She’s been invited to swim in the event before, but this year is the first in which Sarah McChesney will actually attend the Speedo Western Canadian Open.
Taking place in Edmonton from Feb. 19 – 22, the annual competition hosts the best of the best junior swimmers from Canada’s western provinces and through Thompson Rivers University’s (TRU) Wolfpack swim team, McChesney will have a shot at a few races.
“I think I’m swimming 50, 100, 200, 800 free[style], 100 backstroke and 50 fly,” said the Rupertite.
“[TRU coach] Brad [Dalke] and I picked my event about two weeks ago.”
The Prince Rupert Amateur Swim Club (PRASC) has had a few competitors qualify for the Western Canadians but usually couldn’t attend.
To boot, McChesney’s old coach and current PRASC head coach Chris Street will be guiding the first-year student-athlete this week when the two meet up.
Matching McChesney’s impressive season in the pool is her good friend and ex-Charles Hays Rainmakers teammate, Celina Guadagni’s year on the basketball court.
Guadagni, a first-year student at Vancouver Island University (VIU) plays mostly the point guard and shooting guard positions for the varsity Mariners women’s basketball squad – a team in contention for finishing first overall in the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) and who are ranked No. 9 in Canada in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association.
“I think our success comes from our team’s determination,” said Guadagni.
“No matter what the circumstance we are all willing to do whatever it takes to win.”
The 13-3 Mariners are 1.5 games back of the PACWEST first-placed 16-0 Quest Kermodes and are expecting some more tough competition when nationals come around in March.
“We get the chance to compete against the best teams in Canada for a national championship in our own gym with a home crowd,” said the guard.
VIU will play host to the best teams across the country March 18-21 and the rookie Guadagni will soak it all in to prepare her for the next three years as she takes on a larger and larger role on the fourth- and fifth-year athlete-dominated league.
“It really depends on the game and circumstances as to how much I play. I could not play at all or I could play up to five, 10 minutes. For me, it’s not really about that, though. I always just try to give my 100 per cent whether that’s in playing or supporting my teammates,” said the athlete on her first year with the veteran-heavy team.
All that experience with a championship-contending team will only help Guadagni’s game pay off in spades in the coming weeks and seasons with VIU, all while balancing essays and exams.
“It’s definitely not easy being a student athlete. You have to manage your time effectively with practices and travel every weekend,” she said.
“It’s been a challenge but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I work best when I’m constantly on the go and so far, it’s been going great.”