The Pacific Sea Wolves registered a best-ever result at B.C. AAA Provincial Swim Championships earlier this month in Victoria, finishing second overall as a team.
The Sea Wolves, who are based out of South Surrey Indoor Pool, brought 27 swimmers to the meet, and finished only behind the host Victoria team, which had more than 60 members taking part.
Among the top performers, in various age divisions, were Hillary Caldwell, who was first in 200-m backstroke; Lydia Doyon was first in 200 freestyle and second in both 100 and 800 free; while Emma Mittermaier won both the 50 and 100 free.
Others to finish atop the podium were gold medallists Mason Lin, who was first in the 200 free and 200 individual medley – and second in four other events; Esmee Smit-Anseeuw, who took gold in the 100 and 200 breast stroke, the 200 and 400 IM and the 200 butterfly; Trista Tetrault, first in 200 free, second in 50 free, 200 back and 200 IM, and third in the 100 free; Darren Yuan, who won gold in the 50 free and 100 fly, and silver in the 100 free; and Edwin Zhao, who won four freestyle swims – the 100, 200, 400 and 1,500. He was also second in the 200 back and 200 fly in the 14-year-old male division.
Rounding out the PSW medal haul was Ariana Aktary, third in 400 IM; Olivvya Chow, third in 800 free; Darian Fry, second in 200 fly and third in both 50 and 200 free; Isabella Koch, second in 200 breast; Isabelle Lei, second in 50 free and 200 IM; Vanessa Rivas, third in 100 breast and Aksel Smit-Anseeuw, second in 100 and third in 1,500 free.
Busy summer
Two Sea Wolves also achieved senior national qualifying times – Zhao and Mittermaier. That pair, along with Hilary Caldwell, Katie Caldwell, and Jy Lawrence, are now eligible to attend 2012 Canadian Olympic Trials, which are slated for Montreal next April.
Next up for club members this summer are senior nationals in Montreal and, following that, National Age Group Championships.
Additionally, Esmee Smit-Anseeuw and Zhao will be joining Team Canada in for the North American Challenge Cup, slated for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in early August.
The Caldwell sisters will also be competing internationally this summer – Hillary will take part in the 2011 World Student ames in Shenzhen, China, while Katie will be in Lima, Peru for the World Junior Championships.