(Pictured left to right): Reece Sommerfeld, Jael Basaraba, Sienna Sommerfeld, Rowan Tkatchuk, at the Orcas’ recent swim meet in Regina. (submitted photo/John McLeod)

By Martin Martinson

Making a splash

Orcas swim team making waves

Jun 11, 2019 | 4:32 PM

The Battlefords Orcas Swim Club has thrived as of late, having set several individual and club records over the last two weekends in Regina and Saskatoon.

Sixteen-year-old Jael Basaraba went six-for-six with new best-times in Regina, including setting a new 1,500 freestyle club record. The previous record was held by Basaraba, whose initial watermark broke a 15-year club-record.

“She’s been an up-and-coming star on our team this year,” Orcas Head Coach John McLeod said. “She lowered her 1,500 free record, which is 20 minutes of non-stop swimming.”

Reece Sommerfeld, who already qualified for provincials, also attended the meet and improved her ranking heading into ManSask.

Sounding the alarm

Sask. NDP highlights red flags on Sask. Party platform

12h ago

National

Bill Vigars, campaign manager for Terry Fox Marathon of Hope, dies at 78

17h ago

Riders win

Saskatchewan clinch home playoff game, dismantle Lions

18h ago

Sommerfeld raced despite battling the flu, posting three best-times on the weekend.

For Reece’s younger sister Sienna, Regina marked her first time competing in the Olympic-sized pool. The younger Sommerfeld swam all best times.

Rowan Tkatchuk pulled out a half-second best time in her 50-meter breast stroke, while registering two other best-times on the weekend.

McLeod said he is proud of the way his team performed.

“Overall, every swimmer got best times, and we had two swimmers who went 100 per cent best times,” he said. “That’s really exciting to me; it sets them up well for ManSask or provincials.”

Following up the Regina meet, four different Orcas’ members travelled to Saskatoon this past weekend for another competition. Saskatoon served as the final competition ahead of provincials for local, Elizabeth Johnson.

Johnson pulled out a club record in the 100-meter individual medley, dropping 12 seconds in the race, a performance McLeod called “phenomenal for such a short race.”

Next on the schedule for the Orcas will be a trip to Moose Jaw June 22 and 23, for the younger ages to have their final fun competition of the season.

Two weekends after that is the club’s last major competition, the ManSask Championships, which will be held in Winnipeg July 4 to 7.

Five members of the Orcas qualified for ManSask, with four of the five scheduled to take part. The lone exception is Brandon Nord, who will take the summer off ahead of attending university in Florida this fall.

Amongst those to watch at the event is Madison Higgs, whom McLeod called “a medal contender,” in all her freestyle events, from 50-metre to 1,500-metre.

“It’s been a couple years since I’ve worked with an athlete like that, that can have such range,” McLeod said. “Usually kids haven’t had the training, the background, or the coaching to really get out of their comfort zone, and she’s excelled at 50-meters, up to 1,500 meters. She even has open water experience, having swum both three and five kilometers.”

Higgs is the lone swimmer from North Battleford to qualify for the Western Canada Games which will be held in Swift Current in early August.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1