A select group from the Estevan Mermaids synchronized swimming club received an opportunity earlier this month to compete against and learn from Canada’s best.
Ten members of the Mermaids participated in the Canadian Prairie Championships (CPC) at Regina’s Lawson Aquatic Centre from May 6 to 8 in individual figure routines as well as solo, duet and group events. The CPC featured 460 athletes from 17 of the top clubs from across Canada representing this country’s best amateur synchronized swimming talent.
“It’s an invitational that goes out all across the country, so we get to see what other types of swimming there is out there and how we fare against the other provinces,” said Brenda Lyons, head coach of the Mermaids. “Right now in Canada, Alberta is a strong house of synchronized swimming, so it was really great for our athletes to see how those athletes are training and what other people are doing in other provinces.”
In the age 11-12 category, Haley Copeland placed 21st in figures and Rebecca Duncan finished 47th, but both moved up in the duet event earning 14th place. The age 11-12 duet group of Jersey Hirkala and Serial Potama came in 17th.
Hannah Mantei paced the age 13-15 figures squad with an eighth-place finish, which was followed by Nyla Dyck at 11th, Marlie Weinrauch at 34th and Gemma Bittman in the 35th spot. Mantei also placed seventh in the solo finals, while the age 13-14 group scored a ninth-place showing.
Kelsey Potoma placed 18th in the age 16-18 figures event and ninth in the solo routine, with Shannon Wanner earning the championship in the Masters Solo competition.
“We were very excited with how we did,” said Lyons. “We went in with certain goals and I think we met them. We were against some super strong teams that train way more than we do and have different types of facilities and access to full-time professional coaches. I think for the type of club we are we did exceptionally well. In most of our categories we came in probably first or second in the province, so we were really pleased with that.”
Lyons said the club has now begun training some of their athletes for the Provincial High Performance membership tests that will be taking place in Saskatoon on June 11. Bittman, Dyck and Mantei are attempting to re-qualify for the program this year, while Copeland and Duncan are trying out for the first time.
“They go through a series of tests and they have to hit a certain standard to be part of the program and being part of that program gives them access a couple times through the year to some very high calibre coaching,” she said. “Last year at both of the camps that our girls attended there were past Olympian swimmers there coaching, so it just exposed them to a high calibre of coaching and swimming. And it’s a feather in their caps, the kids that can make it.”
