Host SSMAC successful at Kensit Memorial

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE AQUATIC CLUB

**************************

Host SSMAC takes High Point Crowns

The Sault Ste. Marie Aquatic Club played host to more than 200 swimmers from across the region over the weekend at the John Rhodes Community Pool for the annual Dave Kensit Memorial Short Course Championship. Numerous swimmers of provincial and national caliber were entered in the meet. The 20- member SSMAC contingent was joined by city counterparts, the Soo Y Dolphins, and twelve other entries from across the region, including athletes from North Bay, Sudbury, Kirkland Lake and Timmins. Saturday evening festivities began with the playing of the National Anthem, by the NLCC Newman Navy League Band.

Kyle Matthews (boys' 14-15 age category) and Brian Lee (boys' 12-13 age category) both won high point trophies and qualified to swim at "Age-group Club Nationals" in Montreal this coming summer. Becky Day won the high point trophy in the girls' 13-14 age division. Matthews, Lee and Day helped power SSMAC to a third place finish overall, behind Sudbury Laurentian (1st) and CT33 North Bay (2nd).

Other swimmers to earn top three finishes over the weekend include Christopher Carlyle, 12, winning gold in the 200-metre individual medley. Carlyle also captured three silvers and a bronze. Eleven year old Steven Lee placed first in the 50-metre and 100-metre breaststroke events and won bronze in another race.

Swimming in the boys' 14-15 age category, Josh Lawrence collected 3 silver medals and a bronze. Shane Rock, 11, won two bronze and a silver.

Kalen Critchley (girls' 10 and under) found second spot in the 100-metre individual medley. Julia Turgeon, 13, placed second in the 100-metre backstroke and third in the 100-metre freestyle.

Sarah Theodossiou (girls' 13-14) won two bronze medals. Hannah Murray, age 11, won silver in the 100-metre backstroke. Erin Lee, 9, received a bronze medal in the 100-metre breaststroke event.

Other SSMAC swimmers to place in the top eight include: Kailee Valois, Chelsea Griswold, Chenoa Naylor and Miranda MacRae. Personal best swims were produced by several swimmers including, Celine Gregoire, Rayne Fisher, Sherri Lambkin and Kendall Barban.

Coach Nancy Day was very proud of each and every athlete. "SSMAC has a much younger club this year, and our future is very bright. The swimmers produced 95% "personal best times" at this meet, and that is very exciting." Day credits Assistant Coach Moe Shahin for much of the teams' success. "Moe is great with the kids, and very good at enforcing the technical aspects of strokes for the younger swimmers."

************************************************************