After making a big splash at their year-end water show, the Flin Flon Aqua Doves are already getting ready for next year.
The season has seen the club and its members make big strides, with more swimmers entering high-level competitions.
“Our whole season in general has been really good. It’s been our first season having moved over to Synchro Saskatchewan instead of being registered with Synchro Manitoba. Our club has had many more opportunities to compete,” said club chair Christine Williams.
One of the last competitions of the year for the group was the Sadie Caulder Knight provincial championship in Regina. With almost 300 competitors in the pool over the weekend and several first-time competitors, the odds seemed long for the Aqua Doves.
“This competition was the first time that our athletes who were considered ‘limited competitive’ got to attend a competition. The rest of our swimmers on the provincial stream have been to two or more competitions,” said Williams.
Once the waves stopped, several of the club’s limited competitive and provincial stream swimmers headed home with awards. Mackenzie McLean earned first place in the age 11-12 figures group, while Hollie Clarke and Blake Shirran took a first place finish in the age 10 and under duet.
The team of Jordan Hucaluk, Jenna Thompson, Kiera Wood, Sara Mansell, Ava Williams, Morgan Burwash, Jayla Roberts and Piper Sapergia Green also earned top spot in the age 11-12 team event.
The team had four third place finishes at the event.
In total, there are currently 28 members with the Aqua Doves, what Williams considers to be a normal number for the club.
“It hovers right around that same mark. It all depends on the number we have coaches for,” she said.
It’s too early to determine whether anything will change for the club next season. Any big changes will be brought up at the group’s annual general meeting, set for May 15.
“Change is always a possibility. It kind of depends on what kind of registration numbers we get,” she said.
“That’s when we have a better picture of what the club’s going to look like going forward.”
As a mother with a daughter in the Aqua Doves program, Williams said she is proud of the strides the group has made, saying the sport of synchronized swimming teaches lifelong lessons.
“My daughter absolutely loves synchro. This is her third year with the club. She’s become a very strong swimmer, she’s gained a lot of confidence in herself and there’s such camaraderie between the girls. They have a love for it and they’re such a team while they’re there.”
