The Estevan Mermaid's Artistic Swimming Club participated in the Sandra Roberts Provincials in Regina over the weekend, marking their first full competition of the season.
For head coach Amber Mantei and fellow coach Kelsey Potoma, the competition proved to be a valuable learning experience as their athletes competed against some of the province’s top artistic swimmers.
The provincials event, named in honor of Sandra Roberts, who had a distinguished career in artistic swimming, attended five Olympic Games and was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, holds extra significance for athletes in the province. Her legacy continues to inspire swimmers at the competition.
Mantei said the team's results were as expected, with nearly every athlete showing improvement compared to their previous competition in November. “We were very happy with how they came out in the end,” she said. The athletes competed in several events, including solo and group routines, with figures and synchronized elements contributing to their overall scores. Despite competing against athletes from the national stream, the Estevan Mermaids held their own, showcasing significant progress in both technical execution and creative performance.
The competition took place in a large 10-lane pool in Regina, providing an exciting and challenging setting for the athletes, many of whom were performing in such a large venue for the first time. Mantei explained that while some swimmers were nervous due to the size of the pool and the crowds, they rose to the occasion. “It was just the first time doing their routine in front of people and in the big pool,” she said. “A lot of them were a bit nervous, but they did really well.”
The competition featured several events, including figures, duet routines, and solo routines, testing each swimmer’s technical skill and synchronization.
As an example, she described Sierra Mantei’s efforts as she competed with a solo tech routine that included five difficult elements, one of which was a challenging “combination spin” that required multiple 720-degree spins. The difficulty of the routine came from the structured nature of the tech routines, where participants have limited control over what they perform. Her coach, Kelsey, also helped her create an artistic “hybrid” free routine with a Barbie theme. This routine allowed Sierra to showcase her creativity while developing important skills. Mantei described, “It was a dizzying experience... but she wanted to take on the challenge, and we encouraged her to do that because it’s teaching her a lot of skills.”
Novice Figure Results:
Kayden Pukas – 2nd place (47.2464)
Brinley Groenveld – 3rd place (45.1449)
Eva Myers – 4th place (43.9952)
Lexington Beaudry – 5th place (39.2802)
Youth Figures with Exhibition:
Isabelle Pyra – 17th place (52.7719)
Rowyn Shier – 18th place (52.4474)
Sierra Mantei – 23rd place (50.3889)
Ava Donison – 29th place (46.2982)
Mahaley Fonstad – 36th place (44.1901)
Rory Miller – 40th place (42.0702)
Novice Duet Free Routine:
Lexington Beaudry / Eva Myers – 1st place
Routine: 45.5258
Figures: 41.6377
Championship: 43.9706
Youth Team Free Routine:
5th place
Routine: 63.3438
Figures: 47.5698
Championship: 57.0342
Junior Free Solo Routine:
Rowyn Shier – 5th place (79.5550)
Junior Tech Solo Routine:
Sierra Mantei – 5th place (117.5175)
Junior Duet Free Routine:
Sarah Greening / Sarah Pyra – 2nd place (60.4513)
The team demonstrated their technical expertise while impressing with their dynamic routines, showcasing difficult lifts and intricate movements that highlight the art of artistic swimming. Mantei was pleased with the athletes' performances, as the event allowed them to experience the routines under live competition conditions. “It allows us to learn what we need to adjust before the next competition,” she added.
“So, like Sarah Greening and Sarah Pyra, they swam to old-school country, so it was John Denver, Boot Scootin' Boogie, The Gambler. It was a really fun routine for them, and they came out with cow print swimsuits,” said Mantei. “And it was really enjoyable to watch those girls go out and just have fun and swim the routine and everything because it’s nerve-wracking. So, the biggest thing is for these ladies to have fun and experience things that will make them stronger people later on in life.”
“It was some serious long days, but it’s worth it because it’s to see these athletes come out and be like, ‘Oh my goodness, I made it through it.’”
The Estevan Mermaids will continue refining their routines in preparation for their next competition in Saskatoon on March 1 and 2. With just seven practices remaining, they are focused on enhancing synchronization and technical execution, aiming to deliver their best performances and ultimately bring home a medal.