Earlier this month, 31 members of the Prince Rupert Amateur Swim Club braved some rough winter roads to travel to Smithers for a pivotal meet in the race for the Northwest Regional Championship.
Heading into the meet PRASC was tied with the Kitimat Marlins at 10 points apiece, with each holding one more home meet. Whoever came out ahead in Smithers would have a huge leg up on securing the title. PRASC delivered with a convincing win, not just over the bad-road-depleted Marlins, but also over the hometown Otters. Prince Rupert won the meet with 997 points, followed by Smithers with 787, Kitimat with 392 and Terrace with 280.
Leading the way for Prince Rupert were six swimmers who all went undefeated on the weekend. Amy Leighton (12), Zach Dolan (12), Liam McChesney (12), Isaac Mastroianni (10), Emma Movold (10) and Avery Movold (13) all cruised through the meet without losing a race and captured the gold aggregate medal in their age groups. Amy won the 50, 100 and 200 butterflies and the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles. Zach won the 100 and 200 butterfly, the 50 and 200 breaststroke, the 200 IM and 200 freestyle. Liam won the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke, the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 100 IM. Isaac won the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, the 50 butterfly, 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke. His time of 35.67 in the 50 freestyle was good for a new "AA" time. Emma won the 100 breaststroke, 50 butterfly, 50, 100 and 200 freestyles and the 100 backstroke. Avery won the 50 and 100 butterfly, 50 and 100 freestyle and the 50 and 100 backstroke.
Quinn Basso (16) also won a gold aggregate. He won the 15-and-over boys 100 and 200 backstrokes, the 100 and 200 IM and the 200 breaststroke. He came second in the 50 backstroke. Isaac Dolan (10) won the silver aggregate in the 10-and-under boys age group. He won the 50 backstroke while coming second in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, the 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke. Rya Kish (11) won the silver medal in the 11-12 girls age group. She won the 50, 100 and 200 breaststrokes, the 100 backstroke and the 200 IM. She came second in the 200 backstroke. Trey Kish (14) won the silver aggregate in the 13-14 boys age group. He won the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles while coming second in the 50, 100 and 200 backstrokes.
Brandan Hagen (16) won the bronze aggregate in the 15-and-over boys age group. He won the 50 and 100 breaststrokes and the 100 butterfly, while coming second in the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 50 butterfly. Robert Warren (14) won his first aggregate medal, a bronze, in the 13-14 boys age group. He won the 50 and 100 butterfly and the 200 IM. He came second in the 100 IM and third in the 50 and 100 breaststrokes. Timmy Wei (17) also won her first medal by capturing the bronze in the 15-and-over girls age group. She won the 50 butterfly, came second in the 50 and 100 backstrokes, the 50 free and the 50 breast, as well as third in the 100 freestyle.
Warren Barton (11) swam his first ever "AA" time by going 3:12.94 in the 200 backstroke. He came second in that 200 backstroke as well as in the 100 butterfly. He came third in the 50 backstroke. Araya Bartlett (12) came second in the 100 breaststroke and third in the 200 breaststroke. Shayne Brierley (16) came third in the 200 backstroke. Scotia Caputo (8), in her first meet, won the 10 and under 25 breaststroke. Malcolm Dolan (8), also in his first meet, won the 10 and under 25 butterfly. Kobi Franes (12) came third in the 50 and 100 breaststrokes. Landen Franes (10) came second in the 50 fly and 50 back, as well as third in the 100 back and 200 free. Kai Leighton (11) came second in the 50 and 100 backstrokes and the 50 freestyle. He came third in the 100 and 200 freestyles. Jarred McMeekin (12) came second in the 50 and 100 breaststrokes and 200 IM. He also came third in the 50 and 100 butterflies. Jake Morse (10) came second in the 100 IM and third in the 100 breast and 50 free. Kate Morse (12) came third in the 100 IM and 100 backstroke. Liam Pikola (10), in his first meet, won the 10 and under 50 breaststroke. Hannah Toye (11) came second in the 100 butterfly. Kenzie Tweedhope (11) made a pair of new "A" times in the 200 backstroke and 200 IM. She came second in the 200 IM, 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle.
The Rapids are now ramping back up for the Prince George meet in early April.