Page 49 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 87

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #87 February 2020 49

Swimming with the Sea Lions: Young Swimmers

Attend First Competition

By Victoria Klassen interest in competing, demonstrates
good technique in more than one
t the BEAST Cup Invitational stroke, and the coach is confident
Ain January, three new Sea Lions that the swimmer will feel successful
swimmers participated in their first in the race, they are then invited to
competition. Sea Pups Ainsley (5 compete.
yrs.) and Brynn (6 yrs.), and junior “We were overjoyed with
development group swimmer Zack how these three did at their first
(9 yrs.), travelled to Bellville to competition. They were successful
compete. in all of their swims, meaning that
For these three swimmers, it is they completed the distance, while
their first year with the Cornwall Sea following all the rules of the strokes
Lions Swim Club. Ainsley, part of that they competed in,” said McNeill.
the introductory Sea Pups program, “Ainsley was able to jump off
swims for 30 minutes twice a week. the diving block and make her “Ainsley Ladouceur, 5, competing at her first swim competition as part
Brynn, who is in the next Sea Pup way through the entire 25m with a of the Sea Lions Swim Club. Photo by Chaddycreates.”
level, swims for 45 minutes twice finishing time of 41.75 seconds. She
a week. Zack swims for 1.5 hours had the older girls helping her with compete with the Sea Lions. As “I’ve enjoy watching Ainsley
three times a week with the junior her goggles and the positioning of her soon as Ainsley learned to swim, form friendships,” said Ladouceur.
development group. feet on the block. The crowd including she wanted to be a Sea Pup. “I think “Ainsley has met two swim buddies
“When swimmers first join our the swim team were cheering for her Ainsley’s favorite part was actually in her group, and, prior to each
getting to participate with her sister practice, they meet up on deck to chat
team, our first priority is to develop which was so nice to see. She was and the other girls that she knows and have a lot of fun together. She is
their fundamental skills, like breathing the youngest swimmer competing at from over the years and getting to be always so happy to go to practice and
and basic stroke technique,” explains this event,” said Lysanne Ladouceur, on the pool deck with everyone. She always has a smile on her face. I like
Sheilagh McNeill, head coach of the Ainsley’s mother.
followed along with the group and that swimming promotes a healthy
Sea Lions. Ainsley has grown up watching cheered her teammates on and smiled lifestyle as well as the skill of being

When a new swimmer expresses an her older sister, Addisyn, swim and the entire time.” safe when around and in the water.”

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ASK THE COACH Athlete of the Month

Alyanah Haller Leo MacEachern

Age: 4
Age: 6 Grade: 1
Grade: Kindergarten
Hometown: Lunenburg
School: École Élémentaire Catholique Sainte- School: École Élémentaire Rose des
Lucie Vents
February’s Ask the Coach question comes from Hometown: Cornwall
Alyanah Haller. Alyanah trains in the Little
Spartans class at Apeiron MMA, a program Leo is an IP1 skater in Cornwall
designed for children aged 3 to 6 years. Alyanah Minor Hockey’s Initiation
asks her father, Apeiron MMA coach and owner,
Christoph Haller: Program at the Benson Centre. The
program focuses on hockey skill
Why do you like to teach the Little Spartans?
Coach Christoph answers: development and there are multiple stations per session. On the
I like to teach the Spartans because everyone has a fun time. I get to teach ice for 2 hours a week, Leo consistently listens to his coaches
discipline and listening skills by playing games. This is important because and works incredibly hard at every drill. In just his first year of

it helps kids learn structure and organization.
IP hockey, Leo is one of the strongest skaters in the group.
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