by Pam Moore
Two Sylvan Lake Nautical swimmers qualified and attended the Cascade Swimming International meet May 30th to June 2nd in Calgary.
Four-day meets are hard on swimmers as the days are long. At this meet swimmers could qualify for and swim up to eight events throughout the weekend.
Elizabeth Moore (12) competed in eight events making finals in six of them, totalling 14 races she had to compete in. Elizabeth had a fantastic meet and added two more National times to the three she had prior. She got her National times in 50m and 100m butterfly events, and she swam a 13-year-old ‘A’ time in 200m butterfly. Elizabeth got five personal best times and broke three more club records. She won three silver medals — 200m breaststroke, 100m butterfly and 100m breaststroke. She also placed fourth in 200m butterfly and 50m backstroke and fifth in 50m butterfly.
Amber Carson (14) competed in five events during the four-day meet and made it into three finals. She swam five personal best times and broke all five club records. Amber had a very good meet as well and got a silver medal in 200m butterfly. She placed sixth in 100m butterfly and seventh in 50m butterfly. Amber does as great job in those long and gruelling races like 200m butterfly.
Both are off to Medicine Hat this weekend to compete and will be joined by Ann Duffy and Lexi Sparrow.
Last weekend Coach Kim Matthews was in St. Albert with five of our under 10 swimmers at the OSC 10 & under series. This is a series that runs throughout the season with five different meets geared towards younger and newer swimmers.
In the 7 & under girls, Abby Bahler and Kamryn Girard, both only six years old, did an amazing job getting best times in most of their swims. This was Kamryn’s second real meet and Abby’s very first meet.
Nine year old girls Leightan Yablonski and Eden Price have both been attending meets for the past year and are gaining great confidence and speed. Both got best times in most of their swims and really gave the younger girls someone to look up to.
Representing the nine year old boys was Isaac Bahler. He had a lot of fun and was an inspiration for his little sister. He was keen to swim the 100 IM and even though his goggles broke while at the starting blocks he even started the race after all the swimmers were already racing and got a best time for his efforts.
Coach Kim thanked Emily Girard for helping with the six year old girls making sure they knew what race they were swimming and making sure they got to the blocks on time.