The last regional swim meet of the year brought more than winners and personal bests – it also included a few tears.
Graduating Prince Rupert Amateur Swim Club (PRASC) member Sarah McChesney (17) won female Points North Swimmer of the Year, as voted on by regional coaches, a fitting last farewell to her comrades in the pool.
"Thank you, all of you, for everything you've ever done," she told the crowd surrounding the podium at the conclusion of the Prince Rupert Summer Invitational.
As for the rest of her team, the Rapids held down home-turf advantage and won the meet with 967 points, 105 more than the second-place Kitimat Marlins.
Along with swimmer of the year, McChesney took home gold aggregate for 14 and over girls, winning first in 50, 200, 400 and 1,500 freestyle and 200 backstroke.
Brandan Hagen (16) claimed the 14 and over boys' gold aggregate, winning the 50, 200 and 400 freestyle and the 100 and 200 breaststroke races.
The Rapids took a third gold aggregate when Kai Leighton (11) won the 11-and-under boys' category, and he raced to a first-place finish in 100 and 200 backstroke, 50 and 200 freestyle and 200 breaststroke.
The Rapids' fourth and final gold medal was awarded to Amy Leighton (13) in the girls' 12-13 division. She won the 400 IM, 400 freestyle, 100 and 200 butterfly, 100 and 200 backstroke and 100 breaststroke.
And PRASC wasn't satisfied with four golds. The Rapids took home two silver medals; one to Emma Movold (10) and the other to Isaac Mastroianni (10) in the girls' and boys' 11-and-under categories.
Movold won the 400 and 800 freestyle race, the 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke, second in the 100 butterfly and third in 100 breaststroke. Mastroianni captured first in 800 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 400 freestyle and second in 100 and 200 backstroke and 50 freestyle.
And an amazing three bronze medals were awarded to PRASC members as Rya Kish (11), Isaac Dolan (10) and Zach Dolan (12) took home the hardware. Kish won first in 100 IM, 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke and third in 50 freestyle and 200 backstroke. Isaac garnered second in 100 breaststroke and 200 freestyle and third in 100 and 200 backstroke and 200 breaststroke. Finally, Zach won 1,500 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, second in 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke and third in 100 backstroke and 400 freestyle.
Marlee McDonald (11) won first in 100 IM, Josh Leighton (9) claimed second in 50 butterfly and third in 100 IM and Chloe Chemko (12) came in second in 100 IM, 50 breaststroke and 50 backstroke.
Emily Urbanowski (15) claimed first in 100 IM, 50 butterfly and 50 backstroke. Hannah Toye (12) won second in 50 breaststroke and third in 50 and 800 freestyle, and Jarred McMeekin (12) scored second in 800 freestyle and third in 100 breaststroke.
Warren Barton (12) took second in 100 butterfly and third in 800 freestyle. Avery Movold (14) won second in 1500 freestyle and 200 butterfly, and Robert Warren (14) won first-place in 1500 freestyle and second in 200 backstroke.
Rayne Mather (11) claimed second in 50 backstroke and third in 400 freestyle, Liam Pikola (11) took second in 50 backstroke and Liam McChesney (12) took first in 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle.
Jake Morse (10) won third-place in 200 freestyle, Kobi Franes (12) took first in 200 freestyle and Mackenzie Tweedhope (12) won second in 200 backstroke and 50 freestyle.
Araya Bartlett (12) took third in 50 and 200 backstroke, Maggie Lazar-Emerson (12) claimed second in 50 butterfly and Kyla Leland-Barnaby (12) won third in the same event and first in 50 backstroke.
Landen Franes (10) took first in 50 butterfly and second-place in 400 freestyle, Payton Colussi (10) won third in 50 backstroke and Kai McDonald (10) won third in 100 breaststroke. Kate Morse (12) won first in 50 breaststroke, Raine Evans (13) took first in the same event for boys and Bailey Ward (12) claimed second.