With all 17 of their competitors medalling, the Cochrane Water Ninjas have returned from Windsor, ON with bronze from the national lifesaving championships.

The team accumulated an astonishing, eight gold, eight silver, and seven bronze medals on their way to finishing third overall in a field of 14 teams.

"We weren't really expecting it after the first day," says head coach Marlee Palmer, "but the age group boys really stepped up and they won a couple of extra medals than even they thought they were going to get, so that helped with the numbers as well."

In addition, Eli Fitzsimmons, Aaron Swedlo, Jack Dunse, and Isaac Thibodeau were named to Team Canada for the Royal Lifesaving Society Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships back in Windsor in September.

Besides winning his age group, Fitzsimmons also posted one of the fastest times overall in the 200m super lifesaver.

The Water Ninjas had two other exhibition swimmers.

"I think everyone that raced either in one form or another had a personal best time."

Fourteen teams and 175 athletes competed at nationals, with Markham, ON. finishing first and the Pacific Swim Academy of B.C. was second.

She's thrilled about the growth in some team sizes at the meeting. She said the Markham (ON) team had doubled in numbers since last year's nationals, and B.C. fielded its largest team ever. 

"That was exciting," she says. "It means the sport is growing."

The Water Ninjas came into the championship as the reigning national champions after winning in Fort McMurray last year. They've won the last two provincial championships. 

The season is now over for the Water Ninjas and resumes in October.

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