The Fort Frances Aquanauts wrapped up their 2006-07 swimming season with a strong showing at the Thunderbolts’ Invitational in Thunder Bay, ranking fourth in team points and returning with a healthy haul of medals.
“They finished up the last swim meet of the year for the team really, really well,” enthused coach Dawnn Taylor, her voice still hoarse from the weekend meet.
As has been the case with the Aquanauts all season, the big winner was Taylor’s son, Donovan, who brought home seven gold medals, including a win in 200m IM that earned him another national qualifying time.
While quite proud of her son’s showing, Taylor also was quick to point out the achievements of other Aquanauts, like Nichole Lowey, who earned gold in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke.
Taylor said she couldn’t recall Lowey even medalling before, so taking gold in two events was significant.
“She put an all-out effort in this week, for sure,” Taylor said. “And did very, very well.”
In fact, Taylor said all four senior girls in the club—Lowey, her sister, Jessica, Caitlin Sande, and Krista Emond—made finals, “which was great.”
Taylor also was impressed with the swimming of Katja Sutherland, who rose to the occasion and posted a personal best in every event she was in—lopping off significant time in many.
“I think she really kicked up her swimming game,” Taylor noted. “She was always very good about taking her time and learning her proper stroke.
“Now she’s putting the speed behind it.”
Other Aquanauts who medalled in Thunder Bay were Jillian Gustafson (with a bronze in the 200m backstroke) and Adam Stromberg (a silver and bronze in the 100m and 50m breaststroke, respectively).
The achievements from across the board were reflected in a fourth-place team finish out of 10 at the meet.
“That says a lot that these guys can hold in and stick with it in some high pressure and [against] well-trained athletes,” Taylor remarked.
The meet marked the end of the Aquanauts’ season and the beginning of the summer for most of the swimmers.
“It’s the off-season, and I think a lot of them are ready for the off-season,” admitted Taylor. “They put everything they had into their last races.
“It’s a good time to end the season for those who aren’t going to be swimming for the summer,” she added.
The Aquanauts will return to the pool in the fall, with their first meet tentatively set for Thunder Bay in early October.
Here are the individual results for those Aquanauts who competed in the Thunderbolts Invitational (* denotes a personal best time):
•Andre Emond (12)—200 IM (3:24.73, 8th), 100m Back (1:33.55, 6th), 50m Free (35.66, 8th), 200m Free (2:52.82, 8th), 100m Breast (1:58.70, 7th), 100m Free (1:20.44, 9th), and 200m Back(3:15.20, 6th);
•Krista Emond (14)—200m Free (2:37.15, 12th), 100m Back (1:26.58*, 7th), 200m IM (3:04.16*, 10th), 50m (33.29*, 16th), 400m Free (5:27.33*, 5th), 100m Breast (1:40.15*, 17th), 100m Free (1:13.05, 13th), and
200m Back (2:58.09*, 6th);
•Jillian Gustafson (12)—400 IM (6:23.85*, 4th), 200m IM (3:00.27*, 4th), 100m Back (1:29.47, 6th), 200m Free (2:49.56, 7th), 400m Free (5:35.35*, 7th), 100m Free (1:13.70*, 6th), and 200m Back (3:00.23*, 3rd);
•Jessica Lowey (13)—200m Breast (3:22.25, 5th), 100m Back (1:28.43, 8th), 100m Breast (1:30.97, 6th), and 100m Free (1:15.25, 17th);
•Nichole Lowey (16)—200m Free (2:37.24, 18th), 200m Breast (2:58.52, 1st), 200m IM (2:53.37, 10th), 50m Free (33.32, 20th),
100m Breast (1:22.50, 1st), and 100m Free (1:11.10, 18th);
•Caitlin Sande (13)—200m Free (2:38.78, 15th), 100m Fly (1:29.59*, 11th), 200m IM (3:14.19, 16th), 50m Free (32.61*, 13th), 400m Free (5:28.78*, 6th), and 100m Free (1:11.18*, 7th);
•Adam Stromberg (nine)—200m IM (3:58.27, 4th), 50m Free (37.54*, 4th), 50m Breast (55.53, 3rd), 100m Back (1:58.48, 5th), 100m Breast (2:03.06, 2nd), 50m Fly (52.11, 6th), and 50m Back (50.01, 5th);
•Serena Stromberg (12)—200m IM (3:16.79, 9th), 50m Free (33.19, 6th), 100m Fly (1:35.01*, 9th), 100m Back (1:32.98, 8th), 100m Breast (1:48.76, 16th), and 100m Free (1:18.94, 14th);
•Katja Sutherland (11)—800m Free (13:31.05*, 7th), 200m IM (3:27.30*, 17th), 50m Free (36.92*, 16th), 100m Back (1:36.83*, 11th),
100m Breast (1:44.75*, 10th), and100m Free (1:21.87*, 18th); and
•Donovan Taylor (12)—400m IM (5:32.63*, 1st), 200m IM (2:36.40*, 1st), 100m Fly (1:13.96, 1st), 200m Free (2:21.47, 1st), 400m Free (4:55.35*, 1st), 200m Fly (2:50.21, 1st), and 200m Back (2:35.50, 1st)
Fort Frances Times
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