The Cowichan Valley Breakers summer swim team wrapped up the 2016 fall session boasting record participation. The fall session had more than 120 swimmers taking part, the highest registration numbers since the club started in 1997.
“This is the first time we have ever had to run a wait list,” Breakers president Sheila Coogan said “We are thrilled to have so much interest in this program.”
As a result, the club hired four additional junior coaches to work alongside head coach Chelsea Harris and assistants Bob Hedley and Haeley Lowe.
The club attributes its success this fall to the talent of the coaches and hard work of the swimmers, as well as the efforts of volunteers and commitment of parents and community members, including the Cobblestone Pub, which hosted a burger and beer fundraiser for the Breakers in November. Fundraising efforts help the club maintain equipment and assist with operations costs.
In early January, the Breakers will begin the winter maintenance session, preparing for the competitive season that starts in May.
“We have some of the most enthusiastic and hard-working athletes I’ve ever worked with,” Harris said. “Our fall session ended with a team mini-meet that had not only our seasoned competitive swimmers trying to shave a few seconds off their personal best times, but we also had the most junior, novice and Pre-Breakers [early swimmers program] swimmers we have ever had competing in the pool. We were delighted to see such high-participation. It tells us that the kids feel self-confident in their abilities and are eager to put their best efforts forward.”
The Breakers will be hosting a volunteer coach training session for the Vancouver Island Region this spring. Information will be available on the CV Breakers Facebook page in February.
For more information about the club, contact Coogan at president@cvbreakers.ca