Pen High’s swim team entered the 2013 BC Seconday School Okanagan regional championship with a winning mindset.
That attitude paid off as the Lakers finished first with 423 points and set a few records in the process on Oct. 27 at the Penticton Community Centre.
The boys B 200-metre medley group consisting of Simon Paisley, Jaren LeFranc, Travis Doroshuk and Terrance Paisley broke the record dating back to 1985. They finished in two minutes, five seconds. Matthew Koster, Samuel Lasinski, Riley Wall and Theo Oliver smashed one in the boys A 200 medley previously held by Pen High in 2011. They finished in 2:03.94. In the girls 400 free relay, Payton Nackoney,
AnnMarie Lang-Hodge, Myra Veidt and Reilly Rowland finished in 4:20.31. The original record was set in 2002. The fourth and final record went to Nackoney, Myra Veidt, Lang-Hodge and Rowland in the 200 free relay that was set in 2003. They finished in 1:59.20.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said Rowland. “I’m pretty proud. We talked about trying to break it. I think that’s pretty awesome.”
After placing second last year, Lakers coach Tina Hoeben, also the coach of the KISU swim club, admitted their goal was rather ambitious.
“I was willing to go with it,” she said. “They really swam well. Lots of best times and lots of great swims. We knew halfway through the meet that we were going to win it. We had a 50-point lead halfway through.”
Hoeben said her athletes performed their hearts out.
Among them was Doroshuk, who collected 20 points, as he helped the boys 200-metre medley B relay team finish fourth, improving their time by 23.65 seconds. Doroshuk also finished first in the 50-m back stroke, the boys 400-m freestyle relay, the 50-m breast stroke, second in the 200-m medley open relay and third in the 200-m free B relay.
“I think I performed quite well,” said Doroshuk, who trimmed 9.85 seconds from his time in the 200-m medley open relay.
Doroshuk said that the Okanagan Mission Huskies were expected to be their toughest competition, but they hadn’t arrived at the meet when the Lakers were warming up. Doroshuk said they wanted to use that to make a statement. Doroshuk said Revelstoke had several fast swimmers, but they were in the B category, same thing with Salmon Arm.
Samuel Lasinski, who finished with 22 points, said he felt the team performed well, in part because of their team spirit.
“We were always cheering so I think that helped a lot,” said Lasinski. “I think we set the goal early in the season that we wanted to win, we wanted to set a few records. That helped a lot having a goal.”
When it came to his own performances, helping the boys 200-m relay team finish first, third in the 50-m free, third in the 200 IM and first in the 200-m free, Lasinski said he did well.
“I got one best time in 100-metre fly (finished in 1:04.09, 1.76 seconds faster than his previous time). I had some close races that I enjoy having with some competitors,” he said. “It’s good to have a lot of people who are close in speed. It pushes you to be better, especially if it’s really close races.”
Asked if he felt any pressure competing in a familiar pool, Lasinski said “pressure is a good thing as long as you handle it correctly.”
“It helps motivate you and not be afraid,” said Lasinski, who added it helped being at home.
Qualifying to go to provincials from KVR were Haley Berrisford (200- and 400-m free), Myah Nackoney, Belize Souch-Tremblay (200-m and 400-m free relay and 200 mixed open), Kristen Vandeweghe (200-m and 400-m free relay) and Mackenzie Wallich in the 200-m free relay.
For the boys were Daniel Everton Mason Heintz and Xelian Louw. Going from Pen High is Lang-Hodge, Nikita Logie, Nackoney, Samantha Oliver, Rowland, Myra Veidt, Joy Wang and Katarina Young on the girls side.
For the boys, its Eric Doroshuk,Travis Dorushuk, Riley Kascak, Matthew Koster, Lasinski, LeFranc, Liam Mulhall, Wynn Nordlund, Theo Oliver, Simon and Terrance Paisley and Jaxon Stel. Princess Margaret is sending Jamie Ferguson and Reece Haberstock.
The schools rounding out the top three were the Okanagan Mission Huskies in second with 302 points and Revelstoke Secondary Avalanche, third with 278 points.
On the girls side, Revelstoke finished first with 163 points, OKM second with 146 and Pen High third with 121. The Laker boys finished with 268 points for first, while OKM was second with 114 and King’s Christian School third with 89.