The Estevan Mermaids Artistic Swimming Club wrapped up their competitive season on a high note at the Canadian Prairie Championships, held May 2–4 at the Pan Am Pool in Winnipeg. The athletes delivered some of their best performances of the year, competing against high-calibre artistic swimming clubs from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.
“It was a great experience for our athletes,” said coach Amber Mantei. “Most of them achieved their best figure marks of the season, and the team had a clean swim—meaning they didn’t receive any deductions for missed movements in their hybrids or acros. Only one other team at the event accomplished that.”
Despite having limited pool time leading up to the event, the Mermaids rose to the occasion. In Novice Figures, Kayden Pukas placed 1st and Brinley Groenveld placed 3rd—an impressive jump after spending most of the season placing around fifth or sixth within Saskatchewan alone.
“We were so proud of them,” said Mantei. “We gave them a few corrections during warm-up, and they applied them beautifully. When their marks were announced, we were ecstatic.”
“They’ve been sitting consistently throughout the season around 5th and 6th, and then to come out and beat those veterans that have been swimming for years, and these were novices from across the prairies, that was huge. It was a huge moment for them.”
The Youth Figures with Exhibition category also saw strong performances with tight scoring among the swimmers. Isabelle Pyra finished 23rd, followed by Rowyn Shier (53rd), Sierra Mantei (69th), Ava Donison (72nd), Mahaley Fonstad (84th), and Rory Miller (87th).
Soloists continued the team’s strong showing. Sierra Mantei placed 5th in Junior Tech Solo, while Rowyn Shier earned 7th in Junior Free Solo.
The Youth Free Team Routine—swum by Donison, Fonstad, Groenveld, Mantei, Miller, Pukas, Pyra, and Shier—placed 10th, one of only two teams to complete a clean routine without any difficulty deductions.
The competition venue, the Pan Am Pool, was previously used for the Pan American Games, providing an inspiring and slightly intimidating stage for the athletes.
“Some of them were scared walking into that big pool,” Mantei said. “But after their performance, some came out crying tears of joy. They knew they had done their best, and when they found out it was a clean run, it was a huge confidence booster.”
Support and camaraderie were evident throughout the event. That strong team dynamic played a key role in the athletes’ positive experience.
“Anybody who wasn’t swimming for their solo, the team came and cheered them on and were in the stands to make sure they knew they were supported.”
Although the competitive season has officially ended, one Mermaid is now preparing for high-performance trials later this month, with hopes of earning a spot on the summer development team and attending future high-performance camps.
Looking ahead, the team already has its sights set on next season and the 2026 Saskatchewan Winter Games.
“This competition helped our athletes see where they need to improve, but also gave them the confidence that they can hold their own,” Mantei added. “They’re already looking forward to new music, new routines, and possibly new team members.”
She also expressed gratitude to co-coach Kelsey Potoma, stretch coach Layli Groenveld, the club’s board, sponsors, and the supportive parents who helped make the season a success.
“We’re just proud of how far everyone has come,” Mantei said. “When one athlete improves, the whole team improves. We’re grateful to be part of this wonderful Mermaid family.”