By Leisl Lefebvre
Sports Contributor
Parents, coaches, grandparents and past swimmers all gathered in Biggar this past weekend to watch as the Summer Swimming Provincial Finals capped off another competitive season. The weather co-operated for the event with sunshine and light winds on both days of competition.
The Humboldt Hammerheads Swim Team took 24 swimmers to the finals this year, and although they had some very tough races, the swimmers came out of the water with great times. There were personal best times swum in provincials again this year. This is what they train for all year, so it’s great that they can accomplish their best time in the final competition. Smiling faces abounded throughout the weekend as they were able to attain goals they had set earlier in the season.
The 24 Hammerheads finished second overall in the province out of 19 participating teams. The 34 swimmers from the Estevan Golden Eels Swim Club took home the Harry Bailey Trophy, presented to the large club who earned the most points in the finals, while the 16 swimmers from the Watrous Whitecaps Swim Club brought back the Betty Lou Dean trophy, presented to the small team that earned the most points.
The Hammerheads swimmers came home with 37 individual medals and 21 relay medals. Individual medal winners in provincial finals were:
7-8 Boys:
Cuyler Brooks
Silver 25 Back
Silver 25 Free
9-10 Girls:
Charlize Parish
Bronze 25 Fly
Gold 100 Free
Gold 50 Back
Gold 50 Fly
Gold 50 Free
11-12 Girls:
Lauren Hinz
Silver 50 Breast
Bronze 100 Breast
Jordan Nienaber
Bronze 200 IM
11-12 Boys:
Jay Eichorst
Gold 100 Back
Silver 25 Fly
Gold 50 Back
Silver 50 Fly
Silver 200 IM
Darren Romaniuk
Bronze 200 IM
13-14 Girls:
Lauryn MacLean
Bronze 200 Free
Maya Berscheid
Gold 200 Free
Bronze 50 Fly
Gold 50 Breast
Gold 200 Breast
Silver 200 IM
13-14 Boys:
Justin Berscheid
Gold 200 Free
Gold 50 Fly
Gold 50 Breast
Gold 200 Breast
Gold 50 Free
Ryan Hinz
Bronze 50 Fly
Bronze 50 Breast
Bronze 200 Breast
Bronze 50 Free
Silver 200 IM
15-17 Boys:
Michael Carnago
Gold 200 Free
Gold 100 Free
Gold 100 Back
Gold 100 Fly
Gold 200 IM
Humboldt also brought home three hi point awards this year in provincial finals. Charlize Parish, Justin Berscheid and Michael Carnago all earned the highest points in their age groups over the course of the two days of competition.
Congratulations to all of the swimmers who competed with the team this year. It was a great year, and your coaches look forward to seeing you at the pool next year.
