Kiefer Alexander Piccio of Sta. Fe Aquatics grabbed 10 gold medals over the weekend to emerge as the most bemedalled and most outstanding tanker in the boys' 9-10 category of the 1st Binirayan National Invitational Age-Group Swimming Competitions in Antique.

Piccio, a Grade 5 student at the University of St. La Salle, spearheaded the STF, which only had eight of its swimmers competing in the national event.

Piccio, who is set to see action in the 2005 Palarong Panlalawigan next week, started his gold medal sweep by ruling the 200-meter Individual Medley with a time of two minutes and 51.9 seconds, ahead of Panaad Swim Team rivals Joshua Balinas (39.36) and Karlo Del Carmen (41.66).

After his 200-m IM domination, the STF standout placed first in the 50-m backstroke (37.62) and 50-m butterfly (35.27).

Piccio also brought home the 100-m breaststroke gold in runaway fashion as he clocked in at 1:34.10, while John Paul Bayona of the Negros Oriental Blue Dolphins and Integrated Swimming Association of Iloilo's John Roxas finished at 1:39.90 and 1:42.50, respectively.

The La Sallian tanker also came up winning in the 100-m freestyle (1:09.89) and 100-m fly (1:19.23).

Piccio added to his medal-haul after finishing as the gold medalist in the 50-m breast (41.74) and 200-m free (2:30.71). The STF swimmer ended his campaign with victories in the 100-m back (1:21.90) and 50-m free (31.64).

Also snatching 10 gold medals each for STF were Michelle Petero of Bacolod Tay Tung High School in the girls' 15-17 category and St. La Salle's Dana Mae Testa in the girls' 7-8 division.

Miguel Lorenzo Villanueva, a 2005 NOPSSCEA gold medal winner, boosted Sta. Fe's bid after claiming eight golds, one silver and one bronze in the boys' 15-17 bracket.

La Sallian Darryl Testa took seven gold medals and three silvers to emerge as the most bemedalled tanker in the boys' 13-14 category, while Nianh Acain took home four golds and three silvers in the girls' 18-Above.

Jose Ng won two golds, two silvers and five bronzes in the boys' 11-12 as Enrique Sayson bagged four silvers and a bronze in the boys' 18-Above division.

STF emerged third place overall, tied with the Antique Swimming Association Incorporated. Panaad claimed the overall title, while the Aquarius Swimming Club of Iloilo finished second. *CIT

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