The Estevan Golden Eels turned in a strong showing on Saturday as they hosted the provincial south semifinal swim meet at the R.M. of Estevan Aquatic Centre.
The Eels won the meet with 476 points, edging the Regina Piranhas' total of 434. The Swift Current Stingrays finished third (155), followed by the Weyburn Silver Seals (134), Gravelbourg (90), Assiniboia (83), the Oxbow Seawolves (60) and the South East Regional Gators (21).
"We're really proud of the kids for the work they did at the semis. They accomplished a lot of their goals in different aspects, whether it was being able to swim in all five events or just to win the heat for that day," said Erin Wilson, who coaches the team along with Akeela Jundt.
"It's always enjoyable to be able to compete at home, to know your pool well, to feel confident and comfortable, with grandmas and grandpas getting to come and watch you in your own community."
Of the 47 Golden Eels swimmers who competed, 11 earned an overall medal in their age group. Alia Burlock and Hannah Mantei tied for overall gold in the 9-10 girls division, Taylor Fornwald and Samuel Beahm tied for top spot in the 15-17 boys division, and Josh Wilson took gold in the 9-10 boys division.
The team's silver medal winners included Escalus Burlock (7-8 boys), Payten Wilson (11-12 girls) and Racquelle Gibbons (13-14 girls). Josephina Andrist (7-8 girls), Denver Sehn (7-8 boys) and Taylor Haux (9-10 girls) all took bronze.
The following swimmers earned medals in individual events:
Charlotte Andrist (9-10 girls, 50 back, bronze), Josephina Andrist (7-8 girls, silver, 25 back; silver, 25 free; bronze, 50 free; bronze, 100 IM), Samuel Beahm (15-17 boys, gold, 200 free; gold, 100 free; gold, 50 free; silver, 200 IM; bronze, 100 breast), Alia Burlock (9-10 girls, gold, 100 free; gold, 50 back; gold, 50 free; silver, 50 fly; silver, 100 IM), Escalus Burlock (7-8 boys, gold, 25 fly; gold, 25 free; silver, 25 breast; bronze, 25 back), Ryan Chernoff (7-8 boys, bronze, 25 fly), Ryan Dickie (7-8 boys, bronze, 50 free), Lucas Dzeryk (7-8 boys, silver, 50 free; silver, 25 back; bronze, 25 free), Taylor Fornwald (15-17 boys, gold, 100 breast; gold, 100 back; gold, 200 IM; silver, 100 free; bronze, 200 free), Racquelle Gibbons (13-14 girls, gold, 100 breast; silver, 100 free; silver, 200 IM; bronze, 200 free), Taylor Haux (9-10 girls, bronze, 50 breast; bronze, 100 free; bronze, 50 free), Hannah Mantei (9-10 girls, gold, 50 fly; gold, 50 breast; gold, 100 IM; silver, 100 free; silver, 50 free), Emily Marshall (11-12 girls, silver, 200 free; bronze, 100 free; bronze, 100 back), Abbie Reich (15-17 girls, silver, 100 breast; bronze, 100 back; bronze, 50 free), Kersey Reich (11-12 boys, bronze, 200 free; bronze, 100 breast; bronze, 50 free), Karlee Ross (15-17 girls, bronze, 200 free), Denver Sehn (7-8 boys, silver, 25 fly; silver, 100 IM; bronze, 25 breast), Colin Sutter (13-14 boys, silver, 200 IM; bronze, 100 breast), Jack Tuttle (15-17 boys, silver, 100 back; silver, 50 free), Thomas Wakely (13-14 boys, silver, 100 fly; silver, 100 back), Carson Wheeler (9-10 boys, bronze, 100 free; bronze, 50 free; bronze, 100 IM), Josh Wilson (9-10 boys, gold, 50 fly; gold, 100 free; gold, 50 free; gold, 100 IM; silver, 50 breast), and Payten Wilson (11-12 girls, gold, 100 breast; silver, 50 fly; silver, 100 free; silver, 200 IM; bronze, 50 free).
Wilson said the Eels are still determining how many swimmers will make the trip to Melfort this weekend for provincials.
"We had a lot of swimmers make it in their individual events, now we just have to finalize who is going to travel the distance to Melfort."
