Summerland Orca’s younger swimmers showed no jitters in their first meet of the new year as they swam to eight first place finishes at the Kelowna IceFest Jamboree meet last weekend.
Five different Orca swimmers hit the wall first in their events.
Eight year old Morgan Hilgersom, led the pack with wins in the 50 metre butterfly and 50 metre breaststroke races. For good measure, she added a pair of seconds in the 50 freestyle and 100 individual medley.
Josh Webb, 10, and Chloe Harrold, 10, were also double winners.
Webb took the 50 freestyle and 100 medley while Harrold was tops in 50 backstroke and 50 breaststroke.
Webb added a second in the 50 breaststroke while Harrold took second in the 50 freestyle.
Olivia Harrold, 8, went for the cycle with a win in the 25 breaststroke, a second in the 25 backstroke and a third in the 50 freestyle.
Matthew Esslinger, 10, showed his improvement as he took the 100 freestyle and was runner up in the 50 freestyle and the 50 kicking races.
Top three finishes were recorded by Taylor Smith, eight, in the 25 backstroke and Alex Webb, eight, in the 25 backstroke.
Other swimmers with scoring performances included Trista Algar, 10, fourth in the 50 freestyle, Arianna Lasinski, eight, fifth in the 50 freestyle, Ben Geertz, nine, sixth in the 50 breaststroke, and Jordyn Emshay, six, ninth in the 25 backstroke.
Coaches Tom Best and Joanne Malar were more than excited by the performances. Malar felt that the swimmers all showed excellent technique in their races.
“When kids can swim with good technique early in their career, they are setting themselves up for great performances later on,” she said.
Coach Best said he is happy with the balance of training and technical development in the program.
“What these beginners do now has enormous influence when they are older. When we get coaches and parents from other programs commenting on how good our kids look in the water, I know we’re on the right track,” he said.
A meet was also held for the more experienced swimmers who swam to 8 new club records.
Daylon Tilitzky led the way with a five new marks in the senior boys 50 backstroke, 100 butterfly, 200 and 400 freestyle, and the 400 individual medley.
On the girls side, Haley Berrisford, 10 notched up a pair in the 200 and 400 freestyle swims while Reilly Rowland stroked her way to a new standard in the gruelling 400 individual medley.
Individual standings were unavailable at press time.