By Eliza McGuire, Revelstoke Aquaducks
The sun’s rays beat down hard on the H2O Complex in Kelowna where the Aquaducks travelled to compete this Canada Day weekend. However, based on the stellar performances of the Revelstoke swimmers, the heat did not bother them, and hydration was not an issue.
Multiple Ducks contributed points to the overall third place finish for the team at a meet where multiple teams from other regions came to race. While this made for tougher competition with the additional teams in the region for the weekend, it also gave a good insight as to what to expect come provincials in August.
Nevertheless, the Aquaducks still had many swimmers and relays win events or finish on the podium:
— Beth Granstrom won the Division 4 200 meter individual medley and was on the winning medley relay along with Kate Granstrom, Claudia Cinelli and Elizabeth Elliott.
— The Division 2 medley relay also came first with Jaclyn Elliott, Hunter Stewardson, Sara Supinen and Elizabeth McDowell.
— The Division 8 girls took home gold in both the medley and the freestyle relays, with Nadia Salon, Gina Cinelli and Emily and Anna Pfeiffer.
— The boys Division 6 relay of Bryce Molder, Josh Rota, Liam McCabe, and Raine Carnegie won the freestyle relay and came second in the medley.
— The Division 2 boys came second in the medley relay and third in the freestyle with Stefan Spataro, Colm Molder, Leif Carnegie and Caine McCabe.
— Hunter Stewardson came second in the 50 meter breaststroke and Leif Carnegie landed on the podium in the 100 meter breaststroke.
— Colm Molder finished well enough in his five individual events to win himself the third aggregate for the Division 4 boys
— Gina Cinelli and Josh Rota won themselves third aggregates with their spectacular swims on the weekend.
— Emily Pfeiffer had a spectacular meet winning four of five events and picking up the first aggregate in Division 7, as well as meet records in the 50 and 100 meter butterfly, and the 200 meter individual medley.
— It’s hard to believe that kind of performance would be topped, but Bryce Molder did just that, winning all five of his individual events and breaking three meet records, as well as bettering all three of his own club records, and, not surprisingly winning first aggregate for Division 5 boys.
The final competition before the Region comes to Revelstoke on July 13-14 is next weekend in Merritt, and the team is looking to keep the momentum building to come back home strong to host.