Speed swimmer Jessica Sanftleben has a new coach, a new team and some new goals.
"I decided to further myself and seek a higher level of coaching, and next year I'd like to join the Yorkton Swim Club, which swims in winter," says Sanftleben who for this summer's season is part of the Swift Current Stingrays swim club.
"After one of the first meets of the year, they saw I was unattached so they talked to the executive and by the next week I was on their team," says the 16-year-old Melville Comprehensive School student.
Since leaving the Melville Aquatic Club, Sanftleben has been coached in Yorkton by University of Saskatchewan swimmer, Lauren Doupe, who she hopes can get her to the elite level as a swimmer.
"She'll get in the water and show me some of the things I'm doing wrong," Sanftleben says. "She knows how to motivate me and has been really helpful in correcting some of my strokes and with some new drills to make me a better speed swimmer."
In last Saturday's meet in Regina, Sanftleben had some good times, resulting in her qualifying for three of her five events in Provincials, to be held in Swift Current. The top six swimmers in each event make it to the Provincials and Sanftleben's steady improvement over the season has her hoping for a medal or two.
"I'm happy with my results but this year I moved up an age group to the 15-17 year old group and there's a lot more girls and better competition," she admits. "I'd really like to make it to the podium in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle events."
Besides her three solo events, Sanftleben will also take part in some relays, although as of press time she s unsure of whether she ll be on an A or B relay squad.
