Third OFSAA for three event McCaw

 Parkside's McCaw and Gray return to provincial swim championships,

 Collard leads Eagles team of nine individuals, three relay teams

  February 12, 2025

By Rob J. Ross

LONDON, Ont. - Rosie McCaw is returning to OFSAA swimming qualifying for three events again for a third straight year.

In the 15 years and over girls division, McCaw finished second in the 50 fly (34.07 seconds), and third in both the 50 free (31.06 sec.) and 100-metre individual medley (IM) (one minutes and 20.18 seconds / 1:20.18), at the WOSSAA swim championships February 11 at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre.

OFSAA only allows a swimmer in two individual events, therefore the Grade 12 Parkside Stampeder will be in the pool for the 50 fly and 50 free, March 4- 5, at the Pan Am Sports Complex in Toronto.

"I'm really excited. This is a great outcome for my last year. It's been super fun this year," McCaw said. "It's such a fun opportunity. I'm grateful to have the opportunity. A lot of people strive for that and it's a very difficult task to get to."

The OFSAA 2023 champion in the U14 girls 100 I.M in 2023, is aiming to make an A final, top eight, at OFSAA this year.

"This year I tried to change my mentality a little bit," McCaw said. "Last year, I was very focused on winning and getting a great outcome. This year I really wanted to focus on having fun with my teammates. I worked super hard, never missed the practises and I've been to the gym, but I've just been trying to have fun."

McCaw leads the highlights by local swimmers at WOSSAA.

Also heading to their third OFSAA, are Stampeders' Alexis Gray and East Elgin Eagles Lauren Collard. For this trio of swimmers, three years is all they will have as their Grade 9 year was cancelled due to COVID.

Dorchester Beavers Katie Demitroff is a WOSSAA champion taking gold in the 14U girls 100 I.M. (1:18.73).

St. Joseph's Diego Alban-Gasca returns to OFSAA in para men, while Rams' Charlie Giesbrecht will debut in 14U girls 100 I.M.

Taking gold were the Eagles 14U medley relay team of Eric Buro, Chael Otter, William Van Hooren and Owen Charlton, taking the race on 2:19.83.

Gray overcame a bad cold to finish fourth in the 15 years and older girls 100 free (1:10.00), but had to scratch her two other events.

"I am really proud of myself for qualifying a third time," Gray said. "My 100 free was pretty rough, but I just pushed through it to make a qualifying time."
"My goal for OFSAA is to try a swim maybe a 1.06 and hopefully qualify for final."

Joining Gray and McCaw at OFSAA, is Stampeders Carter Morrison in the 14U boys 50 back.

Collard leads Eagles

Collard moves on for the 15 and over girls 100 breast (1:36.54).

"It's kind of a surreal feeling," Collard said. "Since I grew up swimming it's definitely worth all the hours of training that I've put it in and it's really nice to see that it pays off well. OFSAA has been a great experience every year so I'm excited."

Her most memorable OFSAA race is setting a PB in the 50 breast stroke in 2023.

The senior Eagle will lead eight teammates in individual events and three relay teams, 15 over girls 200 medley and both the 14U boys and girls 200 medley.

In the U14 boys 100 free race, the Eagles took three of the top six positions.

Eagles qualifying for OFSAA:

Mariska Buro, 15 years and over girls 100 breast.

Eric Buro, 13 year old in 15 and older boys 100 back.

Owen Charlton, 15 and over boys, 200 free and 14U boys 100 free.

William Van Hooren, age 13, 15 years and over boys 200 free and 14U boys 100 free.

Emily Weninger, 14, 15 years and over girls, 4th, 100 breast, 4th, 14U girls 100 IM.

Bridget Woolley, 15 years and over girls 100 breast and 14U girls 100 IM.

14U girls medley relay team: Andi Hoffer, Bridget Woolley, Emily Weninger, Bella Stahlbaum

14U boys medley relay: Eric Buro, Chael Otter, William Van Hooren, Owen Charlton

15 years over girls, 200 medley relay: Mariska Buro, Lauren Collard, Emily Weninger, Ava Campbell

 

Dorchester's WOSSAA champion

Katie Dimitroff captured gold in the 14U girls 100 individual medley (I.M.), winning in one minute and 18.73 seconds (1:18.73).

"It's really cool to be a WOSSAA champion, especially since it's not a race I normally expect to do well in," Dimitroff said. "It was my only race of the day, so it was a relief when I made it. Then lots of excitement when I told my coaches and friends."

   On to OFSAA swimming for their first time are Dorchester Beavers Claira Fletcher, Katie Dimitroff, Ava Ridley.

