Two tenths of a second kept the Penticton High School swim team from winning provincial gold.
Annamarie Lang-Hodge, Payton Nackoney, Reilly Rowland and Myra Veidt brought home a silver medal in the 200-metre relay at Water Mania in Richmond, which hosted over 1,000 competitors Nov. 16 and 17. Lang-Hodge, 13, and Nackoney are in Grade 9, while Rowland and Veidt are in Grade 10. Coach Tina Hoeben praised the relay team.
“They did a great job,” said Hoeben. “They were super excited. They knew what they were up against.”
It was that attitude that Hoeben said helped the group earn a podium position. It was a goal for the four and Hoeben said they motivated each other to perform.
The team had 19 swimmers compete and individually many earned best times. They qualified for provincials by placing in top three during a regional meet held Oct. 28. Okanagan Mission won the meet while Penticton placed second. Swimming for Penticton were Nackoney in the 50-m and 100-m freestyle, Rowland in the 100-m free and 200 IM, Veidt in the 100-m breaststroke and 200 IM, Nikita Logie in the 100-m fly, Madison Leew in the 50-m freestyle and Travis Doroshuk in the 50-m freestyle and 100-m breaststroke. Theo Oliver competed in the 200 IM, Eric Doroshuk in the 100-m backstroke, Riley Kascak in the 100-m breaststroke, Simon Paisley in the 100 IM, Riley Wall in 100-m freestyle and Chae-Lynn Williams in the 100-m fly. Hoeben said the provincials provides the swimmers with early season experience in heats and finals. It’s also another level for the swimmers to go through.
“They did a great job,” said Hoeben. “There was no deer in the headlights.”
The Penticton team was made up of 21 swimmers from Pen High, six from KVR, three from Princess Margaret and McNicoll and two from Skaha Lake. Hoeben was happy to see the school get involved with the team and thanked Dave Nackoney for his efforts.