The Pupkewitz Developmental Swimming Gala took place last weekend, 26 October, at three venues - at the Western Suburbs Pool in Katutura, at the Oranjemund Private School, and at the Cube Swimming Pool in Swakopmund.
The Gala started on Friday afternoon and continued until midday on Saturday. The Pupkewitz Foundation has supported this gala for 50 years. We had more than 1700 individual entries from 26 different schools, and most importantly, 850 swimmers in total in Windhoek. It was my 7th Pupkewitz Gala and I must say we never had so many swimmers. Forty students across the school represented WIS.
Our swimmers from Primary and Secondary did extremely well competing against other schools. In category, Girls 14 & Under for 200m Freestyle Relay, our senior girls (Zuleika Hiwilepo, Oliwia Stephanus, Salomé Rey, Martha Kali) received 1st place with a time of 2:20.
With great pleasure, I have to announce that WIS Primary came 5th and Secondary, with only two swimmers ( Victoria Ellmies and Sarah Tibazarwa) came 7th in the school team ranking. Our youngest swimmers were students from Grade 2 (Johanna Oldenburg, Francis Farrell, Lee Neels and Gabriel Fitzpatrick)- it was their first Inter School Gala.
On behalf of the Sports committee, I would like to thank, Westlane Spar, Robiati Distribution, PTA , Mr Antonio, and everyone who made this event a success.
Thank you, our WIS supporters/parents, especially: Priscila Maramba, Christa Walker, Jana Ellmies, Mary Fitzpatrick, Catherine Mousseau and Richenda Bok for many hours of officiating during this gala.
The biggest thank you goes to all WIS swimmers for showing commitment, enthusiasm, open-mindedness, determination and team spirit.
I also would like to share some exciting news with the WIS community. Three of our students (Mark Tibazarwa, Kgosana Hekandjo and Salomé Rey) qualified to represent Namibia at the 2020 CANA (Junior African Swimming Championships ) Zone IV Swimming Championship which will be held in Gaborone, Botswana from 20 – 23 February 2020. The swimming championship is a designated FINA qualifying event where swimmers can achieve the FINA Swimming Qualifying Standard-Times. Congratulations!!!
’Just Keep Swimming!’
Mrs. Beata Stephanus