SSMAC looking to defend Calzone's title

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE AQUATIC CLUB

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SSMAC Eager To Defend Titles

The Sault Ste. Marie Aquatic Club hopes to continue domination of its home meet this weekend when about 300 swimmers from across the region and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula converge on the John Rhodes Centre Pool Friday for the Joey Calzone’s Invitational Swim Meet.

SSMAC has won the A (pre-provincial) championship eight consecutive times and last year also captured the B (developmental flight) to repeat in that category as well.

At least 10 other teams will attend the three-day event, including the Soo Y Dolphins, the Sudbury Laurentian Swim Club, the Elliot Lake Aquatic Club, the North Bay Y Titans, the Valley East Waves, Sturgeon Falls, and stateside entries from Marquette and Rudyard.

"Our goal is to win both sides of the meet again," says senior coach Bill Park. "The B side is strong with a lot of novice swimmers having moved up this fall. On the A side, we have some younger kids we will be relying on to score points. We have a strong senior boys group. For the first time in years, we have the swimmers available to form a senior boys’ relay team."

Action begin Friday evening at 6 p.m. at the John Rhodes Pool and racing continues until 8:30 p.m. Competition Saturday and Sunday begins at 8:30 a.m., with awards being handed out on Sunday afternoon.

Admission is free.

Competitors are aged six and up. The meet will feature 164 events in five sessions.

"Many of our swimmers have already had some excellent results this fall," says Park. "However, this is the first meet with the entire club in action, so we’re excited to have this competition in our home pool."

Numerous swimmers have set personal bests in several events this fall.

"We are delighted to welcome teams from our neighbouring clubs in Michigan," says Park.

Meet results so far this season demonstrate the club has a strong core of swimmers that will allow the club to maintain its standing as one of the best small clubs in the country for years to come, Park says.

"We have several club members who are just beginning to come into their own with a few years of competition left and some of these can be expected to perform at the provincial and national levels during their careers."

This is the one of the largest swim competitions in Sault Ste. Marie this season.

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