The Westlock Aquatic Centre was packed June 3 for the ninth annual Fred Morie Invitational Swim Meet.
Nine teams, including the hometown Westlock Gators, sent 222 athletes to the meet, the first of eight sanctioned by the Alberta Summer Swimming Association. The Gators, which has 38 swimmers this year, wound up netting four gold medals, one silver and two bronze.
Mackenzie Lunger took gold hardware in the 15-17 girls tier after winning both the 50 and 100-metre breaststroke events with final times of 45.42 and 1:43.12. She also claimed victory in the 200-metre freestyle swim with a final time of 3:11.23 and finished fourth in the 50-metre freestyle swim, taking the gold in aggregate time.
Drake Young took gold in the 7-8 boys competition after placing first in both the 25 and 50-metre backstrokes with times of 29.13 and 1:05.06 and placed second in the both the 25 and 50-metre freestyles with times of 22.98 and 56.80,
Gavin Moore won the bronze medal in the 7-8 boys tier following his second place finish in the 25-metre backstroke with at time of 31.94, third in the 25-metre freestyle with a time of 28.95 and third in the 50-metre freestyle with 1:06.79. He also placed fourth in the 50-metre backstroke with a time of 1:20.10.
Amaya Seatter took the gold medal in the 7-8 girls category after bursting ahead in the 50-metre breaststroke with a time of 1:08.63 to finish first. She also won the 25-metre butterfly stroke with a time of 27.76 and the 100-metre individual medley with a time of 2:15.69 and placed second in the 25-metre backstroke with a time of 27.02
Denae Tuininga scored a bronze in the 7-8 girls strain after finishing first in the 25-metre freestyle with a final time of 20.47, second in the 25-metre breaststroke with 33.45 and a close second in the 25-metre butterfly with 30.01 and second in the 100-metre individual medley with 2:18.70
Finally, Nika Wepener won the silver in the girls 6 and under competition after placing second in the 25-metre freestyle with a time of 42.70, second in the 25-metre backstroke with 37.46 and fourth in the 25-metre flutterboard with 44.84.
Gators head coach Kirsten Tabert said she was happy with the results.
“I’m really impressed with the enthusiasm of the parents and their kids. We have a lot return swimmers and a lot of new, younger swimmers,” she said. “I want our swimmers to improve on the skills they already know. Getting more specific of what they’re doing with their hands. Thinking about the race instead of just getting into the water.”
