Several SSMAC medalists at team championships

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE AQUATIC CLUB

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MEDALS CAPTURED BY AQUATIC CLUB SWIMMERS

Several Sault Ste. Marie Aquatic Club swimmers recorded stellar performances over the weekend at the Division 2 Team Championships in Sudbury, on route to a 12th place finish in a field of 19 swim clubs.

SSMAC's success was powered by several swimmers. Wendy Oleskiw, competing in the girls' 13-14 age category, earned three gold medals, as well as a third and seventh place finish.

Hannah Murray (girls' 10 and under age category) won two silvers medals and two bronze. Teammate Carrie-Lynne Smale competing in the same division, won silver in the 200-metre freestyle and garnered four other top eight finishes. Sara Mathews found sixth spot in the 50-metre backstroke and seventh in the 100-metre individual medley.

Steven Lee (boys' 10 and under) won the 50-metre breaststroke and placed third in the 100-metre breaststroke. Michael Lawrence, racing in the boys' 11-12 age category, shaved an amazing 52 seconds off of his existing best time, in the 400-metre freestyle.

In the girls' 11-12 age category Julia Turgeon was strong, placing fifth in the 400-metre individual medley.

Becky Day, competing in the girls' 13-14 division, earned a fourth place finish in the 400-metre freestyle and had two other top eight finishes, despite illness.

Josh Lawrence, 14, garnered a bronze medal in the 1500-metre freestyle and earned four other top eight finishes. Brian Lee had a sixth place result in the 400-metre freestyle.

In the boys' 17 and over age division, Jeff Byrne captured silver in the 200-metre butterfly. Byrne also won bronze in the 100-metre butterfly event. Jeff Park earned a sixth place finish in the 200-metre breaststroke, and seventh in the 100-metre breaststroke. Peter Olinger, was consistent with four top eight finishes. Alex Bonne earned a fourth place result in the 200-metre backstroke, as well as a sixth in the 100-metre backstroke.

Suzie McGuire placed seventh in the 100-metre backstroke.

In relay action, the girls' 10 and under team of Smale, Mathews, Murray and Erin Lee won silver in the 200-metre freestyle event and placed fifth in the 200-metre medley relay.

Sarah Theodossiou, Chelsea Griswold, Day and Oleskiw combined to earn seventh spot in the girls' 13-14 200-metre freestyle relay event. Theodossiou, Day, Oleskiw and Miranda Macrae together placed eighth, in the 200-metre medley relay. Overall, Senior Coach Bill Park was thrilled with the results, noting a fantastic overall performance by all of the swimmers. "It was a great team effort", says Park. "Many swimmers achieved best times, and the club is well prepared to compete in the rest of the long course season."

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