Sault Surge mines 70 swim medals at Everlast Grand Prix

The Sault Surge struck gold in Thunder Bay during the weekend, bringing home 29 first-place finishes, 27 silver medals and 14 bronze at the Everlast Grand Prix Invitational hosted by the Thunderbolts.

The Surge are making waves as the swim season draws to a close. With 21 athletes representing the club, Surge swimmers posted 132 personal best times over the three days of competition.

Andrew Li and Sophia Li won the high-point trophy for their respective age groups. Sophia picked up nine individual gold medals. Both Lis also swam to club records with Andrew setting marks for the club in the boys 13-14 age group in the 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m breaststroke, and the 50m butterfly to go with eight individual gold medals and a silver medal.  Sophia set records in the girls 11-12 800m freestyle and 200m backstroke.

Every Surge swimmer at the meet contributed points to the overall score.

Following is the complete news release submitted by the Surge:

The Sault Surge Aquatic Team continues to make waves as the 2023-24 season starts to wrap up. 21 swimmers represented the team in Thunder Bay this past weekend as the Thunder Bay Thunderbolts hosted the 2024 Everlast Grand Prix Invitational meet at the Canada Games Complex.

Surge swimmers combined for a total of 132 personal best times to go along with 29 gold medals, 27 Silver, and 14 bronze medals. 15 of the 21 swimmers swam to personal best times in every event entered over the course of a tough three-day meet.

Andrew Li and Sophia Li picked up the high point trophy for their respective age groups. While Sophia scored the highest single scoring swim for her age group along with 9 individual gold medals. Both Li’s also swam to new club records with Andrew setting new records for the club in the boys 13-14 age group in the 100m and 200m freestyle, 100m and 200m breaststroke, and the 50m butterfly to go with 8 individual gold medals and a silver medal.  Sophia set new records in the girls 11-12 800m freestyle and 200m backstroke events.

Every single swimmer that entered the meet contributed points to the overall team score for the Team.

The 11-12 age group girls were particularly strong at the meet with Sophia Li, Madison Erb, Elsa Mackay, Jenna Morin, Angela Thomson, and Emma Vallee contributing to gold medal performances in the 4x 100 freestyle and 4x100 medley relays and with multiple swimmers finishing in the top eight in multiple events.

Oliver Bennetto had a strong finish to his season swimming to all new personal best times and earning one gold medal, five silver and three bronze medals.

William Paranuik swam to seven personal best times to go along with three gold medals and a pair of silver medals and a bronze medal.

Kevin Li picked up two gold medals and a pair of silver medals in his last meet with the team before he heads off to attend Mount Allison University and swim with the varsity Mounties in the fall.

Emma Vallee earned three gold medals as well as four silver medals along with eight personal best times.

Brie Reid picked up a gold, a silver, and a bronze medal along with new personal best times in the 400m freestyle and 50m butterfly.

Margot Oak swam to five personal best times along with a gold and a silver medal.

Elsa Mackay swam to eight personal best times along with two silver medals and three bronze medals

Jenna Morin picked up nine personal best times along with three silver medals and a pair of bronze medals.

Mia Lloyd swam to seven personal best times to go with a pair of silver medals and a bronze medal.

Angela Thomson picked up nine personal best times and an individual silver medal in the 400m Individual medley.

Owen Clement picked up a bronze medal and six new personal best times.

Abigail Maguire picked up five personal best times along with a silver medal.

Madeleine Dagenais, Maddison Erb, Juliana Kaminski, Haylen Leonard, Ryelind Pihlaja, Eva Robinson swam to personal best times in every event that they were entered in at the meet.

Samual Bennetto swam to new personal best times and scored individual points to contribute to the overall team score.

Some Sault Surge Aquatic Team swimmers will train and compete into June and July for upcoming provincial and national championships.

Work will continue behind the scenes prepping for the start of the 2024-25 season. Watch the club website at www.saultsurge.com for registration information.