It was an experience they will never forget.
Swimmers from Humboldt and area were part of the Team Prairie Central in the 2012 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Meadow Lake July 29 to August 4. The swimming events were held during the first half of the Games.
The swimmers came away with 14 gold, five silver and two bronze medals.
And they came back excited about what their team accomplished.
"We placed third out of all the teams at the Games," said swimmer Abigail Seidle.
Although not all the swimmers received medals, they still had a lot of personal bests.
"I did good in my 200 metre backstroke," said Drew Dillabough. "I got into the finals and took time off."
Taylor Lins said she took 11 seconds off in her 200 individual medley race and Elliot Dillabough said he did well in his breaststroke races.
All the swimmers were pleased with the results.
"We did pretty good," said Seidle. "We were competing against the best swimmers in the province and had one of the smaller teams there."
Not only were they excited about how well their team did in the Games, they enjoyed other aspects as well and encourage other athletes to try out for it in the future.
"It is a really great experience," said Seidle.
She said it was surprising to see so many athletes from the Prairie Central district. Seidle explained they got so focused on their own events, they forgot how many other athletes there were in other events.
"You forgot there were other athletes, not just us," laughed Seidle. "There were seven other events happening while we were there."
The only thing the athletes had a complaint about was the cramped dorm rooms they stayed in, although the boys said they could have used more food.
They also enjoyed exploring Meadow Lake and the different stores and restaurants it offered.
"I liked the doughnuts," smiled Drew Dillabough, explaining they found a bakery one afternoon after racing.
Team coach Deb Stumborg of Humboldt is proud of all her team accomplished at the Games, including a potential record for Michael Carnago.
"Michael Carnago has an unofficial Games record in the 400 Free with his time of 4:55.76," said Stumborg. "He broke the 1976 record of 5:08.20."
Whether or not the record will be official depends on the format the Games will use for records this year.
"If the Games Council decides to keep the format they had this year, then Michael would have the record for the boys 12-13 age category," said Stumborg. "If not, then the 15-year-old in the next lane with a time of 4:55.64 will have the record, since the records are presently an open category."
Team Prairie Central swimming medal winners are:
12-13 Boys' 50 metre Freestyle: gold, Justin Berscheid;
14-15 Boys' 50 metre Freestyle: silver, Mitchell Mueller;
12-13 Boys' 100 metre Freestyle: gold, Michael Carnago;
12-13 Boys' 200 metre Freestyle: gold, Michael Carnago;
12-13 Boys' 400 metre Freestyle: gold, Michael Carnago;
12-13 Boys' 50 metre Backstroke: silver, Davis Schmidt;
14-15 Boys' 50 metre Backstroke: bronze, Mitchell Mueller;
12-13 Boys' 100 metre Backstroke: gold, Michael Carnago;
12-13 Boys' 200 metre Backstroke: gold, Michael Carnago;
11-12 Girls' 50 metre Breaststroke: gold, Maya Berscheid;
12-13 Boys' 50 metre Breaststroke: silver, Drew Dillabough;
14-15 Boys' 50 metre Breaststroke: gold, Mitchell Mueller.
14-15 Boys' 100 metre Breaststroke: gold, Mitchell Mueller;
14-15 Boys' 200 metre Breaststroke: silver, Mitchell Mueller;
12-13 Boys' 50 metre Butterfly: silver, Davis Schmidt;
12-13 Boys' 100 metre Butterfly: gold, Michael Carnago;
12-13 Boys' 200 metre Individual Medley: gold, Michael Carnago.
The team also earned gold medals in the 12-13 Male 4x50 metre Medley Relay, 12-13 Male 4x50 metre Freestyle Relay, 12-13 Male 4x100 metre Medley Relay, and a bronze in the 14-15 Male 4x50 metre Freestyle Relay.
