Powell River Aquatic Club recently completed a successful 2023 summer season, with more than 90 swimmers between the ages of five and 18 participating. Between May 1 and August 20 the club attended nine swim meets on Vancouver Island.
“The club developed some very strong swimmers and we had 20 club records broken,” said head coach Alex Jevons, who coached for the club in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and returned for 2023. “The kids rocked it this summer. It was a lot of fun to return to coach.”
The club attended regionals in Duncan from August 4 to 6.
“We had 25 swimmers and three coaches attend,” said Jevons. “We had 13 swimmers and two relay teams qualify for provincials, with a total of six bronze, nine silver, five gold medals and countless ribbons earned.”
Vancouver Island clubs were fortunate that the 2023 BC Summer Swimming Association (BCSSA) provincials were held in Nanaimo this year, which gave local swimmers the opportunity to travel easily to the competition. Powell River Aquatic Club’s provincial team included Hannah Giesbrecht, Ayva Gunther, Alex Jevons, Finn Mikkelsen, Kai Mikkelsen, Malia Mikkelsen, Joanna Mussellam, Ewan Naylor, Russell O'Donnell, Hayden Sinotte, Levi Vodola, Nico Vodola, Greyson Ward and Blake Lefler.
“Our swimmers competed in 25 events between August 18 and 20,” said Jevons. “Overall we took home 10 ribbons, four bronze, one silver and four gold medals.
Provincial results:
Hannah Giesbrecht: OCAT 2 Girls 100 Back, 16th; OCAT 2 Girls 100 Breast, 12th.
Ayva Gunther: OCAT 2 Girls 50 Free, 1st; OCAT 2 Girls 100 Back, 1st; OCAT 2 Girls 50 Fly, 1st; OCAT 2 Girls 100 Free, 2nd; Mixed OCAT 2 200 Medley Relay, 1st.
Alex Jevons: OCAT Div 8 100 Free, 14th.
Finn Mikkelsen: Div 1 Boys 100 IM, 13th; Div 1 Boys 50 Free, 10th; Div 1 Boys 50 Fly, 11th; Div 1 Boys 100 Free, 6th; Mixed Div 1 200 Medley Relay, 3rd.
Kai Mikkelsen: Div 3 Boys 50 Fly 16th.
Joanna Mussellam: Div 2 Girls 50 Breast, 18th.
Ewan Naylor: Div 2 Boys 50 Breast, 3rd.
Russell O'Donnell: OCAT 2 Boys 50 Free, 18th; OCAT 2 Boys 100 Breast, 18th; Mixed OCAT 2; Free Relay, 3rd.
Hayden Sinotte: Div 2 Boys 50 Fly, 20th.
Levi Vodola: Div 2 Boys 50 Breast, 20th; Div 2 Boys 100 Free, 20th.
Nico Vodola: Div 1 Boys 50 Breast, 18th.
Greyson Ward: Div 1 Boys 50 Free, 9th.
Boys Div 2 200 Medley Relay, 3rd (Blake Lefler, Ewan Naylor, Hayden Sinotte, Levi Vodola).
Boys Div 2 200 Free Relay, 8th (Ewan Naylor, Hayden Sinotte, Finn Mikkelsen, Levi Vodola).
Registration for the winter 2023/24 Powell River Aquatic Club season is currently open. Those interested can email [email protected].
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