Blythe Mackie was one of many Aces competing in a recent Aqua 7 meet at the New Hamburg pool.

The Aces have had three meets in the month of January.

On Jan. 11 the team played host to the W. Ross MacDonald School team from Brantford and Ingersoll in a very fast Aqua 7 meet. The Aces swam really well with Alex Buehlow, Josh Cober, Masha Kagolovskaya and Logan Monnikendam all recording 100 per cent first place in all event for their age group. The following swimmers recorded 100 per cent best times: Caley Klassen, Chelsea Lappin, Meghan Mackie, Gryphon Myers, Aidan Tessier, and Logan Monnikendam. Logan also took off the most time for the Aces with over 30 seconds off of two swims. Others earning first place finishes were: Celine Funk, Elise Funk, Ally Govier, Lindsay Gutoskie, Jacob Isaac, Meghan Mackie, Vicky Whiteside, Damon Woolvett, Rachel Woolvett and Madeline Woolvett. The Aces finished second only 13 points out of winning over Brantford.

On the weekend of Jan 16- 18, the Aces competed in London at the annual 12 and under invitational. The meet had over 500 swimmers from across the province and the Aces finished in ninth place overall. Rachel Woolvett and twin sister Madeline both broke two of the eight and under club records. Madeline in 200 bk and 100 br and Rachel in 200 fr and 200 bk. The 12 and under boys freestyle relay broke the record by eight seconds with Josh Cober, Zachary Sanders and Caleb Isaac being members of that team. The 10 and under girls relays both Medley and Free were broken, Celine Funk and Rachel were members of both those teams. 100 per cent best times were recorded by Elise Funk, Ally Govier, Meghan Mackie, Damon Woolvett, Rachel and Madeline Woolvett and Annissa Malthaner.

Ally Govier dropped a total of 53 seconds to take off the most time for the Aces. Elise Funk and Zachary Sanders qualified for the first time to participate at the East Coast Championships in Charlottetown PEI in late February.

Top eight finishers in the meet were: Josh Cober, 11, fourth in 50 fr, sixth in 50 bk, Celine Funk 10, sixth in 50 br, Elise Funk 12, third in 50 br, eighth in 50 fr, Ally Govier, 11, eighth in 200 fr and 100 fly, seventh in 400 fr, Caleb Isaac, 12, seventh in 200 bk, Jacob Isaac, 9, third in 200 fr and 100 fly, fouth in 50 fly, sixth in 200 IM and seventh in 200 br, Meghan Mackie, 12, fifth in 400 fr, seventh in 200 fr, Zachary Sanders, 11, eighth in 200 Im, sixth in 200 fr and fifth in 100 br, Damon Woolvett, 9, was fourth in 50 bk, sixth in 200 fr, 100 fr and 100 bk.

Madeline Woolvett was third in 200 bk, eighth in 100 br and 100 bk and Rachel Woolvett was seventh in 200 fr and 100 bk. Others competing in the meet were Annissa Malthaner, 12, with best placing of 32nd in 200 fr, Sara Kinzie, 9, with best placing of 13th and Tyler Kinzie best placing of 10th in 200 bk. The 13 and over swimmers travelled to Etobicoke where they all competed on the A side of the pool. Alex Buehlow, 14, had an incredible meet, recording 100 per cent best times, setting six club records and qualifying for the Eastern Canadian Nationals in the 800 fr. The only other swimmer recording 100 per cent best times was Kristopher Sanders, 16. Mary Tilford took off over 86 seconds to record the most time off for the meet. Alex won the 200 fly and 400 fr, third in 800 fr and 400 IM, 4th in 100 fly, and eighth in 200 IM. Erica Buehlow was eighth in 1500 fr, Derek Govier was eighth in 1500 fr, Lindsay Gutoskie earned two ninth place finishes, Blythe Mackie was eighth in 50 fly, Kris Sanders was 14th in 400 IM, Taffin Sekulin was third in 1500 fr, fifth in 50 bk, and eighth in 200 bk, Mary Tilford was fourth in 1500 fr, fifth in 100 bk, Vicky Whiteside was fourth in the 50 bk.

Alex and Erica Buehlow will be trying to qualify for the 2009 Summer Canada games at the end of February.