A group of 24 swimmers from the Sarnia Y Rapids Swim Team were among the 260 participating in a SEAL (St. Clair Erie Aquatic League) meet in Leamington, on November 14. Seven team members, including brothers Luke (age 11) and Liam (13) Young, brought home 1^st-place ribbons.

Liam earned 1^st-place in four of his events: the 50M butterfly, 100M backstroke, 100M freestyle and 25M freestyle. He also placed 5^th in the 200M freestyle.  Luke placed 1^st in the 25M freestyle and added 3 more Top 10 finishes. Dariel Gomez (13) came 1^st in the 50M backstroke. In his other events, he had one 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th place each. Kaiden Rawson (8) swam to 1^st place in both the 25M and 100M freestyle, and had Top 10 finishes in all of his events. Emily Houle (13) added two 3^rd-place and a 5^th-place to her two 1sts in the 100M Individual Medley (IM) and 100M backstroke. Latashia Dutcher also had two 1^st-place finishes, in the 25M butterfly and 25M freestyle, and rounded out her events with all Top 10 finishes. Hannah Lacey finished 1^st in the 25M freestyle, and 5^th in the 25M butterfly.

Nine other swimmers competed in the 8- and 9-year-old category. Samantha Bedard (8) had a strong meet, finishing in the Top 10 in all her events, including two 2^nd-place finishes and one 3^rd-place. Ciara Brown, Ella Roland and Erin Lacey (all 8) each swam well, with Ciara earning two 5^th-place finishes, Ella coming 4^th and 6^th in the 100M and 25M freestyle respectively, and Erin earning 7^th place in the 50M backstroke, all in stiff competition.  Thomas Cardinal (9) had four Top 10 finishes, while Dylan Cloud (9) counted two 2^nd-place finishes among his five Top 10 results. Ally Core, Emma Devine and Nes Tulang all swam well in this large group, with Ally earning 6^th-place in the 100M freestyle, and Nes earning two 3^rd-place and a 4^th-place finish.

In the 10- and 11-year-old group, Jena Devine (10) came 5^th in the 25M freestyle, while Trista Walsh (also 10) earned a 4^th and two 5^th-place finishes. Samantha Lefebvre (11) came 3^rd in the 25M freestyle. Courtney Murray (also 11) finished 3^rd in the 25M butterfly and 25M breaststroke, and 6^th in the 25M backstroke. Hunter Small (11) placed 2^nd in the 50M freestyle and 25M backstroke, and 3^rd in the 50M butterfly.

Magaidh Crossland (12) came 2^nd in the 25M freestyle and 5^th in the 25m butterfly, while Cassandra Preece (13) finished 2^nd in the 25M butterfly, 4^th in the 50M breaststroke and 7^th in the 50M backstroke. Elizabeth Hunt (also 13) came 6^th in the 50M backstroke.  

The Rapids are hosting a meet on Sunday, December 5 at the YMCA of Sarnia-Lambton on Finch Drive, and spectators are welcome.