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HAY RIVER
Weeks of practice have paid off for the Fort Liard Dolphins Swim Team and there are two banners to prove it.

The Dolphins won first place in the pool division and the spirit award at the Mackenzie Regional Swim Meet that was held at the Hay River Aquatic Centre from Aug. 18 to 19. Eleven members of the team, the largest contingent Fort Liard has ever sent, competed in the event. Their competition in the pool division was the hometown Hay River team.

"Overall I was really happy with it," said Cameron MacKendrick, the Fort Liard pool supervisor and swim coach.

Some of the swimmers had been practising every weekday since the beginning of the summer. In the lead-up to the meet, the team focused on flip turns and streamlining, which involves swimmers being in the most hydrodynamic form possible when they push off the wall to maximize the distance they move.

MacKendrick said many of the swimmers displayed good flip turns and streamlining during the meet. Between them, the 11 team members won 35 ribbons that were awarded for first, second- or third-place finishes.

The team's main goal, however, was to win the spirit award for the second year in a row. The coaches voted on the winner of the award.

MacKendrick said the Dolphins received the award in part because they cheered on their own team members and also swimmers from other teams.

Chase Berreault gave one of the top performances of the Dolphins. Berreault won first-place ribbons in all five of his races in the boys age 7-8 division.

"He did such a phenomenal job," said MacKendrick.

Berreault was the only male in his age division to attempt the 100-metre distance. He swam four lengths of the 25-metre pool in both the freestyle and the backstroke. He had no problem swimming that distance, MacKendrick said.

"I'm so happy for him," he said.

Impressed by spirit

MacKendrick said he was also impressed by James Duntra, Dallas Sassie and Jamie Berreault who competed in the boys age 13-14 division. MacKendrick signed the three swimmers up for the 200-metre freestyle despite being skeptical they were able to complete the race.

Sassie swam the farthest of any of the Dolphins, covering 500 metres in total in five races.

"He was so tired but he pulled it off," said MacKendrick.

The Dolphins also had a strong showing in the girls age 11-12 division where six Fort Liard swimmers dominated the medals. The girls urged each other on, said MacKendrick.

MacKendrick said he hopes competing at the meet helped the swimmers understand the sport and encouraged them to continue in it.

A total of 25 swimmers from four communities competed in the meet. K'atlodeeche First Nation and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation competed in the waterfront division.

The first day of the meet was dedicated to individual events while the second day was focused on relays including ones just for fun.

"It was good to see the kids out competing," said Tanya Phillips, the aquatic supervisor for the Hay River Aquatic Centre.

Some of the swimmers have talent and the meet was probably the first place they've been able to test what they can do. The competitors were also good about cheering for each other, she said.

Although she would have liked to have seen a better turnout, Phillips said almost every swimmer won at least one ribbon and they each received a participation medal at the end of the meet.

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