The Kootenay Swim Club has plenty to celebrate as it approaches the halfway point of its season.
The club, which includes 24 swimmers of all ages and abilities from Nelson, Trail and Castlegar, had new athletes attending their first meets in Kelowna in November. Graham Upwards and Jessica Fitchett logged new personal bets in their 100-metre individual medley and 50 freestyle debuts.
Senior swimmers have also hit personal bests in each meet so far this season, racing in Penticton, Kelowna and Kamloops in October through December.
Logan Blair set new times in the 50 free and 50 fly while getting his provincial AA time for the short-course meet in Chilliwack in February.
Brianne Mager also recorded new personal bests in each meet as well as achieving her first AA provincial for her age group in the 100 backstroke. Mager narrowly missed her second and third AA qualifying times in 100 free and 50 free.
Stevie McCulloch has accomplished new personal best times in each stroke he has swam this season and won the bronze medal for his efforts in Kamloops in the 200 breast.
He also finished in the top 10 in 200 IM, as well as 100 and 200 free.
Mager and McCulloch both have birthdays this month, so their times are new standards for there next age category, which makes these even more exciting to watch.
The club will be attending a Kelowna meet in January to finalize the provincial short-course entries and start to prepare for the long-course season that starts in February.
KSC is excited to be back practising again in Nelson and Castlegar pools and hope to get more visits to the podium to proudly represent our community.
If you have any swimmers who want to take the plunge to chase Olympic glory or start competitive swimming either in Nelson or Castlegar pools, check us out online at thekootenayswimclub.com.