The 2018 season is just getting underway for the Cochrane Piranhas Summer Swim Club and what better way to kick it off than by hosting their first ever swim meet.

With the opening of the Jayman Aquatic Centre, the swim club is finally able to host their very own meet tomorrow (May 26). In past years, the Piranhas have co-hosted a meet with the Didsbury Aqua-Jets, in Didsbury, but this year they are able to finally show off our own facility and keep our local swimmers on home turf.

Breanna Hendriks, Head Coach, shares 60 Cochrane Swimmers are ready to jump into their first competitive meet of the season. Being the season just started, this first meet is a good introduction as to what swimmers can expect. "For the little red belly swimmers and even some of the kids who are in silver that are brand new, this is going to be first ever swim meet. So we are going in there with let's have a ton of fun, work on your strokes and don't get disqualified. Compared to a meet in August this is much more of a fun and relaxed atmosphere they aren't worried about competing in provincials or this and that."

There will be 364 swimmers poolside tomorrow with teams coming from all over our region, Hendriks isn't the only excited, she says families are also thrilled. "It's nice because even the swimmers are like we get an extra hour of rest before the swim meet where we aren't having to drive to Didsbury."

Spectators are welcome to attend the meet tomorrow although it is anticipated to be quite busy.

With the summer swim club just getting started, Hendriks is looking forward to another great action-packed season. Entering her fourth season coaching the Piranhas, this season will be different for a couple of reasons. A lot of new faces are joining the roster this year, shares Hendriks, partially due to additional lane space as well as some older swimmers ageing out. "We have 62 swimmers and a lot of younger kids. It is a really great up and coming group and it will be exciting as they have a ton of potential."

With younger swimmers and more lanes to train, the coaching staff is really excited about the upcoming season. "We have so much potential in the kids that we have and even just with the facility itself. It's even a transition for us, I am so used to just coaching across two lanes and now we have four lanes it's adjusting to the surroundings and even the noise and stuff like that."

The Piranhas Summer Swim Club is full for the 2018 season, but families are invited to get on the waitlist for next year. Age isn't necessarily the factor, the youth need to be able to swim at least one length of the pool unassisted. "Ages range because some kids who might be 8 or 9 might not be as strong of a swimmer as some six-year-olds, then we slot them into groups based on age and ability later on."

The club has quite a progressive schedule and the progression is incredible. "Some of the little ones struggle to even complete one lap but throughout the season they learn all the strokes and build up their endurance and by the end, they're doing 100-metre I.Ms; it is pretty cool to see the progress, they improve so quickly." 

The summer swim club attracts kids who may just want additional pool time to those who are highly competitive. "It is totally up to the kids, we (the coaches) sit down with each kid and discuss their goals for the season. It's us being able to coach to the individual need of each kid that makes it a great club."

If you would like more information on the Cochrane Piranhas, go HERE, and questions about the club or to be waitlisted can do so by emailing registrarpiranhas@gmail.com