By Angie Abdou
On the weekend of March 11th, 36 Dolphins traveled to Cranbrook to compete in a 2-day swim meet. This competition was open to all level of swimmers. The Fernie racers ranged from 7-year-old Tommy Cain to 15-year-old veterans, Adam Hayden, Ava Pollock, and Abbi Wannamaker. The weekend was a success for the team’s first-year swimmers as well as its competitors who have been racing for nearly 10 years.
In total, the Dolphins collected nearly 150 top-8 finishes, including 38 golds, 30 silvers, and 16 bronze medals. The golds went to: Cole Bailey (boys 11-12 year old 200 free, 50 fly), TJ Dubé (boys 10 & under 50 free, 50 back, 100 IM, 100 back, 50 breast, 100 free), Katherine Hafke (girls 13-14 year old 200 Individual Medley), Emilie Harrup (girls 10 & under 100 IM, 100 back), Adam Hayden (boys 15 & over 400 free, 50 free, 100 IM, 100 breast, 50 breast, 50 fly), Annalynn Nguyen (girls 10 & under 200 free), Ava Pollock (girls 15 & over 400 free, 200 back), Cadence Prefontaine (girls 11 & 12 year old 400 free, 200 free, 100 breast, 50 fly), Layla Rella (girls 10 & under 400 free, 100 fly 50 back, 100 breast, 50 breast, 50 fly, 200 IM), Ethan Sauvé (boys 13-14 year old 200 back), Ben Schmidt (boys 11-12 year old 100 breast), Abbi Wannamaker (girls 15 & over 200 free, 100 back, 100 free, 200 IM), and Dubs Wood (boys 10 & under 200 free).
Regional coaches from Elk Valley, Cranbrook, Nelson, Castlegar, Invermere, and Radium also took the opportunity to meet and strategize about swimming in the area. This swim season, each major club will host a meet – with two meets in Fernie, one in Cranbrook, one in Nelson, and one in Radium. The teams also worked together to host a regional camp featuring Olympian Brent Hayden. “It’s great to see this surge of energy and enthusiasm for swimming in our region,” said Coach Aidan Chudleigh. “We’re all working to get better together.”
All the Elk Valley swimmers will get a chance to compete again at the club’s annual spring meet, held at the Fernie Aquatic Centre on April 21-23.
