The host Sault Ste. Marie Aquatic Club finished just nine points behind the Timmins Marlins to finish second at the Dave Kensit Memorial Championship over the weekend at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
SSMAC had won the high points trophy the three previous years. Timmins had 981 points compared to SSMAC's 972.
The Sudbury Laurentian swim club was third with 633 points in the 14-team event, which attracted more than 200 swimmers from across the region.
SSMAC's 28-member contingent was led by outstanding performances from swimmers in all age ranges.
Kieran O'Neill was the high point trophy winner in the 16 and over boys' division; collecting six first place finishes and placing third once. Patrick McGuire placed second on the strength of winning four races and finishing twice second. Jeff Byrne took top honours in 14-15 boys' action by winning seven races, while Nick Shoust was third, finishing first three times.
Kyle Matthews' five first-place finishes garnered him the top swimmer honours in the boys' 11 and under age range. He also placed second twice. He was followed by Joshua Lawrence, who won four races and had one second-place finishes.
Miranda MacRae won three races and had a third-place finish to place second in the high point race for girls 11 and under while Becky Day was third with one first place and five seconds.
Andrea Shoust was second in the high points race for girls 16 and over category with five first place finishes. She placed second twice.
SSMAC was joined by city counterparts, the Soo Y Dolphins and entries from North Bay, Espanola, Elliot Lake, Sturgeon Falls, Hearst, Kapuskasing, Kirkland Lake, Sudbury, Timmins, and the Tri Towns.
"I was incredibly impressed with our team this weekend," said SSMAC head coach Rob Moreside. "We fought hard to the end. Our theme this weekend was 'refuse to lose' and we did everything we could to live up to that.
"This meet featured a very high level of swimming and the competition was intense."
SSMAC has 18 swimmers who've qualified for the upcoming Junior Provincial Short Course championships and four preparing for the Eastern Canadian championship.
This regional meet marked the end of the short course season.