Comox Valley Blue Devils swimmers got off to a strong start at the CVB Icebreaker meet in Duncan on June 1-2.
Nineteen Blue Devils took to the pool over the course of the weekend, with the team having 48 top-three finishers, and two swimmers (Benjamin Galik and Joel Baker) finishing top-three in all of their races. Everyone who raced had at least one best time, and there were five Blue Devils who finished with best times in all of their races (Callie Blasco, Eli Blasco, Gillian Galik, Connor McQuillin, and Henry Holland).
鈥淭he team exceeded her expectations because we had so many best times,鈥� said head coach Sam Gauthier.
Coach Gauthier, in her second year with the Blue Devils, feels she now 鈥渉as a better idea where swimmers are at, therefore 鈥� training will be a little more rigorous than it was last year and hopes this will be reflected in the racing done at meets.鈥�
While some racers shaved as much as 12 seconds off their previous times, Gauthier said the social experience is what matters most.
鈥淭he number one thing swimmers take away from the weekend is that swimming should be fun! Swimming is good training, but they also provide lots of opportunities for team bonding.
鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to stress and worry about best times, but at the end of the day it is just a race.鈥�
The Blue Devils will be looking to build on these successes at the Oak Bay Orcas Invitational meet on June 15-16 at the Commonwealth pool in Saanich. If there are swimmers interested in being a part of the Blue Devils Swim Club, please contact Cathy at cathyisobel@shaw.ca for registration information.
