By Jason Chugh. The swimmers of the Abbotsford Olympians Swim Club have been working hard through the spring to prepare for their season end.
The month was capped off by a great team performance at the Swim BC AA champs in Victoria over the weekend of June 20th. Swimmers attending had to meet a minimum AA time standard to attend.
Twelve Abbotsford Olympians swimmers made the trip to Victoria, most of them for the first time; the roster of swimmers included: Hannah Weinkauf (14), James Lee (15), Sam Lee (16), Ilya Taranenko (15), Peyton Smith (14), Sophia McDonald(17), McKenna Postles(11), Tavleen Grewal(11), Ryan Han(11), Maddie Charest(10), Tobyn Smith(9). Despite a largely rookie team, the swimmers were excited and raced extremely well.
Pictured: Hannah Weinkauf wins Gold in the 50 Freestyle
Friday set the tone for the swimmers; Hannah Weinkauf was off the blocks fast in the 14 year old girls 50 Freestyle, winning gold, breaking the meet record and qualifying the 14 year and 15 year old AAA standard. The AAA standard is the highest Provincial standard a swimmer can achieve. Following Hannah’s swim, McKenna Postles and Tavleen Grewal went to work in the 800 Freestyle, winning Gold and Bronze respectively, they both earned AAA times as well. Tavleen Grewal and Ryan Han went right back to work, both winning gold in the 11 & under 200 Individual Medley. James Lee had a strong performance in the 200 Fly, earning silver and a hard fought bronze in the 15 and over boys 200 IM. Tobyn Smith swam well in the 11 & under girls 100 back taking gold and qualifying her first AAA time. Night 1 finished off with a great swim from the boys relay consisting of Ryan Han, Ilya Taranenko, James Lee & Sam Lee earning a Bronze medal.
Ryan Han, Ilya Taranenko, James Lee & Sam Lee earning a Bronze medal
The team carried their momentum into day 2. The team swam well through the preliminary session and qualified through to finals in several events. The night started out with McKenna Postles in a great race in the 11 & under 100 Freestyle; it came down to the wire and McKenna earned a Bronze. We would see her again in the 400 Freestyle, this time there were no mistakes, Gold and a new AAA time. Hannah Weinkauf was dominant in the 14 year old 100 Freestyle, winning by a body length and qualifying a new AAA time. Ryan Han had a great night as well; he raced hard to take Silver in the 11 & under boys 400 Freestyle and 5th in the 100 Back stroke. Sophia McDonald, consolidated a great morning swim to take the Bronze in the 15 & Over girls 200 Breast.
Day 3 was more of the same. The team was charged up by what they had done, having mostly achieved their goals, they continued to press on. Hannah Weinkauf & McKenna Postles both won Gold in the 200 Freestyle. Sophia MacDonald took Silver in the 100 Breaststroke, Tobyn Smith was second in the 200 Backstroke and James Lee was 2nd in the 400 IM.
The great performances improved the rankings both nationally and provincially for the swimmers.
National Power Rankings
Tobyn Smith 10 & under Girls 100 Back – 4th
Tobyn Smith 10 & Under Girls 200 Back – 7th
McKenna Postles 11 & Under Girls 400 Free – 42nd
McKenna Postles 11 & Under Girls 800 Free – 27th
Taveleen Grewal 11 & Under Girls 800 Free -41st
Provincial Power Ranking
Tobyn Smith 10 & under Girls 100 Back –2nd
Tobyn Smith 10 & Under Girls 200 Back – 2nd
McKenna Postles 11 & Under Girls 200 Free – 14th
McKenna Postles 11 & Under Girls 400 Free – 14th
McKenna Postles 11 & Under Girls 800 Free – 5th
Taveleen Grewal 11 & Under Girls 400 Free -21st
Taveleen Grewal 11 & Under Girls 800 Free – 10th
Taveleen Grewal 11 & Under Girls 200 Medley – 26th
Ryan Han 11 & Under Boys 200 Medley – 18th
Ryan Han 11 & Under Boys 200 Back – 31st
Ryan Han 11 & Under Boys 100 Back – 34th
Hannah Weinkauf 14 Year Old Girls 50 Free – 14th
Hannah Weinkauf 14 Year Old Girls 100 Free – 22nd
Leading in this meet at our Intraclub Meet, Maddie Charest, Ilya Taranenko and Peyton Smith qualified their AA standards, which allowed them to attend the meet in Victoria. Achieving the AA standard was a far reaching goal for these swimmers, but they worked extremely hard and continue to do so as their sights are set on the future.
At the Intraclub Meet the team had some great results:
A Qualifiers
• Alina Blakey (100 Breast, 50 Free, 200 Free, 100 Free)
• Katie Charest (100 Back, 50 Free)
• Maddie Charest (100 Breast)
• Tavleen Grewal (100 Fly)
• Ryan Han (50 Free)
• Sam Lee (200 IM, 50 Free, 100 Fly, 100 Free)
• Jessica Pike (100 Breast, 50 Free)
• Jayme Reitsma (200 IM, 50 Free)
• Alex Simpson (200 Free)
• Peyton Smith (200 IM, 50 Free, 200 Free)
• Tobyn Smith (200 IM, 50 Free)
• Ilya Taranenko (200 Free)
AA Qualifiers
• Tavleen Grewal (50 Free, 100 Free)
• Ryan Han (200IM, 200 Back, 100 Free)
• James Lee (200IM, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, 200 Free)
• Peyton Smith (100 Breast)
• Tobyn Smith (200 Back)
• Ilya Taranenko (50 Free)
Our 10 and Under Swimmer Had Outstanding Best Times (swimmers who took more than 15 seconds off their race)
• Tytan Carson (200 Free)
• Mikayala Groening (200 Free)
• Marrisa Kemp (50 Breast)
• Paige Metcalf (100IM)
• Westin Ostrowercha (200IM)
• Jessica Quiring (200 IM, 200 Free)
• Kennedy Rauh (100IM)
It has been a fantastic season of racing for all the swimmers, and it just goes to show that hard work really does pay off.
In the Month of June, 8 swimmers earned a new standard; we broke 33 club records and 1 meet record. Look for much more from the Abbotsford Olympians.