Vipers qualify for provincials

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Taber Times

There were 18 members of the Taber Viper Swim Club that made their way to regionals this past weekend with several earning top-five finishes while others’ top-two finishes earned them a trip to provincials in Edmonton this weekend.

“Anyone can go to regionals and if you place in the top two you are guaranteed a spot in provincials. There is also room for six wildcards, what that means, the next six top people in all of Alberta get to go,” said Caitlyn Nichols, head coach of the Taber Viper Swim Club. “Everyone tried so hard and it surprised me some of them going to provincials. They set goals at the beginning of the year to make provincials and they did. I’m thoroughly proud of all the swimmers that went.”

The following are top-five finishes in alphabetical order:

Jessica Anderson earned first place in her 100-metre IM and 200-metre freestyle events for nine-and-10-year-old girls. She also earned second and thirds for 25-metre fly and 50-metre fly.

Brooke Capner took fourth in her first race for 100-metre fly while taking fifth in the second race for 15-to-17-year-old girls.

Chance Cook dominated in his 11-12-year-old boys field, taking firsts in 50-metre freestyle, 100-metre freestyle and 100-metre backstroke while taking second in 50-metre breaststroke.

Ainsley Duell earned fourth and fifth-place times in her 25-metre breaststroke races for seven-and-eight-year-old girls category.

Claudia Farries finished in fifth for 15-to-17-year-old girls 50-metre backstroke.

Shea Garner finished in second for her 100-metre IM races and fifth for 50-metre breaststroke for nine-and-10-year-old girls.

Andrea Heezen earned a fourth-place time for 100-metre freestyle.

Dylan Saunders earned a second-place time for 50-metre freestyle and thirds for 200-metre freestyle, 50-metre backstroke, and 100-metre freestyle for nine-and-10-year-old boys.

Renae Saunders took first for 100-metre fly and 200-metre IM for 13-and-14-year-old girls. She also earned second in 50-metre fly and third for 50-metre backstroke for 13-and-14-year-old girls.

Tayla Silver had a fourth-place time for 25-metre fly and a fifth-place time for 50-metre freestyle for nine-and-10-year-old girls.

Jordan Wijna finished second for 200-metre freestyle and earned a second-place time for 400-metre freestyle for 15-to-17-year-old girls . She also had a race in 50-metre backstroke in which she finished third.

Danielle Wright competed in 13-and-14-year old girls and had a third-place time in 100-metre backstroke. She also clocked a fourth-place time in 50-metre backstroke and 100-metre freestyle. She also timed out for a fifth-place time in 50-metre freestyle.

Darci Wright finished in first place right down the board for 100-metre freestyle, 50-metre fly, 25-metre fly and 50-metre freestyle for nine-and-10-year-old girls in an absolutely dominating regional performance.

“Darci shattered a provincial record. She’s beat it three times within the last two weeks,” said Nichols of her 50-metre fly performance. “That was awesome.”

Genna Wright finished in first for 100-metre backstroke, second for 50-metre backstroke and 50-metre freestyle and clocked a third-place time for 50-metre fly.

Taber Viper Swim Club ended up winning the banner at regionals for overall points for small teams.

“They divide the region into small teams and big teams.  It’s not fair if everything was even because we brought 18 swimmers and Lethbridge brought 89,” said Nichols. “We had a really good meet and I was proud of the swimmers that went. I’m excited to see how the swimmers who are moving on do at provincials and where they place.”

After provincials, Taber Viper Swim Club wraps up its season with its year-end awards banquet on Aug. 28 at the M.D. Park.