The Similkameen News Leader
Sports Page - August 12, 2008
SWIM CLUB SHINES AT SWIM MEET
The Kokanee Summer Swim Club saw 16 athletes compete at the Okanagan Regional Swimming Championships held in Kamloops on August 2nd and 3rd.
The club had excellent results overall, with three athletes qualifying for the Provincial Championships which are to be held in Trail August 15th, 16th and 17th.
The club's outstanding performance earned praise from officials at the meet, commenting that they have never seen so many Kokanee swimmers make finals.
The girls led the team starting with Kate Allison, a Division 1 girl. Kate placed 12th in the 50m Backstroke.
The Division 2 girls had Shayna Krenn place 12th in the 50m Backstroke while also achieving a personal best time in the event.
In the Division 3 girls, Taylor Carmichael placed 2nd in the Backstroke with a time of 37.85 seconds. This time is not only a personal best, but also a Provincial Qualifying time (PQT). Carmichael also placed 2nd in the 50m Fly, 6th in the 50m Freestyle and 5th in the 100m Freestyle.
Taylor qualified for the provincials in both the Backstroke and the Fly. Her performance has also earned her a spot on the Okanagan Regional Medley Relay Team where she will swim the Backstroke.
Kendra Hill had an excellent weekend placing 9th in the Backstroke and 14th in the 100m Freestyle, achieving personal best times in both events.
Ryley Smeaton competed in the 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle and achieved personal best times in three of the four events.
Tyler Smeaton competed in the 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle and achieved personal best times in all four events.
The Division 4 girls had Emily Allison placed 16th in the 100m Breaststroke where she achieved a personal best time. Emily also achieved a personal best time in the 50m Freestyle.
Also in the girls squad was Darby Milner, Division 7, and the Kokanee Assistant Coach. Darby placed 2nd in both 50m Fly and the 100m Backstroke.
The boys were not to be outdone. The Division 1 boys had four Kokanee competitors. Dylan Carmichael placed 11th in the 50m Backstroke, 13th in the 100m Freestyle (with a personal best time) and 14th in the 50m Freestyle. Dylan also achieved a personal best time in the 50m Breaststroke.
Nicholas Cimbaro placed 8th in the 100m Freestyle, 9th in the 50m Backstroke and 12th in the 50m Freestyle where he achieved personal best times in all three events.
Eric Gutierrez-Ogrinc placed 10th in the 50m Backstroke, 10th in the 100m Freestyle and 13th in the 50m Freestyle. Eric achieved personal best times in both the 100m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke.
Hunter Smeaton placed 6th in the 100m Freestyle and 8th in both the 50m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle. Hunter not only achieved personal best times in these three events, but also in the 50m Fly.
Division 2 boys had Tristan VanderMeulen compete in the 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle. Tristan had a personal best time in the 100m Freestyle despite battling an illness over the weekend.
Charlie Allison, Division 3, earned an 8th place finish in the 100m Individual Medley and 10th in both the 50m Breaststroke and 100m Freestyle. Charlie had personal best times in the 100m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke and 50m Fly.
Mark Cimbaro, Division 6, placed 5th in the 100m Freestyle, 4th in the 50m Freestyle and 5th in the 100m Backstroke. Mark achieved personal best times in both the 100m Freestyle and the 100m Backstroke and also qualified for the provincials in the 50m Freestyle.
Denis Gutierrez-Ogrinc, the Kokanee Coach, placed 1st in the 100m Fly, and 4th in the 50m Fly, 50m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke. Denis qualified to swim at the provincials in the 100m Fly, 50m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle.
Amanda Carmichael, Kokanee Summer Swim Club President, said, "All of the athletes deserve to be very proud of their accomplishments. The Okanagan Region is a very competitive region, making these results even that much more impressive. Everyone in the club has trained very hard, and their hard work is paying off."
