They're a young club with a new name, and they're hosting Provincials at the end of the month.
The newly renamed Humboldt Hammerheads Swim Team is hosting the Provincial Summer Swim Club meet July 30-31 at the Humboldt Aquatic Centre.
This is just the second time Humboldt has played host to this event - the last time was just after the pool opened in 1996.
"The pool was brand new," noted Leanne Dillabough, president of the club's board.
They are expecting around 200 swimmers to compete at this event - qualifying events are being held in Nipawin for the north and Oxbow for the south July 23-24.
Seventeen swimmers from Humboldt will attend Northerns in Nipawin to try and qualify to compete at Provincials at home. Those include: Michael Solar, McLaren Paulsen, Haley Lins, Jordan Nienaber, Katlin Schwartz, Madison Mueller, Maya Berscheid, Justin Berscheid, Elliot Dillabough, Michael Carnago, Drew Dillabough, Taylor Lins, Eilish McAnally, Calum McAnally, Abigail Seidle, Mitchell Mueller and Avery Dillabough.
This is a good year to have everyone in the province in Humboldt, as they just changed the name of their team, Dillabough noted.
The new name relates more to water than their old one - the Humboldt Legion Swim Team - did, she indicated.
"A lot of the teams have fishy names," she said.
The team has 26 swimmers this season, ranging in age from four to 15.
"We're a relatively young club at this time," said Dillabough, which is a big switch from just a few years ago. "But it's great for the future of the club," she noted.
The club has three coaches - Deb Stumborg, Monica Merkosky and Susan Grieman - all of whom are volunteers.
"That's not rare for a summer swim club," Dillabough noted.
Their season stretches from May to the end of July, with swimmers in the water five days a week.
"It's unbelievable, the progress in one season," she said of the swimmers. "They've certainly come a long way. Most of the kids have been at it for a number of years."
More than half the swimmers in the club are competitive, she added - they go to meets around the province throughout the season - this year they went to Melfort, Biggar, Rosetown and Regina.
The season then culminates at Provincials.
Though they haven't held Provincials here for about 15 years, the club is no stranger to hosting meets. They host an annual sprint meet at the Aquatic Centre. Provincials will just be a longer event - two days instead of one - will feature longer races, and have about three times the number of swimmers competing.
The biggest challenge the club is facing in hosting this meet are the renovations that are currently taking place within the Uniplex, Dillabough noted.
Those renovations have meant about half of the lobby has been blocked off, and parking near to the Aquatic Centre is very limited.
However, the Uniplex staff has been extremely helpful and accommodating, she was quick to note, and they don't believe the renovations will affect the competition much.
The staff is setting up a tent outside to house the concession area, Dillabough noted, and raffle tables will also be located there.
"It's something different we're trying for this event."
The tent will keep out any potential rain that weekend - something organizers here don't have to be too worried about, as Humboldt is one of the few clubs with an indoor pool.
"The majority of the summer clubs have outdoor pools," Dillabough said.
Hosting the competition at this time is not ideal, due to the renovations, but when their number came up on the rotation of the event, the club wanted to take their turn.
"It's a big undertaking," Dillabough said. "So each club likes to take their turn."
Humboldt, she noted, is a fairly small club to host this large event - they have 26 swimmers, but under 20 families involved - but they have had a lot of support from the parents of the swimmers, and the business community has been generous with support and donations.
The meet is absolutely open to the public, Dillabough noted. Swimming will begin with warmups at 9:30 a.m. on July 30, and will run most of the day. A banquet is being held at 5:30 p.m., and the Saskatchewan Summer Swimming annual general meeting will be held at 8 p.m.
Swimming begins again with warmups on Sunday at 8 a.m. and will run all day.
"We hope to finish early," Dillabough said, so that competitors and their families can get home early and still have Monday, the holiday, to enjoy.
