Team attends first meet of the year

The Red Fins swim team surfaced in Hinton for its first competition of the season on the weekend, which was a “fantastic” meet, according to coach Gerrad Lewin.

“There were things I asked them to work on and they all went out and executed it,” Lewin said. “As a coach you can’t ask for anything more than that. That’s a total success.”

Swimmers were ranked for each event and some received medals at the end of the meet based on their cumulative results, including Luke Eady who received a silver medal for the 6 and under age group and Cailyn Sherlow who scored bronze in the 8 and under category.

From the 13 and 14 age group, notable results were Mikyla Sherlow placing 7th overall in the 100m back stroke, Kaytlyn Schapansky nearly matching her personal best for both 100m breast and 50m freestyle and Felysia Schapansky trimming 20 seconds off her 200m free stroke time.

“That’s huge,” Lewin said. “In an event that takes just under three minutes, to take 20 seconds off is just outstanding.”

Also, youngster Cailyn stepped up to join the older girls as a fourth in a relay event.

Though the meet was the second meet for the region, the Fins had a late start to the season because of practice scheduling, something Lewin thinks may be advantageous.

“Because we started a little later, that could potentially play in our favour,” he said. “I see the team coming into their peak at the right time for provincials, because our swimmers could have that little extra enthusiasm.”