Daniel Everton, Acacia Benn and Samuel Lasinski returned from the AAA provincial championship at the University of British Columbia with eight medals.
Everton won gold in the 100-metre freestyle and earned silver in the 50-m free, while Benn picked up three bronze medals in the 100-m backstroke, 200-m freestyle and 100-m freestyle. Lasinski picked up a silver in the 200-m breaststroke and bronze in the 200-m and 400-m individual medley.
“It was a really great meet for us,” said KISU coach Tina Hoeben of the meet during the July 6 weekend. “We had some huge break-through swims. They placed very well against the rest of the province.”
Hoeben said Everton, Benn and Lasinski all had spectacular swims leaving their comfort zones to pull in medal-worthy performances. The other KISU swimmers also had strong swims, just not enough to reach the podium. The winning trio was technically strong and the effort was there, said Hoeben.
“You have to go hard right to the finish,” she said.
Everton, 11, was thrilled as it was his birthday during the meet.
“I was thinking it was one of the best birthday presents ever,” he said. “I think I did really well.”
The two medals are his first in provincial competition and Everton didn’t expect to do as well as he did.
“I knew I was going to do well, but not this well,” he added. “It was very hard. There was lots of fast kids I knew I couldn’t beat. Some I knew I might be able to. Standing on the podium was really awesome.”
Benn, 11, was excited by her results because she knows she performed her best.
“I found it as a big challenge,” she said. “I wanted to take on that challenge and try to beat them.”
Lasinski said he felt pretty good following his swims, but knows there is room for improvement. Lasinski said the competition was tough.
“Most of the people I compete with at the AAA, I know them, we are friends,” he said. “It’s friendly competition but it’s always hard.”
Going into the weekend, he wanted to set new best times and improve on his weaknesses. He feels he’s achieved both. As for the success of his teammates, Lasinski said it’s amazing.
“They have done a lot better than I did when I was their age,” said Lasinski, 14. “In a couple years we’re going to have a really strong senior team.”
At the end of July, KISU has Lasinski, Payton Nackoney and Reilly Rowland heading to San Jose, Calif. for the Far Westerns.
AA provincials
Coach Paul Lytle travelled with nine swimmers to Victoria for the AA provincials held June 22 to 25. During the opening day, KISU had six of eight swimmers make the podium. Myah Nackoney took third in the 50-m freestyle and 100-m backstroke, Anna Spence earned a AAA time in the 100-m backstroke, which she won, while Xelian Louw won gold in the 200 individual medley. Riley Wall took gold in the 50-m free and 200-m fly. He also earned bronze in the 100-m backstroke. Tyler Wall was second in the 100-m back. The boys relay team of Eric Doroshuk, Riley and Tyler Wall and Louw placed second. Riley Wall earned his first AAA time in the 200-m fly. Doroshuk earned silver in the 1,500-m freestyle. Find full story in sports at www.pentictonwesternnews.com.
During the second day, Riley Wall earned bronze in the 100-m free and tied for first in the 100-m fly, while Mackenzie Wallich took bronze in the 200-m breast stroke. Nackoney had a strong performance in the 100-m fly to take silver. The girls relay team with Spence, Wallich, Nackoney and Belize Souch Tremblay took gold, while the boys earned silver.
“Our small contingent was tired, yet came up with some more incredible performances in finals,” said Lytle on the club’s Facebook page of the final day.
Wallich got things started by earning bronze in the 100-m breast stroke. Spence earned silver in the 200-m backstroke trimming nine seconds.
In the 400 IM, Tyler Wall finished second after a Points North swimmer found a burst of speed to steal the win. Doroshuk finished third. Theo Oliver went last and earned a third place finish swimming 22 seconds quicker than his qualifying time. Riley Wall and Spence qualified for the AAA Championships.
“There were so many spectacular swims and exciting finishes that I actually had goosebumps on my arms several times,” said Lytle.