WOLFVILLE, NS - Junior swimmers from the Wolfville Tritons made a splash at the St. FX Aquatic Centre recently.
The June 8-10 competition was the last event of the junior season, unless the swimmers qualified for the senior provincial championships, which are to be held in Halifax next month.
Seven Wolfville Tritons headed to Antigonish to do their best and that is exactly what they did, says head coach Moira Milward.
The youngest Triton to compete was nine-year-old Harvey Hadley, who Milward says had an amazing season. He qualified for the Antigonish meet in May as he graduated from the Nova Tech program, and made two finals.
“This young man has far to go, he is determined and enthusiastic,” Milward said.
The four female swimmers who travelled to Antigonish are all good friends and two are sisters.
“And they all must be so proud of their efforts,” Milward added.
Twelve-year-old Sophie Duncan improved her times every time she hit the water over the six events she was entered in and made finals in the 200 metre and 50 m breaststroke, taking bronze in the 200 event.
Shannon Guy, 11, also improved her times at each attempt, making finals in three events, while Olivia Williams, 11, who comes across as the quiet one of the group, showed she had great intentions and took over 15 seconds off her 200 m freestyle event.
“While she may have not made finals she has put her mark on what she can do. Let’s see what next season has in store for this girl,” Milward added.
Her older sister, 13-year-old Hannah Williams, was just as fired up to show how her butterfly swimming puts her on the map, winning the 100 m butterfly and coming third in the 50 m.
All girls posted best times on every swim. The girls also competed in the 4x50 freestyle relay, always an exciting event, and because of the age range had to swim in the 13-14 age group race, yet came home a respectable seventh place, Milward said.
The oldest member of the team, 17-year-old Keith Newsome, showed he was just as good as the younger ones and improved his times in every swim, making three finals.
MVP of the meet for Tritons is 14-year-old Luke Robert. His first session of competition saw him swim the 200 m butterfly, 400 m individual medley and 800 m freestyle, followed in the afternoon with the finals of the 200 ’fly and 400 IM, where he took home the gold in both events. Following that, he took first place in the 100 m ‘fly and third in the 400m freestyle, which put his mark on the second day.
Probably the most exciting swim of his meet was the 200 IM on the third day, Milward said.
“Going in from the prelims in second place, he was determined to beat the boy ahead of him, and despite all his very best efforts, he just missed doing that but took a whopping 10 seconds off his already improved time,” MIlward said.
Milward was full of praise for her young stars.
“It is hard to be energetic and swim fast over three days; it is tiring, and the excitement can get to you, but these swimmers were so enthusiastic, it was a rewarding experience as coach,” she said.
The next meet Tritons head to will be the Senior Provincials Ken Dunn meet at the Dalplex in Halifax on the first weekend of July. This will be the last meet of the season for most Tritons, so it is a much anticipated one to show off their best performances.
