Success in the pool
Brother-sister combo having good season with Summerside Dolphin Swim Club
Among the 166 swimmers at the ‘Development Swim Meet’ at Credit Union Place on Saturday afternoon were a brother and sister from the host Summerside Dolphin Swim Club.
Among the 166 swimmers at the development swim meet at Credit Union Place on Saturday afternoon were a brother and sister from the host Summerside Dolphin Swim Club. Abbey and Evan Corish recently competed against 850 swimmers at the Eastern Canadian championships in Windsor, Ont. At the event, Evan swam his way to second place, and qualified for the Canadian junior championships in Winnipeg from July 25 to 30.
“In the 200-metre breaststroke, I came second for my age category (14),” he said, acknowledging that being a member of the Dolphin Swim Club helps drive his competitive side, including his sister.
“I like to pass her in the pool,” he cheekily grinned at Abbey.
“We normally practise six times a week, and Evan will go a few more times,” said Abbey, 17. “Our coach will change the sets, too, so that we focus on the stroke that we will be swimming at these meets, and that’s how we prepare.”
The two are excited to fly to Iceland with their teammates on Saturday, June 2.
“We jumped at the chance to go to Iceland, and we are really excited. This will be the farthest we’ve gone,” explained Abbey.
“We started swimming to keep active, and after a while friendships formed, and you get to go on trips. . . The club is like a big family, and there’s never a dull moment.” Summerside Dolphin Swim Club head coach Jennifer Power-Hawrylak will accompany the group to Iceland, along with two chaperones from the club.
“We have 19 swimmers going from my intermediate and senior swim groups (aged 11 to 17), and we’re all looking forward to it. Iceland is a swimming nation. They have over 250 pools, and it’s just part of their daily routine,” she said.
“Our first swim meet in Iceland will be outside, so it will be different for the youth. Then we start our training camp on the Monday, and fly home on June 9.”
The group will tour the Nordic nation, which is known for its breathtaking landscapes, volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs and lava fields.
The next event will be the year-end awards dinner on Tuesday, May 29.
“This is the last swim meet for many of the younger swimmers, but the older ones will continue until July,” noted Power-Hawrylak. “It allows some of our younger members to swim a 25-metre race, all the way up to our older swimmers that will compete from 50 metres and above.”