emileen Moore of Walnut Creek and Ana Martinez originally from Mexico and Walnut Creek. The U.S. is
hoping for podium finishes in all events after taking a silver medal home from Paris in 2024.
By Heather Olson