The Innisfail Dolphins Swim Club season concluded with the team coming home from the provincial championship meet with top points.
The Innisfail Dolphins went to Edmonton August 16 to August 18 for the Alberta Summer Swimming Provincial Championship Meet.
The team won top points in its category, despite having to switch pool venues halfway through the season to accommodate for renovations to the Innisfail Aquatic Centre.
The Dolphins had 26 swimmers who participated at the provincials this season.
“Many of the swimmers achieved personal best times, brought home medals and broke club records,” said Tammy Thompson, secretary and registration publicist on the Dolphins swim club.
“The swim meet marks the end of another successful season for the swim club,” she added.
There were several new records for the club including: Faith Gette in the Girls 13/14 50 category for her 100 metre backstroke; Quinn Layden in the Boys 15-17 category for his 50 metre freestyle, 50 metre backstroke, 100 metre freestyle, 200 metre freestyle, 400 metre freestyle; Josh Gette in the Boys 15-17 50 category for his 50 metre fly, 800 metre freestyle, 1,500 metre freestyle; Donovan Pineau in the Boys 15-17 category for his 50 metre breaststroke; Kyra McMurray in the Girls 11/12 category for her 100 metre fly and Hidde Geurts in the Boys 18 and Over category for his 800 metre freestyle.
There were also several medals taken home at provincials including: Quinn Layden who won silver in 400 metre freestyle and gold in 200 metre freestyle; Kyra McMurray who won gold in 100 metre freestyle; Josh Gette who won 1,500 metre freestyle and silver in 800 metre freestyle, and Faith Gette who won silver in 100 metre backstroke and bronze in 50 metre backstroke.
“Some of the highlights of the swim club each year is always when the swimmers beat their own personal best times,” said Thompson, adding she sees improvement every season.
“It is very rewarding for the swimmers, coaches and families. A swimmer competes with themselves to beat their personal best times, they compete with other members of their club and they compete with swimmers within our region and then eventually, they compete with other swimmers in the province,” she said.
Next year will mark the 65th anniversary for the swim club, making it one of the oldest in Alberta.
“Next season we are hoping to grow the club and increase our membership numbers again,” Thompson said.
“There will be some changes to the program. We will work over the winter to make some improvements to our program and course, and we are looking forward to training in our own pool again.”
This year the Dolphins Swim Club competed in meets in Wetaskiwin, Okotoks, Lacombe, Innisfail, Hanna, Red Deer, Ponoka and Canmore, in addition to the final swim meet in Edmonton.
