The Estevan Golden Eels have won a few provincial championships and are looking for some fresh swimmers for their club.
They started practicing last week at the RM of Estevan Aquatic Centre.
“They’re training four days a week, Monday to Thursday,” said club publicity director Melanie Dzeryk. “Our club has grown a little bit this year. Last year we had 61 swimmers and this year we’re up to 66 and that’s fairly large compared to other clubs in the province.”
There are basic practices through the first month to get the swimmers used to the technique and skills needed for speed swimming, and to help the newer swimmers there will be a mini meet in June for those 10 and under to get them used to what they’ll see at the bigger meets as the seasons go on.
“It’s kind of a practice meet here at home,” Dzeryk said. “And then the first meet will be in Humboldt on Father’s Day weekend.”
There is a fair amount of continuity on the team even though a few of the older ones have left the program. Dzeryk said there are a lot of new swimmers this year.
“Our core group of swimmers did come back this year, so we’re hoping to defend that title again,” she said.
The team will be coached ably by Cassidy Reich, a longtime swimmer and swimmer/coach with the club who won the province’s coach of the year award last year with Swim Saskatchewan.
“She’s back and we have a bunch of junior coaches helping her out,” Dzeryk said. “Jaiden Jocelyn is her assistant coach and some of our younger swimmers in the 13 and 14-year old range can become junior coaches now and help out with the 10 and under swimmers.”
Erin Wilson will be the team’s lead trainer, to help train up those junior coaches to help with succession planning in future years.
The club will be hosting provincials this year July 28 to try to defend their title.
“It’s a big undertaking for our club,” Dzeryk said. “It’s going to be a one-day meet. Swimmers have to go to semi-finals to qualify and that’ll be in Gravelbourg.”
On the May long weekend, a coach from the Regina Flatlands Swimming Club will have a swim camp for the kids.
