NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA CHANNEL CATS SWIM CLUB
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Members of the Orillia Channel Cats Swim Club recently competed in two provincial-level competitions — Ontario Summer Festivals held in Etobicoke and Ontario Youth Junior Championships held in Markham.
Sophie Shivers, 11, and Nicolas Willis, 13, competed at Summer Festivals. Sophie qualified for the Provincial Festivals in the 50-metre freestyle, and also raced in the 200-metre freestyle, 100-metre backstroke and 100-metre freestyle. Sophie improved her times in all four of her events at her first provincial-level competition.
“Sophie did a great job racing and did not let the fact this was her first provincial-level meet affect her performance,” said coach Tatum Haslem.
Nicolas Willis competed in the para category in 50-metre freestyle, 100-metre backstroke and 50-metre breaststroke and had two personal best time swims.
“Nicolas dropped 11 seconds in 50-metre freestyle and just over nine seconds in the 50-metre breaststroke, which was pretty impressive,” adds Haslem.
At the Ontario Youth Junior Championships, Anna Holton, 16, qualified in 100-metre backstroke, and also raced the 50-metre freestyle. Taryn Fenton, 18, qualified in 50-metre freestyle and 100-metre butterfly. Taryn also raced in the 200- and 100-metre freestyle.
“This was the last meet of the season for these swimmers, and they did a great job demonstrating perseverance and resiliency at the meet and throughout the entire year,” adds coach Meredith Thompson-Edwards.
Up next for the local club is the Collingwood June Invitational, which will be the last meet for the majority of swimmers. Ontario Swimming Championships and Canadian Swimming Trials will be later in July and August, which Blythe Wieclawek will be preparing for over the next few weeks.
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