Fantastic Tier Championships for KTSC Swimmers

Kawartha Trent Synchro Club’s swimmers had a strong showing at the 2008 Tier Championships in Etobicoke recently. This meet is the largest of the year in Canada and over 600 athletes compete.

The Tier 2 team event boasted the largest field of competitors with 22 teams entered. KTSC’s Red Team qualified to pre-swim finals with an 12 th place routine and the Blue Team was given the same honour with an 11 th place routine finish. The Red team is coached by Amanda Roberts and Catherine Hoggarth and the Blue team by Stephanie Breitigam and Kassie Bosnell. “With the number of entries in this event, we are thrilled with the fact that both teams did so well” said club Head Coach, Tracey Leeson, “The red team moved up from Tier 1 last season and the Blue team are all new to the competitive stream.”

The Tier 3 team even had 19 entries including KTSC team of Ellen Jamieson, Morgann Kirk, Emma MacDonald, Audrey Masse, Christa Plumley, Emily Vance and Katelyn Wingett which qualified for finals. “This is the first year in their synchro experience that this group has qualified for finals” said Leeson, “They then moved up three places to finish 7 th in the final.”

The Tier 5 team of Desiree Archer, Carly Shewen, Kaileigh van den Berg, Leah Varden and Alisa Woods had the best swim of their season to finish 7 th in routine. They are coached by Holly Bosnell, “These girls worked hard all year long and improved with every competition they had. I am so proud of them!”

In a special event at the Championships, an attempt was made to break the Guinness World record for the largest number of swimmers in a synchronized swimming routine. Over 180 swimmers participated in the 2 ½ minute routine including 12 swimmers from Kawartha Trent. The Tier 3 team and many tier 2 swimmers were joined by local Judges Karen Seymour and Maria Shuwera for the event. “It was a lot of fun!” said Rachel Rutherford, “It’s amazing to be part of a world record!”

Synchro team wins GOLD at Masters Nationals

Back (l-r) Katie Topic, Danielle Smith, Stephanie Breitigam, Kailee Macklin, Ali Webb
Front (l-r) Tracey Leeson, Dawn Bolam, Tobey Gullick, and Amy Welch

The Kawartha Trent Synchro Club’s Masters’ team stood at the top of the podium last weekend at the Canadian Masters National Championships in Edmonton. The team of Kailee Macklin, Tracey Leeson, Ali Webb, Amy Welch, Tobey Gullick, Danielle Smith, Katie Topic, Stephanie Breitigam, and Dawn Bolam won the gold medal in the combo event. In synchronized swimming, combo includes elements of solo, duet, trio and team into one routine.

This is the first year that the masters’ team has competed in this event. “Even though combo is a new event for these swimmers they swam a flawless routine,” stated Coach Holly Bosnell, “Their energy level was both high for the team and the audience.”

The masters’ team is comprised of both former provincial and national level swimmers. It was the first time at a national meet for four of the swimmers. “It was very exciting to swim at a national competition,” commented Gullick, “I feel privileged to have represented the Kawartha Trent Synchro Club and Ontario at Nationals.”

Kawartha Trent Synchro is offering two summer programs for children and adults who are interested in learning synchronized swimming. For more information please contact info@kawarthatrentsynchro.com