Wallaceburg Tartans swimmer Shona Branton has captured OFSAA gold.
Nancy Schinkelshoek, a teacher at the Wallaceburg school and the head coach of the swimming team, said the Tartans had an amazing OFSAA Swimming Championship this past week.
“OFSAA swimming had 2,175 swimmers and 327 schools and the Tartans showed they were the best of the best,” Schinkelshoek said in an email to the media.
Branton won the gold medal in the open girls 100 metre breaststroke event.
“In the open category, all club swimmers are together regardless of age or provincial/national ranking,” Schinkelshoek said.
“Shona knew what she wanted and went after it without a moment of hesitation. She swam a prelim time of 1:09.9. This time was just 7 tenths of a second off a new OFSAA record and was a personal best by two seconds. She kept her first place seeding in the afternoon final to win the gold medal.
Schinkelshoek said Branton is now at the Junior Ontario Championships looking for a repeat performance this weekend.
Tartan swimmer Danielle Kraayenbrink also set two new best times at OFSSA.
“She took three seconds off her 50 back. She was the only one doing flip turns in her heat in the 100 free. She took off another four seconds and placed 9th. Way to go Danielle.”
Schinkelshoek said Tartan swimmer Emily Tapp rocked the clock at OFSAA as well.
“She swam an amazing 2:29.38 200 (metre) free, taking 1.4 seconds off her
SWOSSAA time set just a week and a half ago. This earned her a spot in the afternoon final in 8th. She bettered her best just two hours later, taking an additional three seconds off her time for a 2:26.42 in the final. She also moved up to 6th place.
Schinkelshoek said Tapp had a repeat of excellence under pressure on day two.
“She took 2.5 seconds off of her 100 (metre) free to move from 23rd to 12th. She swam a time that was still 2 seconds better than her SWOSSAA time in the afternoon for an overall 15th place.”
Schinkelshoek added: “Way to make the ‘Plaid Proud’ girls. Congratulations.”
