Thunderbirds made waves

The Thunderbirds made big waves as eight development level swimmers swam 26 personal bests and 14 pre-provincial level swimmers earned 50 personal bests at last weekend’s Northeastern Ontario Development Meet in Sudbury.

The development team with swimmers aged 9 to 11 posted 37 times. The team of Samantha Delamere, Jane Ferguson, Sierra Guido, Sydney Hughes, Taylor Russell, Anna Sirois-Le Cain, Simon Sirois- Le Cain and Kylie Webster knocked off over 186 seconds in events ranging from 25 to 200 meter swims.

Delamere knocked 10 seconds off her 100 IM to achieve her personal best. Delamere came home with 2 second place and 1 third place finishes and 4 personal bests. Guido raced to a fifth and seventh place finish with 5 personal bests. Hughes had 5 personal bests and 1 second, 1 third and 1 fourth place finish. Russell also had 5 personal bests with 1 third and 2 fourth place finishes. Anna Sirois-Le Cain swam one personal best and Simon Sirois-Le Cain had three personal bests and 1 third and 1 fourth place finish. Webster swam two personal bests and had one sixth and one eighth place finish.

The Development swimmers finished the meet off with great relay success. Swimmers Guido, Russell, Ferguson, and Hughes raced to a first place finish in the 200 free for 11 and 12 year olds. Webster, Hughes, Sirois-Le Cain and Delamere swam away with a fifth place finish for 10 and under.

There was a ripple effect across the pool as the Thunderbird’s pre-provincial team came home with 10 first place, 15 second place, and 12 third place finishes.

Leading the Thunderbirds was Jennifer Piper (15) who swam to 3 first place finishes and 1 third place finish. Sierra McCourt (11) also showcased her skills as she knocked off over 69 seconds in her races ending the day with 4 second place finishes and 1 fourth place finish. Bryanna Penno (13) left the meet smiling with 3 firsts, 1 second, and 1 third place finish. And thirteen year old Emma Hives finished the day with 1 first, 2 seconds, 1 third and 1 fourth place ribbon. It doesn’t stop there for the Hives family! Sisters Jesse (9) had 2 firsts, 3 seconds and 1 third place finish and Megan (11) knocked over 45 seconds off her personal best times swimming away with a third, a fourth and 2 fifth place finishes. Twelve year old Megan Menard shone with 2 second place finishes, 2 thirds, and 2 fourth place finishes. Jayden Jackson (10) brought it home with 1 first, 1 second, 3 thirds and 1 fourth place finish. Jaime Udeschini(11) achieved 5 personal bests, 2 sixth, one seventh, eighth, and ninth place finish. Antoinette Busch (15) placed sixth, eighth and ninth in the 15 year old category and Landra Lecour(18) came home with 1 fourth, 2 sixth, 1 seventh and 1 ninth place finish. Constance Leavitt also managed 5 personal bests and a fourth place finish. Gregory Katsuno(13) made waves as he finished with 6 personal bests, 2 second and 2 third place finishes and Dylan Jackson(14) had 4 personal bests, 1 fifth and 4 eighth place finishes.

The Thunderbird relay teams flew to 3 first place finishes in the 200 meter free (11-12 and 13-14 year old categories) and the 200 medley for 11 and 12 year olds. They also placed third in the womens 13-14 200 medley and the womens 15 & over 200 free.

The season is off to a great start. The Thunderbirds are hosting time trials this weekend and then heading to Barrie to compete in the Autumn Aqua-Fest Invitational being held next weekend.

Submitted to BayToday.ca