by Kim Matthews & Pam Moore
Sylvan Lake Nauticals were at the Calgary Winter Cup held at the exclusive Calgary Winter Club on the weekend. Coach Trevor along with 10 of our swimmers ranging from beginners to veterans participated.
Saturday morning started with three of our 12 and over swimmers competing followed by the other seven swimmers in the afternoon. Sunday morning brought all the swimmers together for a 8 a.m. race time.
Chloe Snyder competed in her first big out of town meet and did a fantastic job. She was really nervous until she got her first swim under her belt getting easier after each swim. In 100m, 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke swims she got three best times.
Eden Price swam six races in total and got five personal best times (PB’s). Her best swim was her 100m freestyle in which she took off 18 seconds. Eden was there to greet Chloe with her towel after each swim, what a great teammate.
Zoe DeJonge swam six races and got four PB’s. Her best swim was the 200m IM (individual medley) in which she took off an incredible one minute and nine seconds. Great job Zoe!
Eliana Mulholland was totally ecstatic as Coach Trevor informed her that she had gotten her very first MQT (meet qualifying time) which will get her to the Alberta Trials (an extra meet to try to qualify for provincials). Eliana got six PBs and a silver medal in the 100m butterfly. Her best swim was her 100m freestyle in which she took off 18 seconds. What a joy to see her excitement.
Avery Burgar had a very solid weekend with five PBs. In 100m freestyle she took off 10 seconds. Coach Trevor said all of her strokes are coming along nicely and she is looking very strong in the water. She is a swimmer that always has a shy smile for you.
Emily Girard is new to the team this year and is settling in nicely, earning herself three PBs. Her best swim was the 100m backstroke in which she took off six seconds. In both backstroke events she looked really strong.
Cole Matthews got five PBs with his best swim being 100m freestyle in which he took 14 seconds off. Cole is a swimmer the parents like to watch as he is very entertaining. You can catch him smiling or laughing and sometimes we think he may be talking or counting during his races. He really seems to enjoy what he is doing.
Sydney Bouvette returned to us this year after taking time off and is such a pleasure with her quiet demeanour and polite disposition. She got five PBs with her best swim being 50m backstroke where she took off 15 seconds.
Lexi Sparrow is another quiet and extremely polite swimmer. She had another solid weekend getting four PBs with her best swim being 200m IM in which she took off five seconds. She placed sixth in 200m backstroke and 100m butterfly. Great swimming Lexi.
Our final swimmer was Ann Duffy who is one of the club’s veterans. Ann had a strong performance getting four PB’s. Her best swim was in the 100m IM taking off five seconds. Ann brought home three bronze medals — in 100m IM, 200m and 50m backstroke — and two fourth place ribbons — in the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke.
There were lots of smiles and fun had by the swimmers. Even the parents could be observed behind the glassed in viewing area having fun and enjoying the competition.