In a packed London Aquatic Centre, more than 500 high school swimmers were racing for a spot in the Ontario Championships.
“WOSSAA is the biggest conference,” said Jenna Ostrosser, who’s in her second year as the event convener. “Hundreds of athletes are swimming for a berth in OFSAA.”
With parents and friends in the stands, the venue was packed with more than 1,000 people.The excitement was palpable with races taking place one after another for more than five hours.
In the end, more than 125 individual and relay swimmers met the standard to move onto OFSAA.
“It’s exciting to get to go,” said Joey Wesley, 18, of Saunders SS who won his 200m Freestyle race in 2:16.27, nearly 20 seconds ahead of the OFSAA standard. “It should be a blast. It was a good effort, not my best, but we’ll work harder and do better next time.”
Wesley said he finished outside the podium at OFSAA a year ago but is hoping to bring home a medal this time.
Eleanor Franck of CCH is a defending OFSAA gold medalist in the 100m Freestyle. She qualified for the Provincials in the 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, and also the 200m Freestyle after winning the 200m.
“It’s super fun because you get to go away with your team,” said Franck. “I’m just excited to spend more time with some of my friends and my teammates.”
And maybe bring home some more hardware?
“That’s the plan,” said Franck.
A year ago, WOSSAA sent more than 150 swimmers.
“We won a lot of medals, and [Sir Fredrick] Banting [SS] won the Spirit Award last year,” said Ostrosser.
