South Surrey swimmer Edwin Zhao led the medal charge for the Pacific Sea Wolves at the Speedo Western Canadian Swimming Championships last month in New Westminster.
Zhao tied Delta swimmer Markus Thormeyer for the most individual victories at the meet, winning five gold medals. Zhao also added two silvers and a bronze.
Zhao was particularly dominant in the men’s 16-and-under freestyle swim events, finishing first in the 200-, 400-, 800 and 1,500-m distances, while also scooping silver medals in the 50- and 100-m free events. His fifth gold medal came in the 400-m individual medley, and his lone bronze-medal finish came in the 200-m backstroke.
Plenty of Zhao’s PSW teammates found themselves on the podium, as well.
Mason Lin had four top-eight finishes, highlighted by a gold medal in the 200-m IM, and Esmee Smit-Anseeuw won bronze in the women’s 200-m butterfly, while also finishing fourth in the 100-m fly and fifth in the 50-m fly.
Darian Fry won bronze in the 100-m backstroke, and had top-five swims in two other events, while Vanessa Rivas also had a top-five finish – in the 50-m breaststroke.
Other PSW swimmers will notable achievements at the westerns were Bailey Mothe – whom PSW head coach Brad Dingey noted “lead both our women’s medley relays… with personal best times,” – and Arian Aktary, who had new personal bests in each of her swims.
“We had a great weekend,” said Dingey.
As a team, the Sea Wolves placed seventh overall, with the men finishing fourth and the women 17th.
They were also the top Lower Mainland swim team at the meet.