Riverside’s Warnock bounces back from concussion to win four titles
‘I really missed this,’ swimmer says, looking back on months of recovery
For the second straight Windsor and Essex County Secondary Schools Athletic Association swimming championships, Bridget Warnock was dizzy, but this time it was with success.
The Riverside senior won four first-place ribbons Tuesday but she was more interested in celebrating being free from the clutches of the nasty concussion that has imprisoned her in headaches and dizzy spells for much of last year.
“Having that happen I really appreciate everything in life more,” said Warnock, who won the individual 50- and 100-metre freestyle events.
“I really missed this (swimming), going to school and just being with my friends. I realize now how lucky I am.”
After landing on her head trying to snare a rebound in a high school basketball game Oct. 15, 2015, Warnock didn’t return to school full time until February 2016.
It forced the Grade 12 student to come back for a fifth year to complete high school.
Last year’s swim championships was one of Warnock’s first steps back to normalcy, but it was a small one.
“My doctor cleared me, but I didn’t do anything beyond 50 metres,” Warnock said. “I’d get dizzy.
“I still get occasional dizziness or headaches, which they told me would last at least a year or more before my brain healed.”
Though she figures she pushed herself too hard at times, Warnock said the lack of activity was driving her crazy.
“I was so sick of not having a life,” Warnock said. “I couldn’t play sports, go to school or even visit or talk to my friends other than for short periods.
“I just wanted to be part of this (WECSSAA) and with my friends in what was supposed to be my last year.”
It was merely a bonus that she won two individual events, was part of Riverside’s winning 200-metre individual medley and 200-metre freestyle relay teams and helped the school win its 16th consecutive overall team title.
“That I’m back to being a little better than I was in Grade 11 is what I’m happy about,” said Warnock, who posted winning times of 29.32 seconds (50m) and 1:06.4 (100m). “Winning didn’t matter to me.” While Warnock sliced through the water of the Windsor International Aquatic Centre pool in dominating her competition, Sandwich’s James Potma triumphed in one of the meet’s most competitive races.
The open boys’ 100-metre individual relay had the top three finalists all within .34 seconds of each other in preliminary heats.
However, Potma was able to pull away in the freestyle leg to win by a body length in 1:04.88.
“The breaststroke was the most important leg,” Potma said. “I had to hold it together there.
“The breaststroke isn’t my strongest and I really focused on it.”
Walkerville’s Madeleine McDonald also overcame a competitive field in the open girls’ 50-metre freestyle to claim the title.
McDonald, who will attempt to make Canada’s World Championship team in Victoria in April, had a winning time of 28.26.
“I enjoy this because I can compete with my friends at school and get to see a different side of them,” McDonald said.
“There’s no pressure and it’s just fun, but it’s still competitive.”