Eight young Waveriders challenged teams from much larger cities last Saturday at the Valentines Splash in Kamloops and came away with reams of medals and third overall as a team.
The team placement was a happy surprise for coach Jeritt Brink and the team, as they faced teams up to four times their size.
“Kamloops had forty kids; Vernon brought thirty kids; and I don’t know about some of the other teams, but they brought more than eight, and somehow we ended up in third spot,” Brink said.
The third place finish rested on some great performances from the swimmers, most of them between eight and ten, with a single older, 15 year-old swimmer.
Luca Armstrong, in his first ever meet, took first place in all five of his categories.
Sonny Cervienka, the eldest swimmer at the meet for the Waveriders, took five first place finishes and three second place finishes over nine categories.
Austin Novak, another rookie of swim meets, took a first, three second place finishes and a third place ribbon, making the podium in every category in which he was entered.
Seth Reddman took a second and a third.
McKayla Bolitho took ribbons in every race in which she swam, with three firsts, three seconds and a third.
Gavin Currie managed all first and second place finishes, with five firsts and two seconds.
Gracie Currie took a first place ribbon in the 200m breaststroke.
Kendyll Jordan beat her personal best in the 50m freestyle, beating her old time by nearly seven seconds.
Many of the swimmers posted personal bests during the meet, impressing their coach.
The meet’s focus was as much about fun as competition, with the swimmers having as great a time outside the pool as inside the pool.
“It was a developmental meet, a fun meet. There was face painting and prizes for the heat winner. The kids had a great time,” Brink said.
Next up, the Waveriders are fielding two swimmers in the AA Championships in Surrey. Emerie Watson and Natasha Hanson will head south this weekend.
Watson will compete in the 200m individual medley, the 50m free, the 100m backstroke, the 100m free, the 200m free and the 100m breaststroke.
Hanson will swim in the 200m individual medley, the 50m free, the 100m backstroke, the 100m free, the 200m free, the 100m breaststroke and the 200m backstroke.
Hanson is also within striking distance of a AAA time in the 100m backstroke, which both her and her coach hope she will make.
“Natasha’s so close to making AAAs and she’s working so hard to get it that I think she’ll make it,” Brink said.
The AAA finals will come up later this month, with Garnett Currie and possibly Natasha Hanson attending.
