NEWS RELEASE
THUNDERBOLTS
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The ThunderBolt 50th Anniversary Grand Prix Swim Meet at the Canada Games Complex has come and gone.
It was an epic battle between the host ThunderBolt Swim Club and Swim Ottawa Swim Club. Swim Ottawa, who are first time attenders of the annual swim meet, brought 48 swimmers to Thunder Bay. The final team score was neck and neck right down to the final race. In the end, Swim Ottawa narrowly beat out the ThunderBolts 4394 points to 4314 points. Two hundred fifty-four competitors from across Ontario, Manitoba and from Minneapolis competed the 50th Anniversary Swim Meet.
“It was a pleasure coaching at this year’s meet”, stated Interim Head Coach Andy Ritchie. “To see this many athletes do well is inspirational,” added Coach Ritchie.
“The ThunderBolts demonstrated tremendous teamwork and team spirit. We were all so excited to finally be able to host our May meet after three years, and more importantly, it was our 50th celebration,” stated assistant coach Brooke Hulina. “It was a true joy to be part of all the swimmer’s successes this weekend! We won 47 gold medals, 40 silver medals and 21 bronze medals – simply awesome,” added Hulina.
Top performaers for the ThunderBolts included three high point winners, Marco Martino, Matthew Foulds and Sam Chisholm. Chisholm also won the Men’s FINA top points award for his swim in the 400 meter Freestyle.
“I am very pleased about this weekend. Coming home with the highest FINA point award and individual high points award was great,” stated a very happy Sam Chisholm. “I am very happy with my performances and it was great seeing everyone swim best times,” added fellow Boys 13 and 14-year-old high point winner Matthew Foulds. Ten and under high point winner Marco Martino adds,” The Grand Prix was awesome! I love racing! I can’t wait for next season.”
Other gold medal winners included Riley Agar, Brock Balabuk, Nikolas Black, Abbi Brown, Jed Demillo, Leo Fay, Daniel Giardetti, Isabel Harri, Kaitlyn Luu, Dante Martino, Jamie Puhalski, Sawyer Puumala and Ben Sunila.
Other medal winners included Zoe Aylward, Rudy Balabuk, Samatha Bergamo, Sierra Bourgeois, Taylor Brown, Maggie Chisholm, Jack Dennis, Evander Dunn, Scott Fay, Abby Gignac, Molly Hunt, Ella Hupka, Tessa Hupka, Chloe Manning, Dante Martino, Tori Niittynen Dreifelds, Liam Rose Weston, and Reid Thompson.
Swimming in her final ThunderBolt swim meet 18-year-old Zoe Aylward, a Hammarskjold High School graduating student won a medal and achieved many best times.
“Being a ThunderBolt has taught me the importance of hard work, and dedication, these are lifelong skills. The ThunderBolts are like a second family to me,” stated Zoe Aylward. The May Invitational was my last meet and was one to remember. I hope to continue coaching in North Bay where I will be attending school this coming fall, as I want swimming to still be a part of my life,” added Alyward.
