Family has a passion for swimming
Tompkins family is heavily involved with the Trent Swim Club
When it comes to the Trent Swim Club, the Tompkins family has dived right in.
The entire family, from parents Jamie and Stephanie Tompkins to their children Patrick, 14, and Taylor, 12, are all members in one way or another.
Stephanie swam for TSC from 1984-94 and now serves on the board of directors. She’s also jumped back in the pool as a masters swimmer.
Jamie serves as a parent-chaperone on road trips.
Patrick, a Grade 9 student at St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School, and Taylor, who is in Grade 7 at St. Paul’s (Peterborough) Elementary School, are quickly rising up the competitive swim ranks after coming to the club from other sports.
Taylor’s first dip in the pool was as a synchronized swimmer. Patrick’s first sport was triathlon following his father, who is a competitive triathlete.
Jamie is also a coach with the Peterborough Pirates Triathlon Club, where he first met Kent Crockower, a coach with both the Pirates and Trent Torpedoes swim team.
Jamie was impressed by the quality of coaching and growth of the athletes at both clubs.
“It’s very process-oriented and really driven but also balanced,” said Tompkins. “These sports are really shaping these kids as much outside the pool as inside the pool.”
Being around it brought back Stephanie’s memories of her enjoyment of the club and led to her getting involved again.
“With my history in the club I know what swimming does for kids; the confidence they build. It’s a very individual sport but it’s a team sport as well so they’re making friends and they’re competing against themselves.”
Patrick and Taylor say their parents never pushed them into their sports. So, when they decided to join TSC it was exciting for Stephanie.
“I spent a lot of time here on pool decks and at meets. It’s exciting to see their passion for the sport and how they’ve grown in the sport,” she said. “That’s why I joined masters after 20 years which was a little intimidating. It’s exciting to watch them love it as much as I loved it.”
“It was important to let them come to it,” Jamie said. “To get up at 5:30 in the morning to train you’d better love it. If you have to force them to do it then it’s not fun for anybody. It’s nice to see them want to do this.”
“It’s nice that we can do something that the whole family can be involved in,” said Taylor.
Mom says she’s seen growth of confidence in both her children.
“They’re very sure of themselves. It helps to be outgoing and friendly. When you go to swim meets you’re talking to other kids and strangers and making conversation. They’re much more comfortable and engaging,” she said. “They are also a lot more goal-oriented. Focused on where they want to go and how to get there. They make smart decisions because they have to balance swimming and homework and social.”
In a short time span, Crockower said, the Tompkins have become vital contributors to TSC.
“It’s a full family commitment,” he said. “The kids come to practice and they always have what they need to be ready to practice whether it’s dry land or the pool. You can always count on the effort, sincerity to it and asking questions. The parental involvement is spectacular. Stephanie has done a great job as treasurer and a board member. Jamie, you can always count on to be an outstanding chaperone. We have other families involved but their whole family has come forward.”