The Nose Creek Swim Association (NCSA) turned heads at Age Group Provincial Trials, which took place at Edmonton’s Kinsmen Centre, Feb. 24-26.
The Airdrie-based club took 24 swimmers, ages 10-14, to the event and earned 21 medals. Seven new athletes qualified for Age Group Provincial Championships, to take place March 9-11 at the Talisman Centre in Calgary.
“I was blown away by our kids and parents,” said Robin Loyola, NCSA coach.
“NCSA was the stand-out team of the meet. I am ecstatic, (the swimmers) met my expectations and exceeded them.”
Airdrie’s Daniel Paquette, 14, was the star of the team, earning seven gold and two bronze medals – one for each of his nine events – and earning a berth at Age Group Championships.
Paquette, now in his second year of competition, was thrilled about his results at the meet.
“I feel great about making A’s,” said the École Airdrie Middle School student, who cites the butterfly as his favourite stroke.
“I feel great about the support from the coaches, fellow swimmers and my family members. I believe it is what has gotten me this far.”
Chestermere’s Stephanie Churcher, 14, took 33 seconds off her best time in the 1,500-metre freestyle to earn a gold and a berth at the provincial championships. Churcher also earned a gold in the 200-metre breaststroke final and was awarded a silver for her efforts in the 400-metre Individual Medley (IM) and girls 13 and 14-year-old freestyle relay.
Churcher also snagged a bronze in the 100-metre breaststroke final and the 13- and 14-year-old girls team medley relay.
It will be Churcher’s first time at provincial championships.
“It’s a huge accomplishment because I have always wanted to go, and I have always been so close,” she said.
Airdrie’s Danica MacDonald, 14, joined Churcher in earning a silver in the girls’ 13 and 14-year-old freestyle relay and a bronze in the medley event. MacDonald also took home a silver medal in the 800-metre freestyle and the 13- and 14-year-old girls’ breaststroke final and a bronze in the 100-metre butterfly.
Airdrie’s Drew-Anne Bannan, 12, earned a bronze in the 11- and 12-year-old 50-metre butterfly event.
She also helped her team take home the gold in the medley relay.
Melia St. Louis, who attends Airdrie’s Good Shepherd School and has been competing for one year, earned a spot at the provincial championships when she took the gold in the 11- and 12-year-old 50-metre backstroke.
Irricana’s Jordyn Nixon, 13, turned a few heads with her 30.97 seconds in the 50-metre free, putting her half a second away from her provincial qualifying time.
She also took 13 seconds off her 200-metre IM earning her a spot in the finals and a seventh place ribbon.
The swimmers’ results were achieved through a combination of hard work, coaching and parental support, according to Alexx Diep, NCSA assistant head coach.
“I knew it was going to be a good meet because of the way we were doing in training,” he said.
Diep added the team spirit of the swimmers and parents was outstanding, with families sporting matching purple and orange shirts.
“In the stands you certainly saw a unity,” he said.
“The kids look up in the stands and see the parents dressed the same and cheering for all the kids and that teaches them sportsmanship.”
Diep said he expects the 21 swimmers NCSA is taking to the provincial championships, which will see top swimmers from around the province competing, to have a strong showing.
“I am expecting for the kids to follow through with the momentum and let them carry that to the next level,” he said.
