Making waves

Eight Gold Pan swimmers travelled to Kamloops for the second swim meet of the season for the Waveriders.

Eight Gold Pan swimmers travelled to Kamloops for the second swim meet of the season for the Waveriders, facing teams from across B.C. as well as several Alberta teams.

With over 30 swimmers, amounting to 21 teams competing at this meet the Waveriders swam in for 14th place overall.

For the boys, nine-year-old Luca Armstrong placed in the top six for all of his events in the 10 and under category.

Armstrong placed fifth in the 100m backstroke, as well as the 100m and 200m freestyle, while also taking third place win the 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

This determined swimmer then put his skills to the test, competing against swimmers up to three years his senior in the 12 and under category.

Placing 17th in the 200m backstroke and 14th in the 400m freestyle.

He ended the weekend event with six personal best times as well as an A provincial standard in the 400m freestyle and the 200m backstroke.

Waverider Lief Brandson participated in eight events during the weekend of swimming in the 11 – 12-year-old category, placing seventh in the 100m and 200m backstroke and the 100m butterfly, fourth in the 200m breaststroke. Brandson also placed in the top 10, earned AAA provincial qualifying times and personal best times in all his events.

Placing in the top 10 in four events, earning five personal best times, as well as AA provincial qualifying time in the 400 individual medley was Waverider Garnet Currie.

Currie placed 10th in the 100m butterfly, eighth in the 400m freestyle and fourth in the 400 individual medley and the 200m breaststroke.

Having earned his second AA time for the 14–15-year-old category now qualifies Currie for the AA provincials for short course.

Swimming in the 15 and over category was Brad Swyers. Fifteen-year-old Brad taking on senior swimmers, still managed to place in the top 30 in all six of his events as well as earning personal best times in five events.

Taking seventh place in the 100m freestyle and the 50m freestyle, as well as sixth place in the 50m breaststroke in the 11–12-year-old category was Billy Swyers.

Billy left the Kamloops event with five personal best times as well as his first AAA provincial standard time, this being in the 100m freestyle.

Swimming in the 10 and under category for the girls was Waverider Gavin Currie.

Gavin placed in the top 10 in all her events coming in 10th place in the 200 individual medley, eighth place in the 100m breaststroke, sixth place in the 100m freestyle, fifth place in the 50m backstroke and fourth place in the 100m backstroke, as well as earning five personal best times.

Swimming in for four personal best times, as well as making it to the B final in the 50m backstroke in the 11–12 year-old category was local swimmer Grace Currie.

Fourteen-year-old Waverider Natasha Hanson placed in the top 15 in her six events, coming in ninth place for the 50m freestyle and sixth place in the 100m freestyle.

Hanson also earned AA qualifying times in the 50m and 100m freestyle, the 100m butterfly and the 400 individual medley, as well as five personal best times.

It was not only the swimmers who had reason to celebrate in Kamloops but also two Waverider parents who helped officiate on deck.

The next event for the Waveriders is at the Quesnel Arts Recreation Centre, Jan. 17 – 18. Come out and support the Waveriders as they plunge into the waters for their first home meet of the season.

 

Quesnel Cariboo Observer