When your entire team at a meet is but nine swimmers, the context for success becomes a little different.

Noting that her small crew averaged 20 points per swimmer at the recent Dave Kensit Memorial Swim Champiosnhips in Sault Ste Marie, Valley East Waves head coach Sharon Leger was more than a little excited about the performance of her youngsters in what amounts to one of the larger NEOR events of the season.

Showing the way for the Waves was their youngest competitor, Parker Caron (boys 12 and under), who finished second in both the 100m IM and 50m backstroke, third in the 100m breaststroke and fourth in the 50m freestyle, all while posting personal best times in all seven races in which he was entered.

That same age bracket produced a pair of podium placements for teammate Christyan Fillator (1st in 50m backstroke; 2nd in 200m backstroke), also recording new personal standards for seven strokes and distances.

His older brother, Aiden-Nicholas (Fillator), accumulated the most appearances in the finals among all Valley East swimmers, enjoying a weekend that was highlighted by a gold in the 50m butterfly and silver in the 50m backstroke.

Undaunted by long distances, Keena Richard tackled both the 400 IM (3rd place) and the 400m freestyle (7th), adding a third place finish in the 50m butterfly to her weekend resume.

After qualifying seventh for the 200m IM final, Evan Hull leapt up three spots, touching the wall in fourth place, one spot better than his performance in the 100m breaststroke.

Registering personal best times right across the board, Corbin Caron advanced to his first ever finals swim, hitting the starting blocks for the 100m breaststroke (7th).

Tahlia Fournier also qualified for a pair of finals (100m butterfly - 6th; 100m backstroke - 8th), while siblings Addison Purvis (four PB times; scored as part of 5th place relay team) and Sara Purvis (five PB times; 8th place in the 50m butterfly) both showed well in their first appearance at the Kensit Meet.