25th May 2018. The International School of Samui swim team, "Samui Sharks" visited Oonrak International School for their return invitation following the first meet on 2nd March. We were also joined for the first time in this type of event by Lamai International School (LIS).
Sharks from both the Primary and Senior schools went to this friendly competition. Two children in each age and gender competed in two categories namely, backstroke and freestyle. It served as a very good way to train and familiarise our students in competing outside the comfort of the ISS swimming pool. We had plenty of Sharks who took part for the first time.
All in all, we had almost 30 students who took up the challenge. Great effort was seen in all these students:
Year 1
Ella Brundle (1st & 2nd place in two categories) Tabitha Lees (2nd & 3rd place in two categories)
Ben Van Zijl (2nd place in both categories)
Year 2
Grigory Volkov (1st & 3rd place in two categories)
Kamilla Pozsgai
Artem Mironov (3rd place)
Liam Amir (3rd place)
Year 3
Valeriya Lavrenkova (1st & 3rd in two categories) Sophia Hawkes (2nd place) Nora Groven (3rd place)
Year 4
Egor Peresvetov (3rd place) Leonardo Hachanon (2nd & 3rd place in two categories) Lily Nunn (3rd place)
Petr Volkov (2nd place in both categories)
Year 5
Taisiya Lavrenkova (1st place in both categories) Peter Karas (3rd place)
Seraphina Lees (3rd place in both categories) Lou Maestracci (2nd place in both categories) Tobias Anestad
Year 6
Platon Mychkin (2nd & 3rd place in two categories)
Maxim Lawson (2nd & 3rd place in two categories) Martin Anestad
Senior students
Haneul Fife (Year 7)
-- 1st & 2nd place in two categories
Victoria Cross (Year 8)
-- 1st & 2nd place in two categories
Tom Maestracci (Year 8)
-- 1st place in both categories
Sandra Groven (Year 9) -- 2nd place in both categories
Oak Arnasiri (Year 9)
-- 2nd & 3rd place in two categories
Isabella Pozzi (Year 10) -- 1st & 3rd place in two categories
Halfway through the event, Oonrak organised a teacher/adult swim race and ISS was represented by Year 5 mum, Darya Karas and Swimming coach Chris Viljoen. Darya competed amongst all male participants. Great effort Darya!
And of course Chris, who trained with the South African Olympic Team, won this race.
Almost all of our students got medals many of them in the two categories, and ISS took up the second spot after Oonrak.
Congratulations to all the students who got a place in the podium!
Overall, Oonrak school won the entire gala for the first time. A big well done to all the swimmers from Oonrak.
It was definitely a feel good, friendly event/atmosphere which brought the schools/community closer together.