Stettler swimming graduate Alana Skocdopole made a big splash this summer en route to her freshman season at the University of Calgary.
Skocdopole, 18, and Red Deer Catalina teammate Rebecca Smith, 12, helped host Team Canada win the North American Challenge Cup last month in Edmonton.
Canada was up against the U.S. and Mexico in the international meet.
“With only eight swimmers selected across the country from each age group to make this (Canadian) team, I was extremely excited and proud that we had two members from Red Deer get to wear the maple leaf at that meet,” Catalina coach Mandi Smith said in a news release.
“The Red Deer swimmers represented their team and our city well.”
Skocdopole, a former Stettler swimmer, brought home two gold medals (100-metre butterfly and 4x100m medley relay) and a bronze (200m butterfly).
“Alana did a great job,” coach Smith said. “This was her third weekend in a row of competing and she didn’t back down once.
“This meet was great for her to get on a national team and win for her country. This sets her up great for (this coming) year at the University of Calgary.
“Her RDCSC teammates and I wish her the best of luck.”
For the past two years, Skocdopole swam and attended high school in Red Deer. She was a provincial standout in cross-country running and track and field while representing Notre Dame. She graduated last June and was recruited to swim for the U of C.
An up-and-coming Catalina swimmer, Rebecca Smith, competed in the 12-and-under category.
Smith earned two silver medals (200-metre IM and 4x100m free relay) and two bronze (200m free and 4x100m medley relay).
“This was Rebecca’s first time on a national team and her first time racing back-to-back weekends at a national level,” coach Smith said. “I was really excited to see Rebecca continuing to improve her times, breaking two club records she set just the weekend before.
“I would say the highlight of her weekend has to be breaking the 28-year-old Alberta provincial record in the 200 IM.”
After a few weeks off, Catalina swimmers regroup this month. For more club information, visit www.reddeercatalina.ca.