AA2 Meet review
On Saturday, February 8 the AA SWAT swimmers took to the lanes again for their second meet of 2025. 23 swimmers represented the club from Novice, Junior, and Senior groups. Together the squad earned 46 personal bests and swam 16 events for the first time. We had 3 swimmers make their AA Debuts. We had 1 swimmer complete their AAA Qualification. This is a tough time of year for many. There were several swimmers sick leading to a smaller squad than normal and a few tough performances while under the weather.
The Novice Group sent 10 swimmers earning 19 best times and 10 1st time events. # swimmers made their AA debuts after graduating from Nova Tech at Nova Tech 3 in January. Katya rolled up with her first 400 Freestyle and 200 Breaststroke. Rachel swam in the morning only and swam her first 200 Breaststroke as well. Isaiah made his AA debut with 3 best times and 2 first time events now that he gets to swim 200m stroke events. He dropped a big 15 seconds in the 200 Freestyle. Avery had a good meet with 3 best times including a 10 second improvement in the 100 Fly. Farrah had 2 personal bests including a 4 second drop in the 50 Fly, and she swam her first 400 IM ever. Brother Jude also swam his first 400 (freestyle) as part of his 2 first time events. He added 1 pb from his other races as well. Kayden started his AA career with 2 best times including a big chunk of time off in the 100 Backstroke. August earned himself 3 best times highlighted by 11 seconds off in the 100 Breaststroke and a sub 3:00 effort after 10 seconds off in the 200 Freestyle. Mylee, the third AA debutante dropped 6 seconds in both the 200 IM and 100 free for her 2 best times and added a first 200 Back for good measure. Ryan rounds out the Novice contingent with 3 best times and 1 1st time race. His biggest improvement was in the 200 IM with 22 seconds of overall improvement.
11 Junior swimmers took part in the competition. They walked away with a collective 24 best times and 6 new events. We also add one Junior member to the AAA competition ranks. Angus fought off a morning illness and earned 2 best times and swam his first 200 Fly. He took 4 seconds off his 200 Freestyle and brought his 50 Free below the 30 second threshold. Claire took 2 seconds away from her old 200 Fly for her 1 best time. She also completed her first official 1500 Free; a big improvement from the unofficial result from practice a week earlier. Madelynn took 2 best times home and officially completed her first 200 Breaststroke. She bettered her old 100 Free time by over 3 seconds. Charlotte was inspired with 4 best times racing in rare events. She crashed through 7:00 with 40 second best time in the 400 IM, and smashed her 100 Breaststroke by 14 seconds. After nearly a week off due to sickness Ocean returned to the pool with 2 best times on the day. She had a 10 second best time in the 100 Breaststroke and took another 8 seconds off in the 100 Back. Ethan erased 3 personal bests. He took a humble 9 seconds off in the 200 Free, but demolished his previous 200 Breaststroke by 48 seconds. Kennedy had 2 bests and 2 1st time events, completing her first 200 Breaststroke and 400 Free. She added big best times in the 200 Free and 100 Breaststroke. Leonie made her 2025 racing debut in the pool with 3 best times highlighted by matching 7 second improvements in the 200 Free and 200 IM. Erica R also came away with 3 best times including a 17 second besting of her old 400 Free that brings her under 6:00 for the first time. Alex W was strong with 4 best times and 1 first time event. He swam his first 400 Free and had over 10 seconds of improvement in the 100 Breaststroke and 8 seconds in the 100 Free. He also bettered his 200 Freestyle from last meet by nearly 3 seconds and grabbing his 3rd AAA qualifying 200m event and fully qualifying for AAA competition. Morgan made a valiant attempt at competition while managing some chronic injury pain.
Just 2 Senior swimmers made an appearance at the AA2 meet. They have been in a stressful training block and came away with 3 best times as a pair. Sam had 2 best times including nearly 7 seconds in the 100 Back and 2 and half seconds in the 100 Free as he hunts AAA and Travel Team standards. Gabriel C was managing some illness symptoms and came out of the meet with a modest PB in the 50 Back.
AA Swimmers make their next splash at Acadia University for AA Winter Champs February 28-March 2. A heats and Finals meet with lots of individual hardware up for grabs with medals and Age Group High Point Awards available for swimmers. Hopefully there will be an extra body or two to join them from the Nova Tech ranks after competition this weekend on February 15. AAA graduates will be making the jump at the SCM David Fry AAA Winter Champs at Dalhousie University the following weekend, March 7-March 9.