ESTEVAN — The Estevan Mermaids Artistic Swimming Club presented their 2024 Water Show Sunday night at the Estevan Leisure Centre, to the delight of a big crowd of parents and guests.
"We had great attendance at the water show this year. Almost all of the seats were filled. We had increased our membership this season, so we had extra routines to show for a great crowd," said Jessica Saxon, board member responsible for communications for the club.
The show, MCed by Amber and Sierra Mantei, featured solos, a duet and team routines. Preceding the performances, the MCs shared the athletes' and teams' recent achievements.
The night started with Mini Mermaids showing off their progress with the help of coaches Shannon Culy, Andri Groenveld and Alyssa Halkyard. Performing as Aquas were Embree Park, Eva Cossette, Laikynn Shier, Lucy Hoffort, Mari Picton and Marreck Young. Daises featured Lexus and Lucia Peters, Remi Fornwald and Zalia Carlson. Atarah Thein, Aurora Noo, Sakura Moo, Natalie Vibe, Hailey Lafrentz, Eleanor Haagsman and Winter Raiwet performed as Marinas.
The solo routines featured individual programs by Sasha Mantei, Rowyn Shier, Isabelle Pyra, Sarah Greening, all coached by Amber Mantei and Kelsey Potoma, and Shyra Carlson, coached by Andri and Layli Groenveld.
The only duet performance for the night was by Diana Rokn and Asa Fatoorechi, coached by Andri and Layli Groenveld.
Team routines saw Blue Maccaws performed by the 10U limited team, featuring Sophia Vibe, Ella Biette, Kayden Pukas, Eva Meyers, Brinley Groenveld and Jillianne Velasquez, coached by Potoma; T Swizzle performed by the 10U limited team, featuring Lexington Beaudry, Brooklyn Saxon, Ciara Schell and Mackenzie Delainey, coached by Potoma; Beach Girls performed by the junior limited team, featuring Lainey Halkyard, Ava Collomb, Harper Davies, Ella Rubiletz and Violetta Andrieieva, coached by Amber Mantei; and a performance by the youth mixed competitive team, featuring Sarah and Isabelle Pyra, Mahaley Fonstad, Sierra and Sasha Mantei, Rowyn Shier and Rory Miller, coached by Potoma and Amber Mantei.
"The athletes did a great job, especially since most of the teams had a member who was new to the sport of artistic swimming. The athletes were proud to display their skills to the audience that included family and friends," Saxon noted.
"All of the athletes have improved in some form. Many have worked hard to learn their routines and challenge themselves with new figures and hybrids."
Following the main program, departing coach Andri Groenveld and graduating athlete Sasha Mantei were celebrated. All volunteer coaches were also invited to come up for recognition.
The night came to an end with a grand finale with all the Mermaids in the water for their last blast of artistic swimming.
Saxon noted that the sport rebranded itself from synchronized swimming to artistic swimming in 2016, and they continue to explain the name change to help educate spectators about the changes that have occurred with the sport.
She also thanked everyone involved with the club for their ongoing dedication and support.
"I would like to thank all of our board members, coaching staff and parents who have helped make our club successful. Also, a big thank you to all of our corporate sponsorship companies," Saxon said.
