March 8, 2017
By Rob J. Ross
WINDSOR, Ont. - Mac Watson is an OFSAA double medalist.
The 13-year old student at Parkside CI has two medals from the OFSAA swimming championships, held at the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre.
First, Watson won a silver medal in the 14 and under boys' junior high school 50-metre free, touching the wall in 26.15 seconds.
Then Watson swam to a bronze in the 14 and under boys' junior high school 100-metre free, lowering his fastest time to 58.54 seconds.
"It feels good," said Watson, who set personal best (PB) times in each final. "To get a medal was my goal for OFSAA. It's not gold but it's pretty good."
Harry Aricibasi, of University of Toronto Schools (UTS), took the 50-free gold, winning in 25.64 seconds.
Watson just snuck in to the 50 final, grabbing the last spot with the eighth fastest qualifying time, at 26.84 seconds, before turning on those silver jets.
"I just got into the final, but then I just went fast."
In the 100, Watson knew he was in medal contention at the midway point of the race, won by Brayden Martin, of Kenora Beaver Brae Secondary, with Aricibasi, finishing second.
"At the turn I could see Harry and I knew we were close," Watson said. "I just gave it my all. I was trying to keep up with the two other guys, but my legs started to get tired."
Watson did lower his PB time from 1:00.16, set in the preliminaries.
"In preliminaries you don't show everything you got, but in finals that's when you go all out."
At WOSSAA, held at the Aquatic Centre in London on February 16, Watson also qualified in the 50-metre fly, but swimmers are only allowed to compete in two individual races at OFSAA.
The provincial high school meet is the largest one Watson has competed in and he did admit to being little nervous.
Watson's Parkside coaches are Amber Wadsworth and Pam Helmer.
"I've been swimming for a long time, so I wanted to get into some other sports. My main focus hasn't been on swimming," Watson added. "But once I got to OFSAA, it was my main focus. I missed some school work I probably should have done."
Surely, his teachers at Parkside will be understanding towards one of the fastest in the province.