The 2015-2016 competitive swim season kicked off last weekend in Whitehorse.

More than 100 swimmers descended onto the Lions Aquatic Centre to compete in the Ryan Downing Memorial Swim Meet held Friday and Saturday.

The Whitehorse Glacier Bears welcomed their rivals from Alaska and Northwest Territories, with eight swimmers from Inuvik and 19 from Haines joining the 78 local athletes in the pool.

Several Yukon swimmers turned in impressive performances, with 18 new records added to the club’s annals.

“We have some new and young stars growing in the club,” head swim coach Malwina Bukszowana said in an email to the Star.

While many provided concrete evidence by breaking records, Bukszowana said there are a few seven- and eight-year-olds who will be swimmers to watch in the future.

Thomas Gishler rocketed onto the scene in the boys 10-and-under category, setting meet records in the 50 fly, 200 back and 400 free swims.

His time of 41.11 in the 50 fly is also a new club record.

In the boys 11 and 12 division, Alex Petriw set new meet records in both the 200 and 400 free, with his time of 2:26:34 in the 200 also marking a new best for the club.

Teammate Thomas Bakica also set two meet records with a brilliant individual medley, where he swam a 36.20 split in the fly – both records.

Last week, the young swimmer set a new club record in a time trial for the 1,500 free and 800 free.

Mael Pronovost added to the record book alterations by swimming his 50 fly in 30.01 in boys 13 and 14.

And in boys 15 to 18, Adrian Robinson set a new meet and club benchmark in the 100 IM at 1:04.85.

Robinson also set a meet record in the 100 breast, while Luke Bakica did the same in the 200.

Not to be left out, star swim sisters Cassis Lindsay and Rennes Lindsay each broke two records.

Cassis Lindsay set new marks in the 50 back and 200 IM (girls 15 to 18), while her younger sister did the same in the 200 IM and 400 free (girls 13 and 14).

As per usual, the Lindsay sisters continue to be the top swimmers in the territory, said Bukszowana, noting Rennes Lindsay has already achieved six qualifying times for the age group nationals next summer.

Meanwhile, Cassis Lindsay set a new meet record in her 200 IM qualifier (2:30.41), before breaking her own record again in the final (2:30.28).

The Lions Aquatic Centre was closed to the public from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening.

The annual season-opening swim meet honours the late Ryan Downing, an up-and-coming Yukon swim star who died in 1996 due to a heart problem. He was 13.