The Salmon Arm Sockeyes travelled to Merritt for their last meet of the season before heading off to the Regional Championships Aug. 6 and 7 in Kelowna. They surprised coaches by winning the meet with only 23 swimmers, beating out Kelowna with 43 and Port Moody with 45.
Julianne Moore and Keeya Corbett started off the Sockeyes’ success, earning the silver and gold aggregate for division-one girls, respectively. Connor Levins took home the bronze in division-one boys, while Matthew Bushell earned gold.
Aria Izik-Dzurko swam many best times, earning her the silver aggregate in division-two girls, with teammate Chantel Jeffrey earning gold. Jeffrey also broke two meet records, a 29-year-old 50-metre freestyle record from 1982 and the 100-m freestyle record from 1999. Tyler Bushell also had many personal best times this weekend, earning him the silver aggregate in division-two boys. Stephen Moore earned the gold aggregate for division-two boys, as well as smashing former Sockeye Davis Wuolle’s 50-m breaststroke record from 2000.
Division-three boys swept the podium once again, with Gaelyn Gilliam earning bronze, Matthew Nesdoly taking home silver after an impressive weekend, and Jaeden Izik-Dzurko winning gold.
Alexander Corbett broke the division-four boys’ 200-m individual medley record from 2009, had numerous personal best times, and topped off a great weekend by taking home the gold aggregate.
Georgia Kehl earned her first aggregate of the season, taking home bronze in division- five girls. Eliza Jane Kitchen earned the gold aggregate in division five, as well as breaking a 26-year-old record in the 100-m breaststroke. Brayden Gilliam broke the 50-m butterfly record from 2000, as well as taking home the gold aggregate in division-five boys.
Natajsha Nesdoly tied for silver in division-six girls. Jake Kitchen earned a well-deserved gold aggregate in division-seven boys, after breaking the 200-m individual medley record from 2002 and the 100-m freestyle record from 2000.