By Eliza McGuire, Revelstoke Aquaducks
The Golden meet is always a favourite for the Ducks, and the enthusiasm of the swimmers translated into some very fast racing. Winning his first ever aggregate was Division 1 Boy William Hobgood, who nabbed the silver, while Bence Berkenbosch took gold.
On the girls' side, Suri Stewardson also won her first aggregate as a Division 1 – also a Silver – and Autumn Griffith-Doyle kept up her streak with another gold.
Division 2 Girls was a sweep for Revelstoke in a repeat of their home meet, with Kayln Gale winning gold, Sani Supinen the silver, and Madeleine Hobgood the bronze.
Kale Jay finally won gold for Division 2 Boys after swimming his first clean meet of the year without any disqualifications, and Murdoch Tegart won the bronze.
Division 3 Girls was another sweep for Revelstoke, and the second of three Gold aggregates for the Gale family as Devyn won all four of her events. In a close finish, Megan Hoshizaki won the silver, and Hunter Stewardson the bronze.
Alex Jay won the only aggregate medal for Revelstoke in Division 3 Boys, taking silver, while Nolan Gale and Stefan Spataro won gold and bronze respectively for Division 4 Boys.
Sara Supinen finished the meet strong to squeak out a bronze aggregate for Division 4 Girls, while Beth Granstrom and Brynn Hoshizaki were in fine form all weekend, earning themselves gold and bronze for Division 5 Girls.
Division 5 Boys was all Revelstoke all the way down to fourth overall, as Logan Lalonde swam his first meet as an Aquaduck to win the gold, Colm Molder took silver, and Erik Brosch the bronze to edge out Logan Marcolli in the last race of the meet.
However, fast swimming is not all that made the Aquaducks stand out this weekend. The sportsmanship demonstrated by the Revelstoke athletes was incredible, from Megan Hoshizaki sharing her silver with Hunter Stewardson in recognition of a close race and excellent meet for the both of them, to Devyn Gale giving five-year-old Cecelia Hobgood her Gold medal.
A team that can celebrate eachother's victories as enthusiastically as their own is a special team, and this group of kids is proving to be very special.
Meets do not run themselves, and small meets like this one in Golden require no less volunteers for their diminished size. Revelstoke parents stepped up in a big way, many working every session for the whole meet to keep the meet running over the weekend, leading the region by example.
Next, the Ducks head to Salmon Arm for what will be the second to last meet the Ducks attend in the Okanagan before regionals.