Page 23 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 88

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #88 March 2020 23

Swimming with the Sea Lions at Provincials

By Victoria Klassen times are faster than they are in any of
the other provinces. Athletes have put
his March, the Cornwall Sea in years of hard work and dedication
TLions Swim Club is sending in order to reach this level.”
five athletes to Provincials. This is
Provincial meets are for swimmers
one of the largest groups of athletes aged 13 and older. Alivia Kyer, who
the club has ever had qualify for this
is only 12, was able to qualify by
prestigious competition.
swimming at the times required for a
Bree Campbell (13), Rori Campbell 13-year old.
(15), Sophia Christoff (13), Lily
“I’m really nervous because it’s
Mackenzie (13), and Alivia Kyer a huge competition and I’m a year
(12) will be swimming at Provincials
younger. But I’m excited because
held March 5-8.
I get to swim my two best events
“Every year, Swim Ontario hosts against some of the top swimmers
championship meets through the in the province,” said Alivia, who
winter and summer. These meets is swimming the 100m butterfly and
take place over four days and bring 200m individual medley. “My goal Alivia is the youngest Sea Lions swimmer who qualified for provincials.
together the top swimmers from for Provincials is to have fun and try Photo credit: Chaddycreates
across the province,” explained to make new best times. I’m really Olympic trials one day. For now, she have sent, it certainly is one of them,”
Sheilagh McNeil, head coach of hoping to make more qualifying has her focus set on Provincials. said McNeil. “These swimmers have
the Sea Lions. “In order to attend, times for June so I can swim more trained together and supported each
a swimmer must meet a qualifying events.” “Cornwall is a small city and so it other since they were 10-and-under-
time set by Swim Ontario. Because Alivia has big goals for the has a small swim team. We have not swimmers just getting started in the
Ontario is a large province with many sent more than one or two swimmers sport. Their success is a testament
future—to make Nationals, swim in
high-level swimmers, qualifying to Provincials in upwards of a decade. to the benefits of a supportive team
university, and hopefully make the If this is not the largest group we which lifts swimmers up.”

Photo credit: Chaddycreates

Photo credit: Chaddycreates Photo credit: Chaddycreates