Matthews qualifies for national long course swim championships

A five-member Sault Ste. Marie Aquatic Club contingent has returned from Long Course Junior Provincials in Etobicoke, registering numerous best times and with one swimmer primed for Club Nationals in Winnipeg next week.

Kyle Matthews,13, who will be heading to the Manitoba capital along with Coach Bill Park, had three third place finishes (50- and 100-metre freestyle and 100-metre butterfly) in six swims.

Becky Day, 12, also impressed with a second-place result in the 800-metre freestyle to go along with a third-place in the 200-metre freestyle.

Alexandra Tracy was the only nine-year-old to finish in the top eight. She accomplished this three times with two sixth-place showings while finishing eighth in another race.

Also representing SSMAC were Wendy Oleskiw, 14, and Brian Lee, 12.

SSMAC finished 25th out of 70 teams in the large team category, based on the club having more than 50 swimmers registered as competitive athletes.

"That was amazing for five swimmers," says SSMAC Coach Bill Park. "All swimmers registered lifetime bests and some of these were amazing drops, so they should be very proud of themselves. I am really, really happy with our performances."

Park says the results were particularly noteworthy considering the sweltering conditions.

"We are producing some very good swimmers and I am proud of all of them."

(Submitted to SooToday.com)