The Creston Wave Swim Team was back in Colville from August 7th to 8th, this time for the Kootenay Regional Championship. Regionals are not only the most competitive Kootenay meet of the year, but also the Provincial qualifying meet. Athletes had to finish top three to qualify for that particular event. All of Creston’s ten swimmers in attendance qualified for Provincials, either in individual events or in a relay.
Alexandra Brown competed at her first Regional Championship. She finished ninth in the Division 1 girls 50m Freestyle and sixth in the 50m Backstroke. Alexandra also won a bronze medal with her relay team!
Callum Ziefflie swam a best time in his 50m Freestyle, earning him the silver medal in the event. Callum also won two other silvers and a bronze in his individual events and two gold medals with his relay team.
Anna Morris competed in three individual events, and swam a best time in each of them. Anna finished the meet with a fourth place and three fifth-place finishes.
Jake Wiens medalled in all six events he competed in. Jake earned a gold in the Division 3 boys 50m Backstroke, and two more with his relay team. Jake also won silver and two bronze in his other individual events.
Spencer Kilmartin competed in Division 4. He earned himself a bronze medal in the 100m Backstroke, and two golds with his relay.
Kailey Morris swam two best times in the 50m Butterfly and 200m IM. In the fly, Kailey finished third and was awarded the bronze medal. In the IM, Kailey went into heats ranked third but, with her best time, won the gold medal.
Kylee Pemberton and Katelyn Wiens both competed in Division 6. Kylee finished the weekend with three fifth places, a seventh place, an eighth place and, in her final event of the weekend, earned a bronze with her relay team. Katelyn was also part of that relay. Along with that bronze Katelyn earned two others, as well as a silver and gold.
Coaches Emily and Kieran Simpson both earned a number of medals. Emily won two bronzes and two silvers, while Kieran won gold in all his events. Both coaches were very pleased to see such improvement from all the swimmers.
Overall in team points, the Wave finished fourth, which was tied for their best meet placement of the year!
Callum, Jake, Anna, Kailey, and Katelyn will all represent the Creston Wave and the Kootenay Region at the BC Summer Swimming Provincials in Coquitlam from August 18th to 21st. Good luck swimmers!