Los Banos Rotary Club History
117 Swimmers Compete In Annual Invitational Meet Sunday

Los Banos youngsters won the local Rotary Club trophy for the third consecutive year Sunday at the annual Invitational Swimming and Diving Meet and the cup will remain permanently in this city.

The West Side phase of the event was open only to youngsters of Los Banos, Gustine and Dos Palos. However, the overall contest was won by the powerful Merced swimmers and divers who garnered a total of 162 points.

Other points were Los Banos, 95; Dos Palos 56; Atwater 28, and Gustine, 9. Individual honors went to Susan Cornell of Merced who took three swimming and one diving event. The meet attracted 117 participants and some 250 spectators. The event was sponsored by the Los Banos Rotary Club and the Joint Recreation Commission.

Greatly credited with winning the perpetual trophy were Gail Gallant, Sherrill Van Sheets, Frank Castillo and Tom Conwell, all of whom won two first places in their respective age groups. Individual trophies went to first place winners, medals for second and ribbons for third. The awards were presented by Los Banosan Gayle Hardesty, Merced County Centennial Queen. Twenty-nine pool records were broken.

Local award winners were:
Boys 12 and under, Tom Conwell; girls 12 and under, Sherrill Van Sheets; Boys 14 and under, Frank Castillo; girls 14 and under, Lynn Pimentell; boys 16 and under, Ralph "Buzz" Merrell; girls 17 and over, Gerogia White; girls 12 and under, Gail Gallant; Boys 14 and under, Stan McConnell, girls 14 and under, Gail Gallant and Lynn Pimentel; boys 16 and under, Herb Long and Kenneth Storms; boys 10 and under, Richie Lewis; boys 12 and under, Tom Conwell; girls 12 and under Sherrill Van Sheets and Gail Gallant; boys 14 and under, Frank Castillo and Stan McConnell, girls 14 and under, Linda Hagle, boys 16 and under, Herb Long and Buzz Merrell; girls 16 and under, Charlotte Henry.

Local diving award winners were:
Boys 12 and under, Tom Conwell; girls 14 and under, Robin Bates; boys 17 and over, Gary Beck.

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