The Prince Rupert Amateur Swim Club (the Rapids) prevailed at a home swim meet Nov. 1 - 3 at the Earl Mah Aquatic Centre.
During the BC Maritime Employers Association Invitational Swim Meet the Rupert squad was able to comfortably fend off big travel teams from Prince George (Barracudas) and Terrace (Bluebacks). The Rapids scored 1,382 points to the Barracuda's 852.5 and the Bluebacks' 659.5.
Kitimat was fourth with 160 points followed by the Bulkley Valley Otters with 45
Leading the way for Prince Rupert were the Sumanik sisters. Samantha (12) qualified for her first-ever championship meet by getting the Swim BC Divisional times in both the 50 breaststroke (45.71 seconds) and the 50 freestyle (34.62 seconds).
Bethany (13) didn’t quite reach her first-time standard, but she did have the swim of the meet when she peeled 1:19 off of her 200 freestyle best time. Both girls swam best times in all of their individual events.
Heidi Bellis (16) swam a new BC Provincial Championship time with a 5:21.06 400 IM. She won all seven of her individual events en route to a gold medal in the 15 & over girls’ age group.
Rachel Butt (14) qualified herself for the ManSask Championship meets this year (she ages up in the new year) by achieving her first 15-year-old ManSask “AA” time with a 34.18 seconds in the 50 backstroke. She also won the gold aggregate medal in the 14 & under girls’ age group.
Ben McDonald (13) qualified for both the ManSask Championships and Divisionals with a 29.96-second 50 freestyle.
Harper Dopko (12) swam her first 12-year-old ManSask “A” times (the Junior Provincial one) in the 50 breaststroke and 50 freestyle. She’s very close (0.57 in the 50 free) to qualifying for Divisionals for the first time.
Emily Tran (10) swam new ManSask “A” times in the 200 IM and 50 breaststroke. She was the gold medal winner in the 10 & under girls’ age group.
Jorja Boot (12) won the silver aggregate for the 12 & under girls.
Ethan Butt (17) swam a new Divisional time in the 50 breaststroke and tied with Peter for the silver medal in the 15 & over boys’ age group.
Blake Ciotoli (12) swam a new ManSask “AA” time in the 50 freestyle and a new Divisional time in the 50 breaststroke. She edged ever closer to her first BC Provincial Championship time in the 50 backstroke and is now only 0.27 seconds away.
Cules Coetzee (10) won the silver aggregate in the 10 & under boys’ age group and swam best times in all of his individual events.
Annabelle DeMille (16) won the silver aggregate in the senior girls’ age group.
Julia DeMille (12) swam a new Divisional time in the 50 butterfly. Tess Edwards (13) swam a pair of new Divisional times in the 50 and 100 freestyle.
Bianca Marogna (11) swam a new ManSask “A” time in the 100 backstroke.
Nadia Marogna (13) also did it in the 200 IM as did Olivia Marogna (15) in both the 200 IM and 50 breaststroke.
Sophia McDonald (12) swam new ManSask “AA” times in the 50 and 100 freestyle. She also won the gold aggregate for 12 & under girls.
Kenny Nguyen (14) swam new Divisional times in the 800 free and 50 fly. He won the silver aggregate medal for 14 & under boys.
Lucy Phuong (12) swam a new “AA” time in the 100 free and won the bronze aggregate medal in the 12 & under girls to complete a PRASC sweep.
Hadley made new ManSask “A” times in the 200 free and 50 fly. She swam best times in all of her individual events.
Chase McWilliam (16) won the bronze aggregate medal in the senior boys’ age group.
Nevan Gamble (14), Elijah Kroeker-Wilson (11), Anshi Kumar (13), Kona Palmer (11), Marin Carl (9), Grady Chow (11), Qier De Lima (9), Quila De Lima (11), Kerim Elbissar (7), Victoria Le (11) and Olin Tree (13) all swam best times in all of their individual events.
A few other swims worth noting were:
The De Lima sisters taking a combined 2:10.26 off their 14 events.
Nevan took 28 seconds off his 200 free.
Sienna Ikari-Cappelli (12) took more than 40 seconds off her 800 free.
Anshi took 22 seconds off her 100 freestyle.
Kosti Shapovalov (12) took 18 seconds off his 100 free.
Alexander Smithanik (8) took more than 20 seconds off his 200 free.
Elena Tran (13) took 20 seconds off her 400 free and 26 seconds off her 200 backstroke.
Finally, Olin took almost 30 seconds off her 200 free.
Up next the Rapids will be in Prince George for their annual November invitational swim meet on November 15-17