It will be the first OFSAA for the Grade 10 student-athlete. Dorchester didn't have a team last season.

"It'll be really fun to see how well I can do," said Dimitroff. "I'm so excited to continue to represent my school.

Dimitroff's swim career started with the Dorchester Dolphins summer team when she was seven years old. Currently with the Aylmer Optimist Arrows, Dimitroff has won a few races at SEAL league meets.

Dimitroff and her Dorchester teammates Ava Ridley and Claira Fletcher, train alongside the East Elgin Eagles, including good friend Emily Weninger, at the Aylmer Police College.

"We're all very close," Dimitroff said. "I'm so happy for Emily, Charlie (Giesbrecht) from St. Joe's and all my friends on East."

Both Weninger and Giesbrecht qualified for OFSAA.

Ridley qualified in the 14U girls 100 free (1:14.06) placing fifth, just missed qualifying for the 15 and over girls 200 free (2:44.36).

"I am very excited to go. I'm feeling good about the 100 free," said the Grade 9 swimmer. "Making WOSSAA was very exciting and making OFSAA is really awesome. I really hope to just improve my time and try my best to place."

For the 200 free, Ridley placed second, but missed the qualifying standard by 0.12 seconds.

"I swam up in the senior division because (the 200) was only offered in the senior category," explained Ridley.

In her third event, Ridley finished 18th in the 15 and over 100 breast (1:44.49).

Fletcher moves on in the 14U girls 100 IM (1:31.01). Fletcher also finished eighth in the 100 free (1:19.98) and 10th in the 100 back (1;33.91).

Four events for Patterson

Isabella Patterson of St. Thomas, a Grade 9 student at London Banting, qualified in three individual events and was on the Broncos WOSSAA gold medal winning open girls 400-metre relay team.

"I felt a sense of relief knowing that I made it," said Patterson. "I was also super surprised that I made it for my 200 free, because I have never swam that time in an actual meet but I did."

Patterson finished second in both the open girls 200 free (2:18.80) and 100 back (1:10.56) and fourth in the 100 fly (1:14.70).

"Entering Grade nine, I was not 100 per cent sure I would make OFSAA because I was hearing about how fast the open times were," Patterson said. "I wasn't expecting at the beginning of the year to be going against Grade 12s, but it's a better opportunity for me to become a better swimmer. I can get better from learning off of those competitors."

Patterson will swim the 200 free and 100 back at OFSAA.

"I feel that my best race was my 200 free," said Patterson. "It was cool to swim that well right after I had a tough practice that same morning."

That's right. Patterson had a club practice a few hours before WOSSAA, an approximate five hour meet that started at 9:45 a.m.

Complete 2025 WOSSAA results


Local

Central Elgin

Dylan Bale, open girls, 10th, 100 IM (1:20.54), 12th, 50 free (31.37 sec.)

Bailey Schmidt, 15 and over girls, 41st, 50 free (38.01), 26th, 100 free (1:28.95)

Keaton Sleightholm, 15 over boys, 35th, 50 free (31.62 sec.)

Caydin Le, 15 over boys, 54th, 50 free (33.66 sec.)

15 over girls 200 free relay, 15th (2:53.16) Lizzy Woolsey, Annaliese Shourkri, Bella Popesco, Audri Dunseith)

East Elgin

Owen Charlton, 15 and over boys, 4th, 200 free (2:30.06), 14U boys 100 free, 5th (1:10.04).

William VanHooren, 15 years and over boys, 3rd, 200 free (2:29.90), 14U boys 100 free, 3rd (1:08.01).

Bridget Woolley, 13, 15 years and over girls, 2nd, 100 breast (1:27.47); 14U girls 100 IM, 3rd (1:21.99).

Andi Hoffer, 14U girls, 12th, 100 IM (1:32.40), 13th, 50 free (34.45 sec.).

Molly Wilson, 14U girls, 12th, 50 breast (46.67 sec.), 31st, 50 free (36.73 sec.).

Bella Staulbaum, 14U girls, 17th, breast (47.59 sec.), 45th, 50 free (38.62 sec.).

Layne Sabourin, 14U girls, 28th, 100 IM (1:31.65), 54th, 50 free (39.52 sec.).

Ava Campbell, 15 over girls, 20th, 50 free (34.75 sec.).

David VanHooren, 15 over boys, 10th, 100 back (1:28.23), 21st, 100 free (1:13.15), 25th, 50 free (30.95 sec.).

Eric Buro, 15 over boys, 4th, 100 back (1:17.65), 16th, 100 breast (1:32.68).

