Sylvan Lake Nauticals were in Edmonton at the Silver Tide Invitational swim meet Saturday and Sunday.
Coaches Trevor and Sharon Burns had 16 swimmers at the meet, ranging in age from eight to 15 years old.
Kora-Lynn Juneau (9), Kristen Sandberg (10) and Mackenzie Siemens (9), all attended this as their first big meet. It can be very overwhelming to walk into the Kinsmen Centre in Edmonton and see 400 swimmers in the pool for warm up. They were all nervous but swam really well in their events.
Kora-Lynn got under the one minute mark in the 50 free on her first try in the 50 metre pool. Mackenzie did the breast stroke flawlessly and looked really strong. Kristen had a really good 50 free and hit the one minute mark. What a great meet for these three girls for their first time in a 50 metre pool.
Cole Matthews (9) and Zoe DeJonge (8) both swam the long 400 meter event for the first time and did really well with times of 8.34.52 and 8.37.82.
Coach Sharon was really impressed with how well they both paced themselves for the eight lengths of the pool.
Getting one personal best time was Chase Murdoch (15). He placed second in 100 back, 50 breast, 100 fly and third in 50 fly, 50 free and 50 back and sixth in 100 free with his 50 fly being his best time. Chase also got his 15 year old provincial A time and took down two club records — in the 50 fly and 100 back.
Getting three personal best times were Ann Duffy (13) with her best swim in the 100 free, taking off two seconds; Cole Matthews (9) with his best swim in the 50 fly taking off 10 seconds (Cole also placed in seventh for 400 free); Stephanie Vetter (10) with her best swim being the 100 free where she took off nine seconds; and Eden Price (8) with her best swim in the 100 free and 100 back where she took off eight seconds on each swim.
Getting four personal best times was Zoe DeJonge (8) with her best swim being the 100 free and 100 back. She took off two seconds on each of these swims.
Getting five personal best times were Jasmine Hafso (13) who had her best swim in the 100 free taking an amazing 19 seconds off her swim (Jasmine also placed tenth in her 50 free style); Michael Carson (11) who had his best swim in the 200 free and he took off an enormous 27 seconds and also placed tenth place for his 50 fly; and Erin Matthews (12) who had her best swim in the 50 fly taking three seconds off. (Erin placed fifth in the 50 fly and sixth in the 50 breast, 100 breast and 50 free.)
Getting six personal best times were Amber Carson (13) who had her best swims in the 200 fly and 50 back taking two seconds off each swim. (Amber placed first in the 200 fly, second in the 100 fly, fourth in the 50 fly, seventh in the 50 free, and 10th in the 50 back. Amber also got her 14 year old provincial A time in 200 fly); and Eliana Mulholland (10) who had an amazing swim in the 200 free taking off 19 seconds and placed 11th in 50 breast and 200 free.
Getting seven personal best times was Elizabeth Moore (11) who placed second in the 200 fly and 50 back. She got third in 200 breast and 100 back, fourth in 200 back, fifth in 50 free, and sixth in 200 free. Elizabeth got a 12 year old provincial A time in 200 breast and her 11 year old provincial A times in 100 back, 200 fly, 200 back and 200 free. Elizabeth also took down seven club records. She got new club records for each swim she did. Amazing swimming.
This Sunday some of our swimmers will be trying out for Alberta Summer Games Zone 4 team. If they make the team they will participate in the games July 26-July 29 in Lethbridge.
The weekend after — June 8-10th — is the much anticipated FREEZE or FRY in Red Deer hosted by Catalina swim club. This meet is in an outdoor pool and depending on the weather you will either freeze or fry. It’s always enjoyed by all the swimmers.
by Kim Matthews - Special to Sylvan Lake News