VICTORIA – Reigning Canada West swimmer and rookie of the year Nick Sinclair and the University of Victoria Vikes men's and women's swimming teams travel to Vancouver this weekend, Jan. 28-30, to compete in the Canada West Championships hosted by the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at the UBC Aquatic Centre.

WEBCAST (finals only)
LIVE STATS
MEET ENTRIES

While the meet will be important to a few Vikes swimmers who need to reach CIS qualifying times, Vikes swimming head coach Peter Vizsolyi said this meet is more geared to preparing for the CIS championships, this year being hosted by the University of Calgary Dinos at the end of February.

Many swimmers have already reached their CIS qualifying standard, he said, and set their training schedules around peaking in competition at the CIS championships.

“It's always hard to tell what's going to happen at this meet,” Vikes swimming head coach Peter Vizsolyi said. “Some athletes are more focused on other upcoming meets and are capable of better times in competition than they show, but are swimming at this competition during heavy training loads. It's hard to gauge.”

Sinclair leads the Vikes men, ranked No. 8 in the CIS. The 2010 Canada West male swimmer of the year and male rookie of the year hauled in six medals at the 2010 Canada West championships including four gold medals. Ella Darling, who won two silver medals in 2010's Canada West competition, is once again a top medal-threat for the Vikes women.

“I think a lot of people look ahead to the CIS championships in Calgary,” Vizsolyi said. “The conference meet allows an opportunity for all the teams in conference to get together to compete. It's an opportunity to get out and race.”

Vizsolyi added it provides a last-chance opportunity for Canada West swimmers close to the CIS standard to achieve their required ties.

“We have a few kids who have not yet made CIS times who are very close, we're talking within tenths of a second, and are looking to make it,” he said.

Including his own Vikes men's and women's teams, Vizsolyi said many teams will likely have a number of student-athlete swimmers out of country competing internationally and preparing for other national and international meets.

Live stats will be available off the www.govikesgo.com web site in the calendar section. Click on live stats to access the results and check for daily recaps the next day.

Swimmers to Watch

• Nick Sinclair, the 2010 Canada West swimmer of the year and 2010 Canada West rookie of the year on the men's side, returns for his sophomore season. The native of Victoria, B.C., and graduate of Oak Bay Secondary School is a backstroke and freestyle specialist, and is studying sciences. He won four gold medals and two silvers at the 2010 Canada West championships.
• UVic's Derek Doerksen, a 2010 Canada West silver medalist in the 200-metre backstroke and men's 400-metre IM relay, could make waves again in the backstroke, expected to be the premier event for the men's and women's Vikes this weekend
• Ella Dalling, the 2010 silver medalist in the Canada West 50-metre backstroke, is the top Vikes female to watch, she is also a backstroke specialist
• Vikes men's swimmer Ben Partridge, a fourth-year engineering student, is the only Vikes swimmer competing in his fifth year of eligibility. He's also the only international student, a product of Liverpool in England.

MEET THE VIKES SWIMMERS ATTENDING THE CANADA WEST CHAMPIONSHIPS
Women
Kim Bryan, Williams Lake, B.C.
Carlene Creyke, Smithers, B.C.
Ella Dalling, Vancouver
Emma Milner, Calgary, Alta. *
Siobhan Newell, Kingston, Ont. *
Kaela Richardson, Vernon, B.C.
Julia Schmidt, Victoria, B.C. *
Annika Schmuck, Surrey, B.C.
Liz Sissons, Medicine Hat, Alta.
Nicole Stauft, Calgary, Alta. *
Allison Wood, Victoria, B.C.
* - Rookie

Men
Ian Brown, Peterborough, Ont. *
Craig Dagnall, Victoria, B.C.
Derek Doerksen, Okotoks, Alta.
Cody Flegel, Trail, B.C.
David Killy, New Westminster, B.C.
Ian Mattock, Sidney, B.C.
Ben Partridge, Liverpool, U.K.
Nick Sinclair, Victoria, B.C.
Tyler Smith, Victoria, B.C.
MJ Sorba, Kamloops, B.C.
Eric Stein, Vernon, B.C.
David Vizsolyi, Victoria, B.C.
*- Rookie

COACHING STAFF
Head Coach
Peter Vizsolyi

Assistant Coaches
Ryan Clouston
Mark Lancaster