How do you know when a speed-swimming club has been successful? When every single swimmer has smiles on their faces to go with personal best times they just swam because of hard work.
The Battlefords Orcas Swim Club might be the best kept secret in the Battlefords. The club swims out of Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre. Many of the people who started swimming in the club did so because of their love for the water. The Club has been around since the 1960's and has a long tradition of not only teaching people how to swim properly strokes like freestyle, backstroke, breast and fly, but prides itself on producing life long swimmers who enjoy one of the best forms of exercise there is. It's also one of the cheapest sports to participate in.
In the 2014-15 swim year there were 16 competitive swimmers 9 non-competitive swimmers and 20 masters swimmers. The swim year is split into 2 the short course, which is 25-metre pool competitions, and it runs from September to March and the long course season, which is 50-metre pools, and it runs March to June. In the short course season, 21 club records were broken and three swimmers went to Man/ Sask. Championships held in Saskatoon. Madison Higgs, Taylor Parker and Brandon Nord attended. In the long course season, 17 more records were broken and Taylor Parker and Brandon Nord competed in the Man/Sask. Championships in Winnipeg. Lindsey Reimer competed in the 2015 Western Canada Games as a Special Olympic Swimmer.
Every competitive swimmer in the club had personal best swims this season which is directly due to the great coaching of Jamie Sommerfeld. Sommerfeld instilled the life long skill of hard work into the swimmers, but did it in a way that made it fun for the group. The results speak for themselves. Some of the club records broken this year have stood for decades as well as helping produce some of the top swimmers in the province for their ages. Sommerfeld is unable to remain as coach for the 2015-16 season, but the club can't express enough the gratitude it has for all of Sommerfeld’s efforts. A new coach has been hired for next season, as Allison MacLeod is the new Orcas swim coach and brings with her many years of swimming experience including swimming with DalHousie University Varsity Swim Team.
If people are interested in swimming and have questions about the different programs, they can look on facebook or inquire at the pool. In August we will be launching a new website which will also help answer questions and have contact information.
There will be a registration table setup at the Discovery Co-ops annual Kids Club Carnival held on Sept. 12 at the Territorial Mall's parking lot as well as registration at the Pool in early September. Whether you want to get into shape or are learning to swim, the club offers programs for all ages and levels.
