Academy ends year on high note
Each and every squad member played a vital role in the success achieved
THE Aquatic Academy high performance squad’s efforts have paid off.
Earlier this year the swimmers signed a contract with themselves to persevere and train harder.
All the hard work was realised with “chunks” of time falling off previous personal bests at the Eastern Gauteng championships for 2015.
Few finals were swum without an Academy swimmer. Their final medal count was nine gold, 15 silver and 23 bronze.
Most swimmers have qualified for a regional championship at the end of the season. There was huge excitement leading up to this event and an overall atmosphere of success in the swimmers’ tent.
Those who had put in the mileage got the results.
Colette Fourie was the dynamo, finalling in 13 events and winning three gold, four silver and four bronze medals, scoring 47 individual points.
Unfortunately, the final individual point tally was not inclusive of the final day as they were not yet available.
Savannah Mitchell finalled eight times, winning two gold, three silver and a bronze medal, adding 40 points to the score board.
Caitlin Stott (11) took two gold and one silver medal. In the 200 backstroke event she was only six seconds off a previous Academy swimmer’s (Claudia Kindervater) provincial championship record, winning the gold in 2: 52.33.
Keara Bothma’s improvement was hard-earned and well worth the effort. She won two silver and a bronze medal and scored points in eight finals.
Ashleigh Stock swam 11 finals, scoring 22 points.
Kyle McKenzie added 35 points, winning one silver and four bronze medals.
The Academy’s youngest swimmers, Mikayle Pon (8), won two silver medals and a bronze, and Adrian Ristow (9) swam for two gold, two silver and a bronze medal.
The Academy swimmers, along with Debbie McGee’s, proudly swam for ESP, which claimed third place at the Eastern Gauteng Championships that were held over five days at Delville Pool over the first weekend in December.
Over 20 clubs took part. Each and every squad member played a vital role in the success achieved. The teamwork was excellent.
