The Estevan Golden Eels swim club continued their strong performances leading up to provincials by taking top spot at the south final in Assiniboia on Saturday.
Estevan finished first at the meet with 684 points. The Regina Piranhas were second with 409 and the Weyburn Silver Seals were third with 219.
Golden Eels coach Colin Sutter said they reduced the number of swimmers getting disqualified at the meet, and their results in the breaststroke were better, which was a goal for the meet.
“We did really, really well in our relays. In a couple of them, they were a full lap ahead of all the other teams,” said Sutter.
Forty-six swimmers competed in Assiniboia, and about 40 qualified for provincials this coming weekend in Rosetown. Sutter noted that not all of them will be able to compete at provincials due to other commitments.
“I think we’re going to have … about 35 going to provincials,” he said.
The Eels had the largest contingent at the south final, and Sutter expects they will have the most swimmers at provincials as well.
Many club members earned age group medals for their showing, including:
- Seven and eight girls: Isabelle Pyra, second;
- Seven and eight boys: Carter Yunick, first;
- Nine and 10 boys: Karson Mvula, second, and Bennett Walliser, third;
- Eleven and 12 girls: Jordyn Tarnes, first;
- Eleven and 12 boys: Blake Andrist, third;
- Thirteen and 14 girls: Emily Tarnes, first, and Alexandra Andrist, second;
- Thirteen and 14 boys: Tristan Threinen, first, and Ethan Elliott, third;
- Fifteen to 17 girls: Taeghen Hack, first, and Mikayla Hack, third;
- Fifteen to 17 boys: Christopher Sutter, second, and Dylan Pryznyk, third; and
- Eighteen and over girls: Emily Marshall, first.
Other Eels members to qualify for provincials were: Josie Andrist, Mahlyn Bomberak, Sawyer Bombarek, Gabrielle Deitz, Jacob Deitz, Rachel Duncan, Rebecca Duncan, William Duncan,
Hailey Hack, Olivia Hockey, Gabrielle Jocelyn, Lilly Knoll, Jennika Linthicum, Jacob Pyra, Shiven Sangar, Emily Sauder, Lyndon Sauder, Carson Stopanski, Hailey Tangjerd, Nathan Therinen, Alianna Young and Mason Yunick.
Athletes who placed in the top six in an event will advance to provincials.
The Eels will be looking to win their fifth straight provincial title in Rosetown. Early this week, they’ve been working on endurance and other small things that they believe they need to emphasize.
“We’ll work on our starts and our turns, wherever we can shave some time off. Maybe focus on our underwater pulls and our streamlines, just the little things.”
Sutter is confident entering provincials, and he said the swimmers aren’t feeling the pressure of the high expectations created by past success.
“This team has a lot of natural athletes on it who are very skilled, so I’m not too worried that we won’t perform well,” said Sutter.
