From the Desk of the Head Coach: Year End
Before we even get to the year end stuff, a huge shout out to Lena Arunmala (11) and Nivil Ponnanna (14) on achieving their four minute 200 IM in practice. That’s such a great achievement to wrap up their swimming season. This allows them to enter LMR level swim meets as September. Way to go you two!
And now, let’s get to the end of the year stuff. Delta swimmers were amazing this year! We had huge numbers of 10 & unders move through our Learn to Compete program. They have moved from LTC: Intro to White, White to Blue, Blue to Gold (for next season), Blue to Novice (for next season) or into Regional: White!
Swimming is like going to school, each year the practices get a little harder, the skills a little trickier, and the expectations a little higher. The crazy thing is that, that is challenge of it! It should be a little harder, a little trickier, and have a higher expectation. If this wasn’t the case, you’d be doing grade 3 for the rest of your life! Coaches at DSSC always recommend the highest-level group that your child is able to do, that is how you make the most of your time swimming here.
This season we had swimmers represent our city at our in-house meets, meets within the LMR, at the provincial level, and at the national level. We had a swimmer represent Delta at the 2024 Paris Olympic Trials! We are extremely proud of all of our swimmers’ accomplishments.
I would like to extend my gratitude to all the parents who volunteered their time in helping to make our 3 official swim meets as well as our 4 Fun Meets such a huge success. Our club relies on the time and efforts that our volunteers donate in order for our athletes to have different opportunities. Thank you so much!
The organizers, and leaders of our club, our parent Board of Directors is also a group of volunteers. They selflessly dedicate time, effort, emotion and their great ideas to the betterment of our program. Thank you to Gurinder Sangha (Club President), Wojociech Apanowicz (Vice President), Jessica Jensen (Treasurer), Helena Meng Huiyi (Volunteer Co-Ordinator), Kam Rai (Officials Director), Rachel Li (Equipment Manager), Gavin Wang (Secretary), Laura Deeg (Member at Large), Ravneet Johal (Member at Large) and Andrew Lee (Member at Large). Although many of our long-time board members will be moving on this year their hard work has made my job so much easier, and the club so much better. You guys are amazing!
And finally, to the coaches who show up day in and day out to provide the athletes of the club the best possible environment so that they can achieve their own levels of personal excellence; thank you. Coaches Erin Taylor, Cliff Noth, Cory Bullock, Coach Holly Friesen and Logan Warkentin, your own efforts and sacrifices are not always publicly announced, but they are always, always appreciated.
We are running our next batch of assessments on September 9th and 11th from 6:00-7:00pm at Sungod Recreation Centre. If you have friends or family who are interested in swim club, your referrals are always valued (And I will credit your referral’s 3rd month of fees to your accounts in appreciation).
Vote for us in the North Delta Readers’ Choice Awards, enter Delta Sungod Swim Club in the Youth Sports Association category under Sports & Entertainment. By voting, you could even win a $200 gift card in their contest! NOTE: the deadline to vote is Aug 18th.
Summer swimming starts July 1st, and runs until July 31st. It goes Monday to Saturday 7:15-9:00am. I will see everyone there who is getting ready for Nationals, Provincials, BC Summer Games or the Surrey Summerfest Invitational.
There have been huge improvements made by every athlete in the program. These improvements are not always limited to things seen in the pool. Have a great summer holiday!
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with this program again, and a privilege to work with your children. Thank you.
Always my best,
KURT