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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - Two swim teams from the Deh Cho made a splash at the Mackenzie Regional Swim Meet.

Teams from Fort Providence and Fort Liard competed at this year's meet in Fort Smith from Aug. 11-13 and returned home with three banners.

Peter Martselos, back left, mayor of Fort Smith, congratulates the Fort Providence swim team on winning a banner at the Mackenzie Regional Swim Meet. Team members include, back row, from left: Leroy Landry, Megan Antoine, Rochella Sanderson, Lynette Sabourin, driver Philip Bonnetrouge, Spencer Bonnetrouge and coach Charlene Bonnetrouge; front row, from left: Nolan Bonnetrouge, Shayna Clarke, Shannon Bonnetrouge and Christina Bonnetrouge. - photo courtesy of Charlene Bonnetrouge

The nine swimmers on the Fort Providence team won first place in the pool division.

"The kids were pretty happy with their results," said coach Charlene Bonnetrouge.

The community's swim team used to regularly place in the top three at the meet but it has been a few years since the team won a new banner to hang on the wall, Bonnetrouge said.

The win was a team effort. All of the points from the individual and relay races were added together and then divided by the number of team members to decide the team's final score.

"They all did really good," she said. "They all worked hard."

The Deh Cho was also represented on the podium by the team from Fort Liard who took third place in the pool division.

"The team did really well considering they didn't know what they were getting into," said Kayla Lessard, the team's coach.

"They were just going into the swim meet for fun."

Of the seven-person team only one swimmer had competed at the meet before.

The swimmers had to adjust to Fort Smith's pool, which is 10 metres longer than the one in their community.

In the pool Britney Payou gave the team's strongest performance.

The team also included James Duntra, Alice Berreault, Selena Lomen, Angel Kotchea, Taeresha Berreault and Inez Fantasque.

The team's performance both in and out of the pool won them a second banner. Fort Liard was awarded the spirit banner for displaying the best sportsmanship and most spirit.

This was the first time the pool has won two banners at the meet, said Lessard.

During the meet, the swimmers cheered on their own teammates but also supported swimmers from other communities.

James Duntra, the only male on the team, showed the most enthusiasm while cheering for teams, Lessard said.

A total of 40 swimmers from six communities participated in the swim meet.

"I think it went very well," said Janie Hobart, who organized the event.

Hobart said she was impressed by the participants who were all polite, well behaved and showed a lot of sportsmanship.

In the waterfront division, K'atlodeeche First Nation took first place followed by Whati in second place.

Fort Smith took second in the pool division and Hay River took fourth.