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MEDAL LEADERS – The Yukon swim team, clockwise from top left: coach Shereen Hill, Shailyn Moore, Helene Maguire, Camron Maguire, Cassis Lindsay, Kassua Dreyer, Rennes Lindsay and Brooklyn Massie, pose for a photo after swimming wrapped up at the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto. Photo courtesy of TEAM YUKON NAIG

Swim team led the medal charge at NAIG

The pressure was off for Yukon’s swim team at the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto last week.

By Marissa Tiel on July 24, 2017

The pressure was off for Yukon’s swim team at the North American Indigenous Games in Toronto last week.

For synchronized swimmers Camron and Helene Maguire, it was their first time competing in a lane swim meet. For seasoned Glacier Bear team members, Shailyn Moore, Brooklyn Massie, Kassua Dreyer, Rennes Lindsay and Cassis Lindsay, it was a chance to swim in a fast pool and represent Yukon on the North American stage.

“This meet was incredibly fun,” said Rennes Lindsay.

The 14-year-old, who will be the only Yukoner at Age Group Nationals this week, finished the competition with six medals: two bronze, two silver and two gold.

The meet was unsanctioned, meaning that none of the times posted by the swimmers will be added to their Swimming Canada records.

“It took off some of the pressure,” said Cassis Lindsay. “I swam so many good PBs... this meet was incredible.”

Cassis, who at 16 was the oldest member of the team, led them with seven medals: one gold, three silver and three bronze. She posted a number of personal bests after getting inspired at the Team Yukon pep rally.

“I was so ready to race,” she said.

A highlight for the team came in their final event of the meet, the 4 x 50-metre freestyle relay. Competing in the under-19 age group, Rennes, Cassis, Massie and Dreyer put on the performance of the meet.

Rennes was the lead-off swimmer.

She said she knew she had to stay with the other competitors if they had a shot at the podium. She did and when she touched the wall, Massie was able to keep the team in contention.

When Dreyer dove in the water for the third leg, the team was sitting in around third place.

Fresh off a gold-medal swim in her 100-metre backstroke, Cassis swam a blistering anchor and the team finished in second place.

The relay team, which had three of its swimmers racing up an age group – Dreyer competed in the U14 division, while Massie and Rennes were in the U16 division – upset the older division by taking silver.

“Our team was so great,” said Rennes of the seven swimmers on Team Yukon.

The swim team finished with 18 medals: Rennes’ bronze in the 100 free and 100 breast, silver in 100 fly and gold in the 200 and 400 free; Dreyer’s bronze in 50 and 100 breast, silver in 200 breast and 400 free and gold in 800 free; Cassis’ bronze in 100 fly and 50 and 100 free, silver in 50 back and 50 fly and gold in 100 back; Massie’s bronze in 200 IM and the team’s 4 x 50 free silver.

Team Yukon’s other medals came outside and on the mat.

In 3D archery, Jesse Kates won silver in the 16U female instinctive division.

In athletics, Jayden Demchuk won bronze in the 19U female javelin and Naoise Dempsey took silver in the 14U male two-kilometre cross-country race.

In canoe/kayak, Alice Frost-Hanberg and Jedrek Dendys took bronze in the 19U mixed C-2 6,000-metre.

In rifle shooting, Corey Roberts won gold in the 19U male prone.

In wrestling, Judy Russell took home bronze in the female wrestling 60 Kg division.

The NAIG closing ceremonies took place Saturday night during which the Selkirk Spirit Dancers performed.

Team Yukon finished the games with 24 medals: five gold, eight silver and 11 bronze.

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