The Kelowna Snowfest Swim Meet late last month stood true to its name. With the snow falling outside the Kootenay Swim Club was a force to be reckoned with inside.
Nelson’s Jordan Andrusak dominated the water, placing first in both the 50m and 100m in breaststroke. Andrusak’s great form helped her knock off five seconds in the 100m butterfly, taking a respectable third place.
Her swim in the 800m freestyle was impressive, dropping six seconds off her previous time and she finished off the meet with seven best times. Andrusak will be attending AAAs in March and going for her Age Group National time in freestyle.
Kelsey Andrusak’s love for freestyle did not go unnoticed. She placed first in 50m, 100m and her favourite 200m freestyle and swam four best times. Watch out swimmers — Kelsey is on fire and has proved it by making it to AAs.
Gabrielle Hanvold had an unbelievable meet. She had six best times and placed second in 200m butterfly and 200m IM. Hanvold went the distance and finished off Sunday with swimming six 200m races. Her strength and endurance has led her to AAs where she will be working towards her AAA times.
Sydney Wetter made it to the swim meet with a box of Kleenex and a strong heart while battling the dreaded cold. She brought in four best times and never gave up. Wetter has shown to be a competitor in the water and is working to meet her goals for the season.
The team’s 15 and over boys, James Pilla and Niallan Collier, are concentrating on AAAs and are in prime form going into the meet. Pilla finished Snowfest with two second place finishes and two best times. Collier had a perfect four for four in best times and three second place finishes.
Both boys will be focusing on getting their Western National times at March’s meet and will begin their taper in the next three weeks to prepare for AAAs.
Tenysha Van Mierlo, Maneet Natt and Hannah Devries did not attend the Kelowna Snowfest Swim Meet but are fired up and ready for AAs in February. All three girls will have the opportunity to get AAA times and advance to the meet in March.