Members of the Estevan Mermaids synchronized swim club had an excellent showing at their first swim meet of the season.
The Mermaids were in Lloydminster on the weekend for the Marnie Eistetter Figure Meet and Development Camp, hosted by the Border City Stingrays Club. The competition is named in honour of Eistetter, who was a long-time Saskatchewan Artistic Swimming member and volunteer. She was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Fifteen Mermaid athletes were in attendance.
In the 11-12 provincial stream division, team members were Sarah Greening, Kasia Harding, Chloe Mantei, Sierra Mantei, Elle Meyers, Sarah Pyra, Rowyn Shier and Nevaeh Wakely. Erin McIsaac was in the 11-12 provincial stream novice division.
The 13-15 provincial stream competitive team was comprised of Emily Greening, Sienna Kuntz, Sasha Mantei, Bella Michael and Laura Swirski. Rebecca Duncan was the 16-20 provincial stream competitor.
Notable achievements in the figures competition were Erin McIsaac, who placed third in the 11-12 provincial stream novice figures, and Rebecca Duncan, who placed fourth in the 16-20 provincial stream figures.
Also on the weekend, Saskatchewan Artistic Swimming (formerly Synchro Sask) held its annual awards banquet on Saturday night to honour the achievements, athletes and coaches for the 2018-19 season. The local club was honoured with seven awards at the banquet:
- Haley Copeland: Most Improved Provincial Stream Athlete. She is one of the Mermaid coaches and an athlete for the Weyburn Artistic Swimming Club;
- Kasia Harding: Limited Competitive Athlete of the Year;
- Amber Mantei: Limited Competitive Coach of the Year;
- Susan Swirski, Sherri Waldegger and Shannon Culy were recognized as three to five-year service volunteer award recipients, while Shannon Wanner was presented with an eight to 10-year Service Volunteer Award.
A development camp Sunday consisted of a pool session which involved patterns, figures exercises and strength techniques, a workshop on nutrition, a hip hop class and a fun pound exercise session.
