TRURO, NS - This was a three-day competition and each swimmer was aware of the work load on their shoulders. Over the past three months the competitions they have participated in has qualified them for events for this one in Truro.
Head Coach Moira Milward made the decision to enter them in all they qualified for, which for some swimmers meant upwards of 30-plus races over the three days.
Milward said she wanted the swimmers to understand they are fit enough to handle the quantity of races and to be able to perform at their best.
“I am extremely proud of how they handled the challenge — they are an amazing group of young athletes,” she said.
All 20 swimmers managed best times. In fact the team collected 115 best times over the three days.
While Bo Stokesbury-Price managed to leave the competition with 11 best times, he managed to go best times in prelims and then beat the time in the final — so the 11 could be considered to be more. He was not the only swimmer who did this. He also managed to move into the 16-year-old bracket, having his birthday during the competition.
Ava Vial, 16, also managed many best times, making it possible for her to qualify in national events in the new year.
The youngest swimmer on the team, 10-year-old Harvey Hadley, managed best times in all his events and made the finals, which showed it isn’t always age that is important but determination. Finals for his age group included 13 year olds and younger.
New to the Tritons this year is Robin Domingo, 13, who is going from strength to strength with each swim. He has a strong desire to succeed and quietly goes about this. He came away with eight best times. Other new Tritons, 17-year-old Isabelle Lebrasseur and 15-year-old Cassidy Lutes, also made best times, with Lebrasseur recording seven best times and Lutes recording two. All three swimmers have transferred from the summer swimming program to year round competition, and if they felt the strain of a pre-lim and final meet, they did not show it.
The team of 20 swimmers, with ages ranging from 10 to 18, have developed into a cohesive unit that supports one another during races, have fun together when not racing and are putting Wolfville Tritons Swim Club back on the swimming map of Nova Scotia.
Milward said it is very satisfying watching these athletes mature and enjoy their success.
“The program I am developing is having the results any coach would wish for and I look forward to the next part of our season which puts most of them into long course (Olympic) racing, making results possible for qualifying for national events,” she said.
