The summer swim season on Vancouver Island is underway, and the Comox Valley Blue Devils are achieving many personal bests and podium finishes.
Under the guidance of coaches Drew Kuhnert, Kyle Brush, Tristan Steven and Megan Rousseau, Blue Devils swimmers have participated in four meets thus far – Cowichan Valley, Oak Bay, Courtenay and Nanaimo – and are looking forward to the annual campout and air band competition at Campbell River.
With over 35 Blue Devils swimmers participating in their June 21-22 swim meet at the Lewis Park outdoor pool, the team posted impressive results. Special mention must be made of novice swimmers – Alexa Pauletto, Callie Blasco, Jasmine Ho-Gillis, Pepper Hedquist, Ethan Olson, Jack Olson, Fin Hedquist, and Liam Fath – most of whom competed in their very first 25 metre races.
Also swimming personal bests were:
Div. 1 girls – Ella Prager, Leela Muir, Shadia Zuccato and Neve McDonald.
Div. 1 boys – Jace McDowell, Stephen Henly, Spencer Webb and Liam Fath.
Div. 2 girls – Ava Webb, Naomi Swift, Chloe Pritchard, Aislen Ferguson, Elise Ferguson, and Chloe McDonald.
Div. 2 boys – Eli Blasco, Sebastien Morin, Alex Paul, Jordan Raume, and Peter Shaver.
Div. 3 girls – Abby McDowell, Isabella Anderson, Lauren Blasco and Natasha Muir.
Div. 3 boys – Cole Barker.
O Cat 1 boys – Jaden Fath and Delwyn Marcoux.
O Cat 2 girls – Avry Bowers.
Div. 4 girls – Zoe McDougall, Myia Dunn and Jaida Blasco.
Div. 4 boys – Douglas Lightfoot.
Div. 6 girls – Megan Rousseau, Emma Rudolph, Amelia Helpard, Sydney Kuhnert, and Kyla deWitt.
Div. 6 boys – Caleb Clarke.
Div. 7 girls – Beverly Jolley.
With 17 swimmers competing at the June 27-29 Nanaimo Invitational, the Blue Devils once again swam impressively. Facing tough competition from the Mainland and Island, many achieved personal bests: Callie Blasco, Jace McDowell, Spencer Webb, Stephen Henly, Eli Blasco, Sebastien Morin, Ava Webb, Shadia Zuccato, Abby McDowell, Isabella Anderson, Lauren Blasco, Myia Dunn, Jaida Blasco, Emma Rudolph, Douglas Lightfoot and Caleb Clark.
Dominating their respective divisions, Zoe McDougall (Div. 4) and Megan Rousseau (Div. 6), brought home a combined eight medals (5 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze). New to the club, Megan Wilson (OCat 2), also had an outstanding meet, earning one gold and two silver medals.
With the Vancouver Island Championships scheduled for Aug. 2-4 at Saanich’s Commonwealth Pool, the Blue Devils will continue to train and compete hard over the next four weeks.
One of B.C.’s oldest swim clubs, the Blue Devils have provided thousands of Comox Valley youth with fitness, friendship, competition and enjoyment since 1948. The Blue Devils caters to all swimmers, providing excellent coaching and enabling every swimmer to develop to the full potential of their individual interest.
For more information, visit www.bluedevilsswimclub.com.
– Comox Valley Blue Devils
