With provincials one week away, the Humboldt Hammerheads were in excellent form, claiming multiple individual race podiums, as well as points podiums, and the team title.
The Hammerheads sent 36 swimmers to the meet, where they competed in 25, 50, 100, and 200m races capturing 39 firsts, 33 seconds, and 25 thirds in individual races.
The Hammerheads’ 36 swimmers were part of 140 swimmers in total from eight different clubs including Humboldt, Saskatoon, Nipawin, Watrous, Melfort, Rosetown, Biggar, and Shellbrook.
With provincials just a week away, the Hammerheads were in fine form at the qualifying meet as they collected 78 personal best times, with many swimmers swimming a personal best in each race they entered.
Swimmers were required to finish within the top six in a race to qualify for provincials, with each of Humboldt’s 36 swimmers accomplishing the feat.
The girls led the charge for the Hammerheads, as their 24 swimmers picked up 22 firsts, 17 seconds, and 20 thirds in individual races.
The Hammerheads saw their female swimmers collect five individual top three finishes, as Aidra Angelstad, Sophia Babagonio, Lauren Hinz, and Abbey McLarty combined to collect 20 top three finishes including 12 firsts, five seconds and three thirds in individual races.
The boys meanwhile, sent 12 to the meet, where they brought home nine firsts, nine seconds and five thirds in individual races.
While the girls saw a number of swimmers collect five top three finishes, so too did the boys with Gabriel Babagonio, and Darren Romanuik each reaching five, as the pair combined to collect eight firsts and two seconds.
With the club enjoying a number of top three finishes in individual races, the Hammerheads were able to use those finishes to collect a number of individual points medals as well.
Sophia Babagonio, Gabriel Babagonio and Lauren Hinz all brought home points gold medals, with Gabriel claiming the 15-17 boys gold, Sophia the 9-10 girls gold, and Hinz the 15-17 girls gold.
Four Hammerheads swimmers brought home aggregate points silver medals as well, with Abbey McLarty bringing home the 9-10 girls silver, Ashley Hinz the 11-12 girls silver, Charlize Parish the 13-14 girls silver, and Darren Romanuik the 13-14 boys silver.
Rebecca Gabriel (7-8 girls) and Aidra Angelstad (9-10 girls) added bronze medals in the individual points race, giving the Hammerheads nine medal winners.
Thanks to their success both in individual races, and in points races, the Hammerheads were able to bring home yet another team points title, as the club posted 581 points to knock off second place Saskatoon (311) and third place Nipawin (268).
Looking ahead
With each of Humboldt’s 36 swimmers entered at provincial qualifying, earning a spot at provincials, the Hammerheads will have a week to prepare before heading to Estevan for the provincial final on July 28.
