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Waveriders make a splash at home

The Waveriders took on the competition at home, hosting their first swim meet of the season Jan. 17 – 18.

The Waveriders took on the competition at home, hosting their first swim meet of the season Jan. 17 – 18.

“The Waveriders first swim meet was a huge success due to the massive help of our entire team’s family, friends and the Quesnel pool staff,” coach Jerritt Brink said.

“Angie Swyers and Linda Currie organized an extremely well put together event. It was very impressive.”

Brink also credits the help of Williams Lake’s Scott McCreight for the stroke and turn and Marlyin King from Prince George who severed as referee.

“Both provided their skills and patience to help make this a great experience,” Brink explained.

Though the entire event was a massive success, Brink highlighted some of the more memorable moments at the meet.

Some of the highlights included Billy Swyers qualifying for ‘AAA’ the highest provincial level of competition, Emerie Watson swimming in for first place in seven out of her eight events and qualifying for AA provincials this February.

Finally a favourite amount the Waveriders and their coach was the relay event.

“The senior 4x50 free relay really wowzer’d me,” Brink said.

“The team of Natasha Hanson, Brad Swyers, Sonny Cervienka and Garnet Currie did the 200m in one minute and 55 seconds.”

Many of the Waveriders took to the podium to received medals when the weekend of swimming came to it’s end.

Taking the bronze for the girls 10 and under in the 250m freestyle was Lainey Van Home.

In the 10 and under 200m individual medley bronze for the girls went to Gavin Currie.

For the boys Luca Armstrong took home the gold, with silver going to Austin Novak.

For aggregate medals, Natasha Hanson’s efforts earned her gold for the 14 – 15-year-old girls.

The Waveriders competing in the 11-year-old boys category dominated the swim meet with Billy Swyers taking silver overall and Leif Brandson winning gold.

Brandson, who previously swam with the Williams Lake team, was thrilled to take on and win against his old swim team.

For the 14 – 15-year-old boys, gold went to Garnet Currie with fellow Waverider Brad Swyers following close behind to take the silver medal.

Taking silver in  the 16 and over category was Sonny Cervienka.

For the team their were many milestones, personal best times achieved at this event, which made for a memorable meet.

For Austin Novak it was getting the chance to swim with his younger brother Braden Novak.

Getting six personal best times was only one of the highlights for Waverider Logan Godsoe.

It was the first meet for Waverider Shazia Fillion, tying with fellow Waverider Darby made for an exciting highlight for Fillion.

For Grace Currie the entire meet rang out with success, taking off times on all seven of her swims for new personal best times.

Brad Swyers enjoyed shaving off a few second on the 200m backstroke and improving his technique.

“I think it was just really nice having a meet here,” Cervienka said.

“This is the first we’ve really had that’s a sanctioned meet with the Waveriders so it’s nice inviting clubs here and whooping their butts.”

The next event for the Waveriders was the Kelowna meet that ran Jan. 23– 24. For results, see a future Observer.