It was a banner meet for members of Airdrie’s Nose Creek Swim Association.
A group of seven local swimmers, ages 10 to 13, attended the Alberta Long Course Age Group Trials, held in Medicine Hat, June 17-19, earning 12 medals and achieving a number of top-eight finishes.
“It was really exciting, not only for the kids, but the coaches were really excited too,” said Airdrie coach Alexx Diep. “We saw the possibilities of what they can do.”
Daniel Paquette and Zander Glatz, both 13, walked away with three individual medals, and earned berths at age group championships.
Paquette won a gold in the 400-metre individual medley (IM), a silver in the 200-metre breast and a bronze in the 100-metre breaststroke. He also managed a top eight finish in the 50 and 100-metre breast and the 50-metre butterfly.
Glatz earned a gold in the 200-metre fly, a silver in the 400-metre IM and a bronze in the 100-metre fly, along with three top-eight finishes in the 100-metre back, 50-metre fly and 200-metre freestyle events.
Both boys were joined by their Calgary-based NCSA teammates to win golds in both the medley and 200-free relays.
Paquette’s mom Jennifer said she enjoyed the meet, especially the confidence exhibited by her son, who is in his first year of competition.
“I thought it was just awesome,” said Jennifer. “The energy was so high, not just with the kids, but with the parents. You could really feel the competitiveness.”
Chestermere resident Stephanie Churcher, 13, earned a bronze medal in the 50-metre breast and a fifth in the 100-metre breast and was a member of the relay team that picked up silvers in the 13 to 14-year-old girls’ 200-free and medley relays.
Danica MacDonald, 13, was also a member of the relay teams and earned a bronze medal in the 200-metre breast. She had top-eight finishes in four other events.
Irricana resident Taylor Nixon, 10, earned a bronze in the 100-metre fly and finished seventh overall in the 200-metre breast. Nixon also swam in the 11 to 12-year-old girls’ medley relay.
Ethan Smith, 10, earned a bronze in the 200-metre back and finished in the top eight in the 50 and 100-metre back races.
Jordyn Nixon, 12, earned a number of best times and participated in the 11 to 12-year-old girls’ medley and free relays.
Churcher said it was an amazing meet.
“I thought it was awesome, because everyone was doing really well,” she said. “We were always in the middle of the podium for most events.”
The large contingent of parents, who donned matching shirts in the team’s bright orange colour, added to the excitement, Churcher added.
“We had a whole section cheering, it was pretty awesome,” said Churcher.
Greg Nixon, NCSA’s president, said he couldn’t be more ecstatic about the team’s showing.
“I was honoured to be part of such a great team,” he said. “The parents were really out of this world, by far they were the loudest and proudest and brightest of all the parents. It was an unbelievable event for the club.”
Diep said he is looking forward to seeing what his squad will achieve at Age Group Provincial Championships, to be held in Fort McMurray, July 1-4.
Eight Airdrie swimmers will attend that meet, during which Alberta’s top swimmers will compete.
Diep said he is also positive about the club’s future.
“It’s looking great for next year,” he said. “(The success) is definitely keeping the kids motivated to come back, try hard and do even better.”