Lauren Collard, 15 over girls, 8th, 100 IM (1:29.50), 10th, 100 breast (1:36.54).

Mariska Buro, 15 over girls, 5th, 100 back (1:25.90), 6th, 100 breast (1:33.91).

15 over boys medley relay, 7th (2:20.77) Eric Buro, Chael Otter, Will Van Hooren, David Van Hooren

U14 girls 200 free relay, 6th (2:28.20) Andi Hoffer, Molly Wilson, Layne Sabourin, Bridget Woolley

15 over girls 200 free relay, 7th (2:26.20) Ava Campbell, Layne Sabourin, Mariska Buro, Lauren Collard.

 

Parkside

Addison Martin, 15 over girls, 8th, 200 free (3:06.42), 19th, 100 free (1:24.66), 34th, 50 free (36.95 sec.)

Megan Landon, 14U girls, 7th, 50 fly (40.20 sec.), 13th, 100 free (1:21.79), 24th, 50 free (36.32 sec.)

Brynley Martin, 14U girls, 14th, 50 back (46.10 sec.), 16th, 100 free (1:23.07), 25th, 50 free (36.32 sec.)

Isabel Rodgers, 14U girls, 12th, 50 back (45.87 sec.), 26th, 50 free (36.45 sec.)

Jack Landon, 14U boys, 7th, 50 back (40.50 sec.), 8th, 100 free (1:13.51), 11th, 50 free (31.60 sec.)

Reed Vindasius, 14U boys, 9th, 50 breast (44.57 sec.), 10th, 100 free (1:15.90), 26th, 50 free (33.89 sec.)

Carter Morrison, 14U boys, 30th, 50 free (35.83 sec.)

Sophie Jean, 15 over girls, 9th, 50 fly (38.99 sec.), 10th, 100 free (1:14.21), 15th, 50 free (33.78 sec.)

Charlotte Sieger, 15 over girls, 16th, 100 breast (1:43.91), 16th, 100 free (1:19.35), 50 free (35.62 sec.)

Cam Morrison, 15 over boys, 5th, 100 free (1:07.59), 10th, 50 free (29.12 sec.), 10th, 100 breast (1:26.93)

Jack Kempster, 15 ov er boys, 53rd, 50 free (33.59 sec.)

Emily Landon, open girls, 27th, 50 free (35.19 sec)

Paisley Vachon, open girls, 6th, 100 fly (1:21.39), 11th, 100 breast (1:30.69), 11th, 100 IM (1:21.59)

open girls 200 medley relay, 4th (2:49.66) Addison Martin, Paisley Vachon, Rosie McCaw, Emily Landon

14U girls 200 free relay, 5th (2:27.66) Isabel Rodgers, Ruth Flikkema, Brynley Martin, Megan Landon

15 over boys 200 free relay, 13th (2:08.44) Jack Kempster, Cam Morrison, Carter Morrison, Jack Landon

St. Joe's

Addison Daniel, 14U girls, 11th, 50 free (34.34 sec.), 11th, 100 free (1:21.13)

Charlie Giesbrecht, 14U girls, 9th, 100 IM (1:29.76), 12th, 10 free (1:21.45), 14th, 50 free (34.61 sec.)

Victoria Ramanowski, 14U girls, 57th, 50 free, (41.18 sec)

Evan Herr, 14U boys, 11th, 50 back (45.17 sec.), 25th, 50 free (33.66 sec.)

Eva-Marie Johnson, 46th, 15 over girls, 50 free (38.84 sec.)

Shalemm Hernandez, 15 over boys, 7th, 100 back (1:23.10), 21st, 50 free (30.73 sec.)

Malia Camacho, open girls, 7th, 100 free (1:13.16), 12th, 100 breast (1:32.29), 19th, 50 free (32.93 sec)

Martino Vu, open boys, 24th, 50 free (30.80 sec.)

open girls 200 medley relay, 7th (2:48.24) Charlie Giesbrecht, Malia Camacho, Addison Daniel, Victoria Ramanowski

open boys 200 medley relay, 6th (2:41.03) Shalemm, Evan Herr, Martino Vu, Max Andrews

U14 girls 200 free relay, 17th (3:12.59) Monica Kirk-Mink, Ava Adzija, Sophia Krejci, Ruth Makoko

15 over girls 200 free relay, 13th (2:47.74) Emily Blackhall, Aurora Martinez, Danielle Blackhall, Eva-Marie Johnson.

        rob@hometownplay.ca

More images on Instagram - hometownplay

Related articles:   

    OFSAA 2020 swimming