Flying Fins see success in Brandon

The Moose Jaw Kinsmen Flying Fins are back in town after yet another successful road trip, this time going to Brandon to take on the competition.
The Fins returned from the BBSC Spring LC Invitational meet this weekend with 37 personal best (PB) times, five AA times and six A times. AA indicates a provincial-best, while A is second-best.
"We did awesome," said club coach Monty Smith. "All of our swimmers were awesome."
Of the 11 swimmers attending, Joyce Arends, 12, stood out with five gold finishes, four silvers and a bronze. She also posted two AA times for the age-13 category.
Lauran Armbruster, 11, earned four silvers and two bronze medals and posted three AA times - two of them for the 12-year-old category.
But Smith said the results are only part of the point. The meet gave the swimmers valuable experience at competitions featuring preliminary and final components.
"There were four swimmers there who had never had a prelim and final (at a meet)," he said. "It was a good opportunity for our swimmers to learn about prelims and finals without the big-meet pressures."
Other swimmers attending the competition include Nathan Avery (five PBs), Madison Coulter (three PBs, two As), Mark Froehlich (three PBs, one bronze), Chelsea Morhart (two PBs), Kendal Paulson (two PBs, one A), Ethan Runge (four PBs, two As, two golds, two bronzes), Jay-lyn Schmidt (three PBs), Krystal Shaw (four PBs), and Stephanie Shaw (three PBs, one A).
The Fins were one of only two non-Manitoban clubs at the meet, the other being the Marlins from Regina. And the competition was as intense as expected, with the Manitobans giving the visitors all they could handle.
"I found that the competition was really hard because a lot of the swim clubs in Winnipeg train hard and they're there to win," said Smith. "So when our swimmers go against them it gives them that challenge and the opportunity to go outside their comfort zone."
One swimmer who rose to the challenge was Krystal Shaw, 15, who is a SWAD - swimmer with a disability - and has had an excellent season. Shaw made it to the finals at the Brandon meet, which was a thrilling first for her as she was competing against able-bodied swimmers.
"Outstanding (for her confidence)," said Smith. "Winning in general gets kids excited. This just adds to that."
The Fins still have a few months left in their season, but Shaw has a long summer ahead of her.
"Krystal swims all summer because she is trying to qualify for the Summer Games in P.E.I.," said Smith.
The Fins will be out and about town on Saturday as they hold a fundraising bottle drive across the city.

Taylor Lambert can be reached at 691-1260