Pool of talent
Cape Breton Dorados swim team having ‘remarkable year’
We continue to celebrate accomplishments at all levels on the swim team.
It’s been a remarkable year for swimmers graduating Nova Tech levels and reaching the provincial age group time standards. Here’s an update regarding what the Dorados were up to in the late fall.
When last we spoke, there were numerous individual team accomplishments on our Dorados records board. We have swimmers that are currently faster than any previous Dorado, ever.
They continue to surpass historical times, break the provincial standards and punch holes through their training ceiling. Before the holiday break, the 2017-18 seasonal record breakers received the inaugural ‘Record Breaker’ ribbons. They are unique to the team and a special reminder of this recognized achievement.
Who knows how many records will fall in 2018? I know every time is special and that deserves a celebration.
We hosted our home meet in early December, too. It was a jammed house at the Kiwanis Pool. Training hours were up slightly in November due to the desire to perform well for the hometown crowd. Lots of family littered the bleachers and the swimmers really appreciated their cheering. It’s fabulous when the swimmers can show everyone to what it is we dedicate our ‘free’ time.
And they rocked it, by the way. With ribbons and medals, the Dorados took top placements and an average 67 per cent best time percentage.
We gave hundreds of individual performance ribbons, the count was actually 97, and six Nova Tech graduation medals. Let’s congratulate Sam Reid and Winston Clark for meeting the 100 IM standard with 2:05.05s and 2:14.50s respectively. They received a shiny bronze medal to go along with their collection of personal best time ribbons.
Congratulations also to
Mackenzie MacDonald, Braydon Hunter, Kaj Udby, and Alice Zhao for meeting the silver standard of a 200 IM swim in under 4:15s. For you guys, the 200m freestyle is going to be a walk in the park.
Lastly, over the holidays when
everyone was tucked in to their cozy houses, being lazy with bellies full of treats, the Dorados completed our annual butterfly training camp. It’s three days of consistent work in and out of the pool.
We’d like to send a huge thank you to Shane, Anita and Bria at the YMCA for allowing 40 kids and six coaches to take over your pool for three days. Without you there would have been no camp this year, so we thank you for accepting our challenge. Much appreciated.
The swimmers are now ready. They have mastered (maybe that’s an exaggeration because who’s really a butterfly master?!) and have an understanding of the fundamentals and basic technique of this beautiful stroke. We’ll be training long hours for the next months in preparation for upcoming butterfly meets in Pictou and Port Hawkesbury.
We’ll be ready. Could our team have the next Michael Phelps or Penny Oleksiak? It might be too soon to say, but Dorados, your time as a caterpillar has expired. Your wings are ready.
The Cape Breton Dorados continue to seek team sponsorship. If your company is interested in supporting Olympic dreams in your community, send an email to capebretondorados@gmail. com. See you at the pool.