The first semester flew by for UBC Synchro! The season started out in full swing with practices 3 times a week at the new UBC Aquatic Centre. Although there were no competitions in the first half of the season, lots of exciting things were still happening in preparation for Westerns – held here at UBC – and our big trip to Nationals in Ontario at the end of February.
In October, the Annual Synchro BC awards were held in the lower mainland and we were lucky to have several athletes, coaches, and alumni attend! Jasmine Marsan-Johnson and Tim Yaroshuk were both nominated for ‘Top University Athlete’, and Tim took home the award! Jessie Cait, a former swimmer but now a coach at UBC was nominated for ‘Top Masters Athlete’. Angie Rossi won the award for ‘Recreational Coach’. Alissa Cait won the ‘Harry Jerome Comeback Award’ for overcoming a spinal injury and successfully returning to training. Katie Stirrat was a member of the ‘Top National Junior Stream Team’. Finally, Elise Cantner was elected to the Synchro BC Board. A huge congratulations goes out to all the winners and nominees!
We had a couple of successful fundraisers! Our athletes were able to work with the UBC events staff at Thunderbird Arena and help with concerts such as Zedd and Alt. J in order to help raise money for the club. In late November, we also had a Krispy Kreme fundraiser outside the Aquatic Centre. Despite it being a cold windy day with lots of rain we were able to sell 100 dozen donuts, and raise funds to help get our club to Nationals!
For the first time in the club’s history we were able to get club swim suits with the help of the company Jolyn! Look out for us in our navy-blue suits with the brand new UBC Thunderbirds Sport Clubs logo which was introduced for the 2017-18 season!
The beginning of December brought our annual winter water show where we had judges present to give us feedback on our routines. All of our Novice and Advanced routines were showcased for the first time and we had the biggest audience for a water show in the club’s history which was fantastic! The water show was also a great preparation for all our athletes as we will be competing in the same pool later this season for Westerns.
As the semester came to a close, we sadly had to say good bye to some of our exchange students who were only here for the first half of the year. We were sad to see them go but so happy that we got to share a bit of our club and the TSC with them and now we have friends all over the world!
Now, as the competition season begins, training mode is on and everyone is ecstatic to compete at home on January 27th! Don’t want to miss out on seeing the best of the west in university synchro? Stop by the UBC Aquatic Centre between 1-6pm, January 27th to see all the action – the full schedule is linked below! Can’t make it to the competition but still want to support our club in our road to Nationals? Check out the link on our website to donate!
CUSSL Westerns 2018- Event Schedule
