Two hundred competitive swimmers from across the province recently converged on the Gallagher Centre swimming pool.
The Yorkton Storm Speed Swim Club (YSSC) hosted the Provincial "A" Short Course Swim Meet.
The meet also included the Under-10 and Under-11 Junior Cup for girls and boys respectively.
The meet was originally slated to be held in Prince Albert. Due to the "boil water advisory" that remains in effect in Prince Albert, the meet had to be relocated, says Mike Haczkewicz, media co-ordinator for the Yorkton swimming team.
Meadow Lake and North Battleford immediately expressed interest in holding the meet, but couldn't get the level of volunteer commitment necessary for a swim meet of this magnitude.
YSSC treasurer Kristina Just stepped up and successfully lobbied the club executive to host the meet. The Yorkton bid to host was overwhelmingly accepted by SwimSask. Local volunteers as well as help from the attending swim clubs helped make the meet a huge success.
Being that this was the "A" provincial meet, swimmers had to attain at least one "A" time to qualify for the meet.
Five local swimmers met the standard and were registered to compete in the meet; Jessica Sanftleben, Jayden Lang, Jillian Just, Kelsey and Jennifer Haczkewicz. Unfortunately for Lang, she was injured at the time of the meet and was unable to compete.
Sanftleben, competing in the 15 and Above Female category along with Haczkewicz who competed in the 11-12 Female category stole the show.
Sanftleben ended the meet having captured an incredible five gold medals along with one bronze. Haczkewicz followed in her mentor's footsteps winning five gold medals of her own.
Along the way, Sanftleben improved her times in all six races, including the 100m backstroke, where she swam an "A" time to cap off the most successful meet of her career as a member of the Yorkton squad.
Haczkewicz also improved her times in the six races she swam in along the way to winning her five individual gold medals and reached the "A" standard in her 50m breaststroke, while swimming an "AA" time in the 50m freestyle, and 100m individual medley races.
She also improved her 50m Butterfly time to a point where she is now 0.20 seconds away from the "AA" standard in that event.
Ashley Benko, head coach of the Yorkton contingent said it was pretty much 'same old same old' for Yorkton's medal winners.
"It was amazing, every time I looked towards the podium either Jess or Jen was stepping up to claim a gold medal,
I am very proud of their efforts, all of their hard work is definitely paying off," she added.
Sanftleben and Haczkewicz will be joined by teammate Lang as the three venture to Winnipeg, Manitoba to compete in the ManSask Swim Meet slated to run from March 15-18, 2012.
"All three ladies had attained an "AA" time that is necessary to qualify for this meet.
The threesome will be joined by the fastest swimmers from Saskatchewan, and Manitoba as well as swimmers from Alberta and Western Ontario," says Mr. Haczkewicz.
Just, who competed in the 13-14 Female category and Kelsey Haczkewicz, who competed in the 11-12 Female category also experienced massive success in front of a home town crowd. Just received one bronze medal along with two fifth place, two sixth place, and one seventh place ribbon for her efforts. Along the way she improved her times in each of the six races she swam in. Just also swam "A" times in the 50m Breaststroke, and 100m Individual Medley races.
Kelsey Haczkewicz swam her way to three sixth place ribbons, one seventh, and one eighth place ribbon at the meet. She improved her times in each of the races she swam including recording "A" times in the 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, and 200m Breaststroke events.
The Yorkton team also had seven swimmers take part in the Junior Cup event that was held in conjunction with the provincial meet. Swimmers in the Junior Cup did not have to swim an "A" time to qualify to participate," notes Mr. Haczkewicz.
Adds coach Benko: "Our Junior Cup swimmers are our young swimmers that are on the verge of swimming "A" times to qualify for the bigger meets. I am very happy with their progress, as they continue to train, grow and get stronger their times will continue to fall."
Zoe Flaman experienced the greatest success of the Yorkton swimmers who competed in the Junior Cup. Flaman swam in the 10 & Under Female Category and was awarded a seventh place ribbon in the 100m Backstroke, as well as a seventh place ribbon in the 100m Breaststroke.
The Yorkton boys also swam well in the Junior Cup event. Jacob Baker chopped 13 seconds off of his 100m Freestyle swim.
Connor Watrych erased an amazing minute and five seconds off of his 100m Free event as well. Brandon Nord took 15 seconds off of his 50m Breaststroke race. Gabe Loster shaved nine seconds off of is 50 Breaststroke race as well. Bryant Jones took 13 seconds off of his 100m Freestyle event.
Auston Roberts obliterated his old 100m Individual Medley time by swimming the race 43 seconds faster to round out the biggest improvements of the Junior Cup swimmers.
The next meet that the club will attend once the ladies return from ManSask will be the Regina Marlins Long Course Meet that is held in Regina the last weekend in March. Long Course meets are swam in 50m pools. With the start of the Long Course season the Yorkton swimmers will begin their quest of "AA" times once again. A Long Course "AA" time qualifies a swimmer for the ManSask meet that will be held in Regina this July.
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