Penticton Pikes swimmers shone at provincials in Kamloops over the weekend.
Kicking things off was Ryan McMillan, division one, earning a bronze medal in the 50-metre freestyle, clocking a time of 35.73 seconds, which is a new Pikes record.
Ryan’s sister Ashley, division two, earned silver in the 100-m individual medley as she also clocked a best time of one minute, 18 seconds and 39 tenths of a second, which is also a new provincial record. Ashley also picked up silver in the 50-m free in 31.68 seconds, another new Pikes record.
Hayden Krause, division two, missed a silver medal in the 100 individual medley by .14 seconds. Simon Paisley, division six, picked up a bronze medal in the 50-m freestyle in 25.17.
On day two, Ryan McMillan picked up bronze and a new Pikes record in the 50-m fly and won the B final, good for ninth in the 50-m backstroke. Ashley took bronze in the 50-m fly as well as a Pikes record and won the 50-m backstroke.
On the final day, McMillan earned bronze with the boys regional relay team, while Ashley and the girls regional team took gold.
Pikes coach Cole Midtdal was very pleased with the performances.
“It was so nice to see all our hard work pay off with nearly 100 per cent best times and a few medals to boot,” he said. “The kids had fun and swam very, very fast. I couldn’t be prouder than I already am.”
Provincials provided tight competition and Midtdal saw many fast swimmers eager to perform.
“More than one time I nearly had a heart attack cheering for my kids hoping they would do well,” said Midtdal. “Thankfully, the competitiveness of the meet allowed for my swimmers to be pushed and got times they may not have gone otherwise.”
Simon Paisley earned a best time of 25.17 in the 50-m freestyle, as well as the 100-m fly in 1:06:11, while TJ Paisley’s 26.88 was a best time in the 50-m freestyle and trimmed 11 seconds in the 100-m fly for 1:07.63.
Midtdal liked the Pikes’ willingness to race and compete as he would push them and occasionally ask, “How bad do you want it?”
“Not once did I have a kid not give it their absolute best every time they jumped in the water,” he said.
