The host Kelowna AquaJets found the familiar surroundings very much to their liking in claiming the overall team title at the 41st annual Snowfest Meet.
From Jan. 20 to 22 at H2O, 62 swimmers from the home team broke club records, posted personal best times, made new provincial qualifying times and achieved podium finishes.
Among the record-breaking swims, Flyn Huber, 12, and Axana Merckx, 15, each broke two records.
Huber’s club records came in the 50 butterfly (32.22) and the 50 metre backstroke (34.70) while Merckx bettered the previous records in 200 back (2:25.50) and 50 fly (30.43).
Joining them in the record books were Andrea Kraetzer, 12, with her time of 38.95 in the 50 breaststroke, Molly Hill, 15, with 1:06.03 in the 100 fly and Jasper Stone (16) with a time of 32.00 in the 50 breast.
New records were also claimed in the open category by senior swimmers, Christina Russo, David Dimitrov and Stefan Pripoae.
Snowfest was the last opportunity for swimmers to get their qualification times to swim at AA Provincials. Nine AquaJets earned the right to attend AA Provincials in Chilliwack in mid-February.
Teammates, Athina Merckxm 11, and Sara Gray, 10, from the silver group had success in the breaststroke events, with Merckx swimming the 100 breast in 1:37.31 and the 200 breast in 3:27.96, and Gray posting times of 1:39.86 in the 100 and 3:31.13 in the 200 breast.
Bronze swimmers on the boys’ side to earn AA qualification were Oliver Dickieson (11) and Dray Rolleston (11). Dickieson had success in the freestyle events swimming 50 free in 34.67, 100 free in 1:16.42 and 200 free in 2:47.07. Rolleston swam his 50 free in 34.01 and 100 back in 1:27.39.
Joining them in Chilliwack at AA Provincials from the gold group are newly qualified AA swimmers, Megan Allan, 14, Olivia Courteney, 14, Juliana Gallagher, 15, Makenna Haight, 15, and Andrea Kraetzer, 12. Two swimmers from the gold group also qualified for AAA Provincials at the meet. Rachel McInnes, 13, and Flyn Huber earned the right to represent the AquaJets at AAA Provincials in Victoria in early March.
The club amassed 75 podium finishes, earning 26 gold, 24 silver and 25 bronze medals.
Leading the medal haul with six gold medals and one silver was 11-year-old Abigail Jerome. Jerome touched the wall first in 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 50 fly, 100 fly and 200 Individual Medle.
Also picking up gold medals were Athina Merckx, Dray Rolleston, Erin Epp, 13, Volodymr Matushevskyy,13, Cameron McInnes, 15, Christina Russo, 21, Axana Merckx, Molly Hill, Jasper Stone, Paige Foster, 14, and David Dimitrov, 25.
Over half the Jets—39 out of 62—posted best times in all the events they entered.
Special congratulations go out to all the bronze and great white swimmers who competed, with many of them tackling competing in a long course meet for the first time.
Posting 100 per cent best times from these groups were Jovin Bertoia, 11, Slyvie Boschman, 10, Lexi Falkingham, 11, Cheyanne Gravelle, 11, Rhys Howell, 11, Aiden Kirk ,9, Sarah Litrico, 10, Emelia Schwarz, 12, Hannah Scuka, 10, Lanny Tew, 11, and Scott Russell, 10.
Next up for the Jets are AA Provincials in Chilliwack in mid-February.