YORKTON - The Yorkton area has always been known for the development of successful athletes in the sport of artistic swimming (formerly synchronized swimming) and this year was no different.
Fifteen athletes from the Yorkton Aquabatix Artistic Swimming Club (YAX) attended the Sadie Calder Knight Provincial Championships on April 13 and 14 in Saskatoon. The youngest swimmers aged 8 – 10, competed in the 10 and under limited competitive category in figures and swam a routine. There were 21 competitors in the figure category and Skylar Manovich placed fourth overall and Ellara Norman-Crossman placed sixth. These two athletes also swam a fun, peppy, skilled duet together and clinched first place.
Talia Umana placed fifth in figures and opened up the routine portion of the competition and swam her little heart out in her solo and placed first.
Arebelle Adams started artistic swimming just in October and was able to place 18th in figures and second in a very special ‘Dancing in the Rain’ solo which she wowed the audience and judges with her joy as she swam.
Adams also showed so much kindness towards all her teammates.
Great job to all the 10 and under limited swimmers.
Ivy Thiessen was looking forward to sharing her strong solo but due to illness wasn’t able to attend the competition.
Keauna Weinknecht was also unable to attend as she was competing in gymnastics competition the same weekend.
Yorkton Aquabatix also had three swimmers in the 12 and under limited category and out of 23 competitors in the figure category - YAX claimed the top three spots.
Lilly Thiessen placed first, Anna Gendall placed second and Gia Umana placed third.
Thiessen went on to swim a flawless solo and placed first.
Gendall and Umana paired up swimming a fast, fun duet and also were able to claim first place.
In the Youth Category there was two swimmers representing YAX – Mya Manovich and Farren Johnson.
Manovich placed second in figures and then swam a creative, challenging solo and placed first.
It was Johnson’s first year of artistic swimming and first competition and she shone in the pool placing 11th in figures and had a beautiful, strong, fearless swim of her solo and placed second.
Under the direction of Head Coach Heidi Watrych these athletes were prepared and had the skills to deliver such impressive results.
The Yorkton Aquabatix club also had a Masters Free Team competing.
Adoringly, referred to as the ‘Mom Team’ this team of six athletes trained hard to perfect a team routine set to the hip song ‘My Family’ by Migos, Karol G, Snoop Dog and Rock Mafia.
This is the second year that the masters team competed at provincials and it has started to encourage other clubs in the province to start masters clubs. This team was made up of a combination of former swimmers and new swimmers to the sport and all moms to young athletes in the sport. These ladies had the goal to learn the art of artistic swimming, improve their skills and have fun each practice. They came up on top and are the Provincial Champions in Masters Free Team.
The club was so fortunate to receive some valuable grants this year to help them stay afloat (pun intended).
Sask Lotteries provided a $5,000 grant which allowed the club to buy a much needed new underwater sound system.
The club also received sponsorship from both the Kinsmen and Kinettes Club of Yorkton.
The club wanted to acknowledge how much they appreciate these funds to help the athletes continue to train and excel in the water.
For more information about the club or about joining all the fun please check-out the Yorkton Aquabatix Artistic Swimming Club Facebook Page or email them at yorktonaquabatix@hotmail.ca Classes will resume in September.
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