PCS Swimmers Shine at BC Senior Circuit

A large portion of the PCS National / Varsity group competed at the first BC Senior Circuit meet of the 2002 - 2003 season. The BC Senior Circuit is composed of three meets culminating at the BC Senior Championships in February 2003. Athletes earn series points for placing in the top 16 in each event at the three meets with prize money being awarded in six separate categories (Sprint Free, Distance Free, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and IM) for both male and female.

Pacific Coast Swimming had a strong contingent at the competition being led by national team members Christin Petelski and Danielle Bell on the women's side and by Jesse Jacks and Dave Creel on the men's.

Petelski, a double Olympian and long time national team member, won both the 100 and 200 breaststroke to start her season off with a bang. Bell placed second in the 400 free and added third place finished in both the 200 and 800 freestyle.

Jacks, the defending BC Senior Circuit butterfly champion, won the 1500 freestyle and the 200 butterfly and added a second place in the 100 butterfly behind "The Tank" Mike Mintenko from Vancouver. Creel won the 400 freestyle and placed second behind teammate Jacks in the 1500 and was also fourth in the 400 IM.

This meet also marked the return to competition for Philip Weiss. Weiss retired from the sport in the Spring of 2000 but returned to the pool this September with PCS. In his first competition Phil qualified for both Nationals and CIS Champs by placing third in the 200 butterfly in 2:09.00. He also had strong swims in the 400 IM and 100 butterfly placing third in both events. Weiss is quickly returning to the form that made him a national team member for five years and named the University of Victoria Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 1999.