Swim Alberta Summer Festivals

Tara McWilliams

EVENT: Swim Alberta Summer Festivals

DATES: June 13-15th, 2025

LOCATION: Lethbridge, Alberta

# of teams: 31 teams

# of AMAC swimmers racing: 8

Next meet: Summer Provincial Trials

 

  • A HUGE congratulations to the eight AMAC swimmers who competed in Lethbridge over the weekend against the top AB swimmers in their age groups! The positivity on deck was contagious between the AMAC athletes and our races only seemed to get better as the weekend went on! As a coach, I am beyond proud of how the kids represented our club both on deck and in the pool. Each and every swimmer should be extremely proud of themselves! 

  • A huge shout-out to Rixtonn Biffart who received a top-5 Youth Recognition award for his 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke performances over the weekend. Further, Rixtonn was selected from his 50m freestyle final to compete (and help win 1st!) on the boys 10 year old 4x50m freestyle relay, representing Southern Alberta in the North vs. South relays.

  • Another shout-out to our four AMAC swimmers receiving top 8 finishes over the weekend and snagging spots in finals! That is a huge accomplishment at a competition like this! Congratulations to Isabela Josey (50m breast), Marsha Van Der Merwe (100m fly), Olivia Liebenberg (100m free, 200m free, 400m free), and Rixtonn Biffart (50free, 50breast, 100IM, 50back, 50fly, 100free). 

 

  • Swim Meet Awards: 

 

  • Heart and Hustle goes to Caleb Martin. Caleb had some absolutely amazing swims over the weekend, most notably in his freestyle events taking off time in both the 400m free and 100m free. However, Caleb’s weekend was exceptional not only because of his races but because of his presence on deck. Whenever an AMAC swimmer was in the water and needed some help pushing through a hard swim, Caleb was there to cheer them on loud and proud. Just missing spots in finals for his own swims, Caleb could have taken his afternoons off but instead chose to come back both Saturday and Sunday, decked out in AMAC gear, to cheer his teammates on, give high-fives and hugs, and help out Coach Lauren on deck. Caleb’s dedication to AMAC, his friends, and his enthusiasm for swimming is something that we should all strive to have and it made the weekend exceptional for all. Thank you, Caleb, for bringing your whole heart to the pool in Lethbridge! 

 

  • Swim of the Meet goes to Campbell Kletzel for her 200m breaststroke. Campbell had an amazing weekend of racing in Lethbridge and her coaches are so extremely proud of her as she qualified recently at our home meet and has been busy juggling swimming with other sports. However, when she is at the pool she truly gives it 110% and that was evident in her 200 breast as she went a huge best time and raced her heart out. This award is not just about the individual swim for Campbell, it is about how much hard work, thoughtfulness, and dedication that she has put into her swimming all season and let it shine at Festivals. Even with ups and downs over the weekend, nothing could stop her as Campbell got up on the blocks ready to push herself for each and every race. Congratulations on an exceptional weekend and 200 breast, Campbell!

 

Rixtonn Biffart (10) 11 new best times

17th 400 free timed final

4th 50 free prelim

4th 50 free final

5th 50 breast prelim

8th 50 breast final

6th 100 IM prelim

4th 100 IM final

18th 200 free RELAY

2nd 50 back prelim

2nd 50 back final

7th 50 fly prelim

6th 50 fly final

6th 100 free prelim

8th 100 free final

14th 200 medley RELAY

1st 200 freestyle South VS North Relay team

 

Dain Burnell (12) 8 new best times

18th 200 back timed final

28th 400 free timed final

17th 50 free prelim

18th 100 back prelim

24th 100 IM prelim

18th 200 free RELAY

28th 50 back prelim

28th 50 fly prelim

28th 100 free prelim

14th 200 medley RELAY

 

Isabela Josey (11) 2 new best times

17th 200 breast timed final

40th 400 free timed final

35th 50 free prelim

4th 50 breast prelim

11th 100 IM prelim

22nd 200 free RELAY

 

Campbell Kletzel (10) 1 new best time

47th 200 breast timed final

31st 50 free prelim

20th 50 breast prelim

34th 100 IM prelim

22nd 200 free RELAY

21st 100 breast prelim

26th 50 fly prelim

26th 100 free prelim

 

Olivia Liebenberg (12) 8 new best times

25th 200 back timed final

6th 400 free timed final

17th 50 free prelim

14th 100 IM prelim

22nd 200 free RELAY

5th 200 free timed final 

24th 50 fly prelim

4th 100 free prelim 

4th 100 free final

15th 200 IM timed final 

 

Caleb Martin (10) 4 new best times

62nd 200 back timed final

35th 400 free timed final

21st 50 breast prelim

30th 100 IM prelim

18th 200 free RELAY

22nd 50 back prelim

27th 50 fly prelim

15th 100 free prelim

14th 200 medley RELAY

 

Ryes Pattison (11) 5 new best times

66th 200 back timed final

25th 200 breast timed final

22nd 100 fly prelim

18th 50 breast prelim

43rd 100 IM prelim

18th 200 free RELAY

17th 100 breast prelim

51st 50 fly prelim

14th 200 medley RELAY

27th 200 IM timed final

 

Marsha Van Der Merwe (10) 3 new best times

38th 200 breast timed final

8th 100 fly prelim

7th 100 fly final

18th 50 breast prelim

17th 100 IM prelim

22nd 200 free RELAY

16th 100 breast prelim

24th 50 fly prelim

14th 100 free prelim