Soo Y Dolphins characterize Canada with delight in U.S. swim league

The Soo Y Dolphins are making waves of their present season.

The swim group had a formidable displaying on the Rudyard Invitational swim meet in Michigan on Nov. 22, incomes a number of high finishes throughout all age classes.

Victoria Gardner, 12, and Mackenna O’Leary, 15, are two of the group’s excellent swimmers.

In the 11- and 12-year-old class, Victoria gained first place in each the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard particular person medley, and took second within the 50-yard breaststroke on the Rudyard Invitational.

“I used to be in synchronized swimming before I got into competitive swimming. I tried competitive swimming and I loved it,” Gardner instructed SooRight this moment.

She is a St. Francis French Immersion Catholic School scholar who plans to maintain competing for a few years to come back.

“I want to do swimming all throughout high school and then I want to go to Lake Superior State University and be on their swim team. I’d like to get a scholarship,” Victoria mentioned.

John Gardner, Victoria’s father and Soo Y Dolphins assistant coach, mentioned he is excited for his daughter’s future. 

“She’s great and she constantly impresses us in every tournament,” he mentioned.

In the 15- to 18-year-old class, Mackenna captured first within the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle, ending third within the 50-yard freestyle on the Rudyard Invitational.

The St. Mary’s College Grade 10 scholar has all the time excelled within the pool.

“When I was little, I would swim with the other kids but I was more advanced. While they were learning simple freestyle, I was doing the backstroke,” Mackenna mentioned.

“I watched competitive swimmers on TV and it just inspired me to be like one of them. I’m Indigenous and I want to represent who I am. I really want to get to the North American Indigenous Games,” she mentioned.

The subsequent North American Indigenous Games will probably be held in 2027 in a yet-to-be-determined metropolis.

Victoria mentioned she is serious about attending post-secondary faculty on a swimming scholarship after she completes highschool.

“Both Mackenna and Victoria attended a Nike swim camp down south and due to Mackenna’s age her title mechanically will get put into an NCAA drafting pool,” mentioned John O’Leary, Mackenna’s father and coach of the Soo Y Dolphins.

“Once she will get into Grades 11 and 12, they begin drafting her stats after which she will be able to obtain gives from schools. I want to see her get a scholarship.”

Mackenna mentioned she enjoys “the sensation of being within the pool and being with individuals I care about.”

The Soo Y Dolphins practice year-round on the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA.

With 25 registered swimmers, the Dolphins are at the moment in a rebuilding stage.

The group’s youngest swimmer is six years outdated, the 2 oldest are 15.

The group can embody swimmers as much as the age of 18.

The Dolphins compete in opposition to groups within the Michigan Team Swim League.

“We’re the one Canadian illustration in that league. Every different group there’s Michigan-based and so they allowed us because the Soo Y Dolphins to come back on down. I really feel very strongly that this group goes to dominate,” the coach mentioned.

“I adore it as a result of these swimmers should not simply representing the Sault, they’re representing their nation.” 

The Dolphins will compete within the Michigan communities of Gaylord, Rudyard and Alpena in December earlier than their season resumes in January.