Swimmers excel in Trinity Christian Academy’s inaugural program

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Additional funds in the extracurricular activity budget this year prompted the creation of a swim team at Trinity Christian Academy (TCA) that created waves recently when all 10 members were awarded either a first, second or third place finish at their very first swim meet in Three Hills.
The program, the brainchild of Grade 4 teacher Rebecca Hennes and Kindergarten teacher Tricia Hincks, was launched in January and ran until April to provide students with another option to get involved in sports other than those which are team-based.
Although familiarizing the young swimmers – Grade 4 to Grade 9 students – with proper strokes and swimming techniques demanded time and hard work in the pool, the athletes impressed their coaches at the meet on April 9 when they all shaved at least five seconds off their personal best times.
“We had to do a lot of work with them to get their strokes up to standard and to the point where they could actually swim in a competition and they worked so hard and they improved so much,” said Hennes.
“They improved to the point where they were able to do very well in their competition. From the first day we knew we had a lot of work to do with them and after the competition they totally blew us away. They did way more than we expected.”
Hennes has been an aquatics instructor and lifeguard for the past 12 years, and together with Hincks prepared a proposal for their administrators, providing details and cost for the program – $450 to secure two lanes at the Strathmore Aquatic Centre for the season. With extra funds in the budget to launch the program the swim team came to fruition. However, the coaches are hesitant of its continuation next year, with funding reliant on wiggle room in the upcoming budget.
As the season ended on a high note, Hennes is aware of the opportunity the swim team offers students.
“Not everyone is into team sports and into team competitions and swimming is more of an individualized sport where you go and do your best,” she added.
“It’s your achievement and it doesn’t really matter how the other people around you are doing. So it was pretty great for those who aren’t into competitive sports for them to be able to try their best and feel their own achievement and find their own success too.”
Hennes remains optimistic about being able to offer the swim program next year and hopes to expand it to a maximum of 20 students.

 

Keoni Lovig – 1st Place 50m Breast Stroke and Butterfly; 2nd Place 50m Freestyle and Backstroke

Becky Turner – 2nd Place 50m Backstroke, Star Swimmer 50m Freestyle

Kanayla Hart – 2nd Place 25m Freestyle, 3rd Place 25m Backstroke

Finnley Dirks – 2nd Place 25m Freestyle and Backstroke

Jewlyn Foat – 2nd Place 25m Freestyle

Sheena Plaza – 1st Place 25m Freestyle and Backstroke

Hailey Permann – 1st Place 25m Freestyle and Backstroke

Jenna Turner – 1st Place 25m Freestyle and Backstroke

Keira Buffam – 2nd Place 25m Freestyle and Backstroke