Elk Valley Dolphins finished the 2023-2024 season on a very high note at this year’s ManSask Provincial Championships in Regina.
In what started as a “rebuild” year, the Dolphins qualified their largest team ever for the championship meet, taking 11 swimmers, ranging in age from 10 to 18.
Six of the swimmers qualified for this top-level provincial meet for the first time: Matthew Cassidy, Anouk Demers, Sage Demers, Katie Hafke, Annalynn Nguyen, and Cadence Prefontaine. Five others returned as experienced veterans: Brody Dubé, Emilie Harrup, Josie Howse, Jackson Radkie, and Layla Rella. The 11 athletes achieved the team’s highest ever ranking with the girls winning the “small teams” division and the combined boys-and-girls team placing third overall in the same category.
The Dolphins also achieved their most ever podium finishes at a provincial meet. Layla Rella led the way with a whopping total of six individual medals in her six individual events. Still 11-years-old and competing in the 11 & 12 category, Rella stood out of crowd, impressing spectators with gold medal finishes in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, and 50 back, as well as a silver medal in the 100 fly and bronze in the 200 back.
13-year-old Josie Howse, competing in the 13-14 category, also won two gold medals, in both the 800 free and 1500 free, proving she has the grit and fortitude to compete in the grueling distance events. Matthew Cassidy also showed well in the distance category, earning a bronze medal in the boys 11-12 1500 free. Emilie Harrup, after several close podium calls over the weekend, snatched her medal in the final event of the weekend with an impressive silver finish in the 200 free.
Debut AA provincial swimmer, Sage Demers made astonishing improvements again this weekend in all his swims, most impressively taking off 13 more seconds in his 200 free to earn a silver medal.
The Dolphins also fielded a full 11–12-year-old girls relay for the first time in their history at this meet. Layla Rella, Emilie Harrup, Anouk Demers, and Annalynn Nguyen debuted in true Dolphin fashion, earning a podium spot in both the 4 X 100 free relay and the 4 X 100 medley relay. The parents may also have set some cheering records in those events – for both volume and duration.
Dolphins coaches report that “The future for these swimmers looks very bright. Despite the impressive podium showing, not one swimmer on the roster ages up next year. We’ll be back with the same crew and more qualifiers. This team just keeps getting better.”
The Elk Valley swimmers also set 10 new club records. Matthew Cassidy topped the charts with four records (1500 free, 50 breast 50 fly, 100 fly). Sage Demers was right behind him with three records in the same 11–12-year-old category (100 free, 200 free, 200 back). Rebounding from injury, Layla Rella swam a blazing fast 100 LCM fly in 1:14.72 to edge by her own club record. She also set the 50 fly record with an impressive 31.61. Graduate Jackson Radkie, in his final meet as a Dolphin, beat a longstanding record in the 100 free.
The ManSask Championships always ends with Saskatchewan versus Manitoba relays. To join the fun, B.C puts together a team out of the clubs attending from our region. Most of the Dolphins had an opportunity to compete in that fun event and, of course, all those teams come home with a medal as well – ending the meet with more fast swimming, high energy, and new friends.
Later this month, five swimmers (Sage Demers, Noah Dodds, Matthew Cassidy, Josie Howse, Atley Nelson, Layla Rella) will represent our region at the BC Games, and then the whole team will have a well-deserved break until the 2024-2025 season starts in early September. The Dolphins’ coach says, “Watch for great things from our Dolphins! It promises to be another exciting year.”
