The Orillia Channel Cats Swim Club recently traveled to Barrie for the Meridian Aquafest Invitational Swim Meet, with 21 club members taking part.  

“This meet was a qualifier, which meant you have to have a certain (minimum) time in each event in order to attend,” said Cats head coach Meredith Thompson-Edwards.   

“It was a great competition for our swimmers and they had to step up their races. They did a great job,” she added.

The 13 and over agegroup entered preliminaries and finals at the meet, so some swimmers had to race eight events.  

“We are very pleased with our team’s results, our swimmers were pumped and as a result, swam faster at night. They achieved a lot of personal bests which is very impressive after swimming four events in the morning,” noted coach Elaine Thompson.   

“This meet is a great test of physical as well as mental strength,” added Thompson-Edwards.    

The Channel Cats had 16 swimmers at this event last season, compared to 21 this year.

Collectively, the swimmers earned more than 200 more team points.  

Results from the 12 and under age groups are as follows:
 
In the 10 and Under Division, Josie Edwards finished second in the 100-metre butterfly and 200-m freestyle, while placing third in the 50-m, 100-m, 200-m breaststroke and 200-m Individual Medley. She was fifth in the 100-m backstroke.

Matthew Fonseca finished third in the 100-m Individual Medley and seventh in the 50-m freestyle.

Lya Griffiths placed second in the 50-m freestyle, and third in the 50-m backstroke and 200-m freestyle. She also finished fifth in the 50-m butterfly and 100-m freestyle, while finishing sixth in the 200-m Individual Medley.

Charlotte VanAmelsvoort placed third in the 100-m butterfly and 50-m freestyle, while also finishing fourth in the 200-m freestyle, 50-m butterfly and fifth in the 50-m backstroke. She was sixth in the 100-m freestyle and seventh in the 100-m backstroke.

In the 11-12 Division, Alex Medved placed fourth in the 100-m breaststroke and eighth in the 200-m Individual Medley. Rachel Medved was first in the 100-m breaststroke, fifth in the 50-m freestyle and 200-m breaststroke and eighth in the 200-m Individual Medley.

In the 13 and Over Division, Rachel Farewell placed seventh in the 100-m butterfly, while Erin MacFadyen was third in the 200-m breaststroke and fourth in the 100-m breaststroke.

Jessica Pothier placed eighth in both the 800-m freestyle and 100-m backstroke, while Angela Rehhorn was fourth in the 100-m butterfly and third in the 200-m butterfly.

Jaina Town placed fifth in the 100-m breaststroke and seventh in the 200-m breaststroke.

Amy Van Schepen finished third in the 50-m freestyle and seventh in the 100-m freestyle.

Other Cats who competed in consolation finals and attended the meet were Jamie Lee Batisse, Kaitlin Thatcher, Allysha Wassegijig, Courtney Boissineau, Meghan Burrus-Tibbett, Carly Ede, Willum Kelly, Sarah Leatherdale, Shayla Stevens, Lesley Tulipano.