To give a perfect ending to an amazing year, 14 Campbell River Salmon Kings swam at the provincials in Kamloops, representing their region, the Vancouver Island Gators. These athletes were competing against the other top contenders from around the province and had to qualify in the top three at the Vancouver Island Regionals to be eligible.
Provincial qualifiers were: Summer Wenger, Katie Revoy, Brooke Wenger, Coral Ridinger, Yana Jacobs, Julia Alguire, Adam Alguire, Jesse Shade, Kurtis Scriba, Jessi Revoy, Alex Alguire, Sasha Jacobs, Kiersten Padington and Taylor Padington.
Summer Wenger swam to a gold medal in 50 Back, got silvers in 100 IM and 50 Fly, and finished fifth in 50 Free. Wenger also managed a silver medal in the Div. 1 girls Regional Medley Relay, along with teammate Katie Revoy. Katie Revoy also swam to fifth in her 50 Fly, sixth in the 100 IM, twelfth in 50 Free and thirteenth 50 Breast. Ridinger swam to a bronze in her 100 Free as well as a fourth in 50 Free and placed fifth in both 50 Breast and 100 IM. Ridinger was part of the “O” Cat 2 girls relay team, along with Jacobs, Julia Alguire, and Jacobs, who secured golds for both their Freestyle and Medley relays. Jacobs placed sixth in 100 IM, 50 Breast and 100 Free as well as seventh in the 50 Free. Alguire placed seventh in all four of her individual events (200 IM, 50 Free, 100 Back, and 100 Breast). Alguire and Jacobs also swam in their division’s Regional Medley relay to a silver medal. Jacobs swam tenth in the 100 Breast and eleventh in the 50 Fly. Brooke Wenger came an impressive fourth in her 50 Fly, narrowly missing the podium by mere milliseconds. She placed eighth in 100 IM, and eleventh in both the 50 and 100 Free. For the 50 Back, Jessi Revoy swam well and finished right on her Best Time.
On the boys side, Shade got the gold in his 50 Free, finished fourth in 100 Back and won the gold in his “O” Cat 2 boys Regional Medley relay. Scriba swam to tenth place in 100 Fly, fourteenth in the 100 Back and fifteenth in 50 Free. Adam Alguire got a pair of eighths for his 50 Free and 50 Fly. Younger brother Alex Alguire had an amazing swim, knocking over eight seconds off his Best Time.
Leading by example, Head Coach Taylor Padington showed her stuff with a silver in the 100 Free, bronzes in the 50 Fly and 100 Back and a fifth place finish in the 50 Free. Coach Kiersten Padington also swam well, with eighth in 50 Free, and ninths in her 50 and 100 Fly.