The Duncan Stingrays celebrated the careers of some of their most successful swimmers at the annual DST June Jamboree at the Cowichan Aquatic Centre late last month.
Not only did the club honour Canada’s 150th birthday by unveiling banners for two national team swimmers, but it also held a short celebration for half a dozen longtime Stingrays swimmers who were competing for the final time.
The banners recognize Leanne Wilkinson, now Leanne Sirup, the head coach of the club, who swam for the Canadian youth team in the Netherlands in 1989, and Brian Hill, who competed for Canada at four Paralympics between 2000 and 2012, winning three medals.
The six graduating swimmers include Savanah van Nieuwkerk, who will swim with the UVic Vikes next year, Montana Prystupa, James Ogihara-Kertz, Jeremy Kissack, Jasmine Marston and Desirae Ridenour. Van Nieuwkerk placed first in the 100m individual medley and 200m freestyle, and Kissack was first in the 50m backstroke, 50m frees and 400m.
The Jamboree attracted 61 swimmers from six Vancouver Island clubs as well as the Canadian Dolphins from Vancouver.
“The Jamboree is the big season finale for many of our swimmers,” Sirup said. “This year, DST introduced many new young people to the sport of competitive swimming.”
Among the highlights for the host club, nine-year-old Ada Strangway achieved a AA provincial time in the 50m free and a AAA time in the 50m breaststroke, in which she also placed second.
Other highlights for the Stingrays:
Sam Gerbrandt (seven): first in 25m backstroke
Julian LaPointe (seven): first in 25m butterfly
Colbie Hall (eight): first in 25m butterfly
Amelia Marsh (eight): first in 25m free
Rocco Panacui (eight): second in 25m free
Rowan Thompson (eight): 10th in 100m free
Roan Bleackley (nine): first in 25m breaststroke
Finn Dahlstrom (nine): sixth in 100m free
Aysia Miller (nine): first in 25m breaststroke, second in 25m free
Ryca Stiwich (nine): first in 800m free, second in 200m IM and 200m breaststroke
Ariel Soto (10): eighth in 50m backstroke
Ty Dahlstrom (12): first in 50m breaststroke and 800m free
Mary Paridaen van Veen (12): first in 50m fly, second in 100m free, third in 400m free
Carley Battie (13): first in 200m IM and fifth in 200m free
Addie Bell (13): second in 100m backstroke, second in 200m free, fourth in 200m free
Mya Smith (13): first in 200m backstroke, third in 50m free
McKinley Thomas-Perry (13): first in 100m IM, 50m breaststroke and 800m free
Jasmine Kremer (14): second in 50m fly and third in 800m free
Dylan Kruger (14): first in 100m IM and 800m free
Alex Rockson (14): second in 200m IM, 50m butterfly and 200m backstroke
Jamie Bell (15): second in 50m free and 800m free
Tiegan McDevitt (15): second in 100m backstroke and 800m free
Sophie Paridaen van Veen (15): first in 50m free and 400m free
