Page 47 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 131

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #131 December 2023 47

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Swimming with the Sea Lions: The Snowflake

Invitational

For eleven-year-old Dragon
By Victoria Klassen
Mondoux and eight-year-old Jana
Nielsen, this was their first swim
he Sea Lions Swim Club’s 19th competition.
Tannual Snowflake Invitational “I was a little nervous because it
was held on November 3-5.
was my first meet. The dive off the
The meet welcomed 220 board was a little scary because I
swimmers from Ottawa, had only done it twice before and I
Brockville, and Cornwall. had no experience with it. Overall,
Swimmers from ages seven I was excited I was able to do it
to seventeen competed. Many even though I had just joined the
volunteers, sponsors, and team less than two weeks before
community businesses donated the meet,” shared Dragon, who
their time and helped out by will also be attending CSLA
providing food, officiating, and Invitational in December.
running the competition. Boston Jana’s favourite part of her first
Pizza, Cakes and More, and M&M
swim meet was competing and
Food Mart generously supported watching the other races. She
the Snowflake Invitational by competed in the 100m backstroke,
providing food for the officials 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle,
and swimmers.
50m freestyle, and her favourite—
“For many of our younger the 50m breaststroke. She said the
swimmers this was their first experience was fun and a little
Photo Submitted
experience in a competition which scary and hopes to compete in
is a huge milestone for them. For more races. exciting to achieve qualifying a first place finish in the 200m
some it can be a fun, challenging, Some of the Sea Lions’ more times for bigger competitions later backstroke with a time of 2:46.69.
and exhilarating experience where experienced swimmers also made on in the year,” said Kyer.
they get to show their families waves. Overall, the Sea Lions had “The Snowflake Invitation was
what they have learned and how 11 first place finishes, 22 second Joelle Houle, eleven, qualified our first—second for some—
much they’ve progressed. It gives for Eastern Ontario Regional competition of the season
place finishes, and 14 third place Championships in her 50m and it is starting off great!”
them an idea of what swimming is finishes. freestyle with a time of 35.52. said Kyer. “I can’t wait to see
all about and why they train and
practice as much as they do,” said “It’s always fun to compete in Adele Van Loon, twelve, qualified more achievements, goals, and
Cory Kyer, Sea Lions head coach. our home pool, but even more for Ontario Winter Festivals, also milestones happen throughout the
known as Junior Provincials, with year.”