SWIM: Dinos, Thunderbirds capture 2021 team titles
November 28, 2021
EDMONTON - The UBC Thunderbird men captured their 8th consecutive Canada West banner on Sunday in Edmonton, while the Calgary Dino women earned a thrilling upset, winning their first conference crown since 2009, snapping the Thunderbirds streak at 11-straight team titles.
Leading Calgary to their 9th Canada West banner was second-year Dino Rebecca Smith, who was named the 2021 Canada West Female Swimmer of the Meet. Smith finished the weekend with a gold medal in every event she entered, setting new Canada West records in four of them.
"This was my first Canada West Championship, and it was so much fun. We were behind after the first day, and we did such a good job of motivating each other on Saturday and Sunday," said Smith. "That banner is so special, and so important for this program. Everytime I dove into that pool, I was doing it for the team. Regardless of my time, I just wanted those team points."
Smith earned gold medals in the 100m freestyle and the 4x100m Medley Relay on Sunday, securing the team title for the Dinos. The Calgary women captured 15 total medals at Kinsmen Sports Centre, eight of which were gold.
On the men's side, the UBC Thunderbirds continued thier dominance of Canada West, finishing 175 points ahead of the Calgary Dinos. The Victoria Vikes earned the team bronze medal in the both the men and women's standings.
Powering the T-Birds was Blake Tierney, who finished with seven medals, along with Dmitriy Lim's five medals, and rookie Tayden De Pol's four.
First-year Lethbridge Pronghorn Apollo Hess earned both the male Swimmer of the Meet, and the Rookie of the Year awards after a stellar weekend in Edmonton. The breaststroke specialist earned five total medals, setting new Canada West records in the 50m and 200m breaststroke.
"I surprised myself a bit in the 50 breast, getting sub-27 was pretty special. It's a milestone for me, getting below 27 in that event. Justice [Migneault] gave me a great race in the 100m on Saturday, but I knew I had another gear in me," said Hess. "Getting a couple records was a great feeling, but I'm not stopping here. I know I have more in me."
The qualified swimmers will now set their sights on the 2022 U SPORTS Championship, hosted by the Laval Rouge et Or, February 25-27 in Quebec City.
SWIMMERS OF THE MEET
Men: Apollo Hess, Lethbridge Pronghorns
ROOKIES OF THE MEET
Men: Apollo Hess, Lethbridge Pronghorns
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS
Men: Kier Przyswitt, Alberta Golden Bears
COACHES OF THE YEAR
Men's Team: Derrick Schoof, UBC Thunderbirds
Women's Team: Mike Blondal, Calgary Dinos
Leading Calgary to their 9th Canada West banner was second-year Dino Rebecca Smith, who was named the 2021 Canada West Female Swimmer of the Meet. Smith finished the weekend with a gold medal in every event she entered, setting new Canada West records in four of them.
"This was my first Canada West Championship, and it was so much fun. We were behind after the first day, and we did such a good job of motivating each other on Saturday and Sunday," said Smith. "That banner is so special, and so important for this program. Everytime I dove into that pool, I was doing it for the team. Regardless of my time, I just wanted those team points."
Smith earned gold medals in the 100m freestyle and the 4x100m Medley Relay on Sunday, securing the team title for the Dinos. The Calgary women captured 15 total medals at Kinsmen Sports Centre, eight of which were gold.
On the men's side, the UBC Thunderbirds continued thier dominance of Canada West, finishing 175 points ahead of the Calgary Dinos. The Victoria Vikes earned the team bronze medal in the both the men and women's standings.
Powering the T-Birds was Blake Tierney, who finished with seven medals, along with Dmitriy Lim's five medals, and rookie Tayden De Pol's four.
First-year Lethbridge Pronghorn Apollo Hess earned both the male Swimmer of the Meet, and the Rookie of the Year awards after a stellar weekend in Edmonton. The breaststroke specialist earned five total medals, setting new Canada West records in the 50m and 200m breaststroke.
"I surprised myself a bit in the 50 breast, getting sub-27 was pretty special. It's a milestone for me, getting below 27 in that event. Justice [Migneault] gave me a great race in the 100m on Saturday, but I knew I had another gear in me," said Hess. "Getting a couple records was a great feeling, but I'm not stopping here. I know I have more in me."
The qualified swimmers will now set their sights on the 2022 U SPORTS Championship, hosted by the Laval Rouge et Or, February 25-27 in Quebec City.
SWIMMERS OF THE MEET
Men: Apollo Hess, Lethbridge Pronghorns
- Gold - 50m Breaststroke *, 200m Breaststroke *,
- Silver - 100m Breaststroke, 4x100m Freestyle Relay,
- Bronze - 4x100m Medley
- Gold - 50m Butterfly *, 100m Butterfly *, 200m Freestyle *, 4x100m Freestyle Relay, 100m Freestyle *, 4x100m Medley
ROOKIES OF THE MEET
Men: Apollo Hess, Lethbridge Pronghorns
- Gold - 50m Breaststroke *, 200m Breaststroke *,
- Silver - 100m Breaststroke, 4x100m Freestyle Relay,
- Bronze - 4x100m Medley
- Gold - 800m Freestyle, 4x200m Freestyle Relay, 400m Freestyle
- Silver - 200m Freestyle, 4x100m Freestyle Relay, 100m Freestyle, 4x100m Medley
STUDENT-ATHLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS
Men: Kier Przyswitt, Alberta Golden Bears
- Silver - 200m Freestyle
- Bronze - 100m Freestyle
- Provides weekly support to local children with autism, while also volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Edmonton Food Bank, Youth Juvenile Detention Centre
- Coach with Strathcona High School swim team
- Academic All-Canadian
- Volunteers with juSTEMagine, a STEM-education organization.
- President of the Delta Chapter and board member of chapter mentors
- Coordinates STEM workshops for students and community groups, including working with Prairie STEM, Girl Powered UNO, Girl Guides Canada, and Vex Robotics.
COACHES OF THE YEAR
Men's Team: Derrick Schoof, UBC Thunderbirds
Women's Team: Mike Blondal, Calgary Dinos
| Men's Team Standings | ||
| 1 | UBC | 947 |
| 2 | Calgary | 772 |
| 3 | Victoria | 386.5 |
| 4 | Alberta | 302 |
| 5 | Lethbridge | 292.5 |
| 6 | Regina | 223 |
| 7 | Manitoba | 115 |
| 8 | Thompson Rivers | 33 |
| Women's Team Standings | ||
| 1 | Calgary | 823 |
| 2 | UBC | 740 |
| 3 | Victoria | 464.5 |
| 4 | Manitoba | 460 |
| 5 | Alberta | 259 |
| 6 | Lethbridge | 196.5 |
| 7 | Regina | 57 |
| 8 | Thompson Rivers | 8 |