Laurentian swimmers prep for Ontario championships

With the Division II Swim Ontario Championships slated for Sudbury this coming weekend, the Sudbury Laurentian Swim Club has been a busy crew, preparing athletes and organizers alike.

Some 20 swim clubs from across the province, with a talent pool of several hundred young swimmers, will assemble at the Jeno Tihanyi Olympic Gold Pool beginning Dec. 14, according to a news release.

SLSC captured the Division II championships in 2009-2010, earning their first promotion to the Division I ranks in several years in the process. The team is expected to rank among the top contenders once again this year.

A handful of SLSC competitors warmed up for the big meet, taking part in the Youth Cup event earlier this month in Etobicoke.

Fourteen year-old Erik Wainman continues to enjoy an impressive start to his season, capturing silver medals in both the 100m breaststroke (1:08.46) and 200m breaststroke (2:29.94).

Christopher Eastick (14) also enjoyed a breakthrough performance, qualifying for the A finals in both the 100m backstroke (1:04.16) and 200m backstroke (2:19.85).

Alex Langlois and Kasey Thompson also managed to work their way through to the finals.

Joining the quartet in Etobicoke were Alex Sarvas, Alison Cudmore and Emilie Whipple, all of whom are expected to contribute heavily this coming weekend.

Two weeks earlier, Kelly Hotta (17) and varsity swimmer Emily Jones (21) both represented the SLSC at Canada Cup, also in Etobicoke, with Jones earning a fifth-place finish in the 100m backstroke (1:02.99).