While they didn’t bring back medals, five swimmers from Airdrie gained a valuable learning experience at the 2019 Speedo Western Canadian Championships, held April 11 to 14 in Edmonton. The event featured more than 400 of the strongest youth swimmers from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Airdrie’s cohort from the Nose Creek Swim Association (NCSA) included Nathan Wong, Montana Dobry, Sean Penner, Michael Schaan and Alex Sharpe. The group ranged in age from 13 to 17, with Dobry the youngest and Sharpe the oldest.
“Anytime you have a younger group, the focus is shifted towards more teaching them the next steps, so to speak,” said NCSA assistant head coach Alexx Diep. “The discussion was not around performance so much, but more around, 'This is what you did. How can we learn from this and grow from it so that next year, you'll be better?’"
For Dobry, the trip to Edmonton was her first time competing at Westerns. According to Diep, Dobry climbed from 32nd to 27th in the 100-metre (m) breast stroke for the 13-to-15 age group, the sole event she competed in.
Like Dobry, 14-year-old Wong made his first appearance at Westerns and was one of the youngest swimmers in the 14-to-16 age group. The highlight of his weekend was qualifying for the finals of the 100-m butterfly.
While Dobry and Wong were enjoying their first time racing at the Western Canadian Championships, Penner was a seasoned veteran. The 15-year-old, St. Martin de Porres student was competing at his third Westerns, according to Diep, and his experience showed, with a 14th-place finish in the 100-m freestyle, a 17th-place showing in the 100-m butterfly and a 19th-place finish in the 50-m freestyle.
Penner is in the middle of his age group, according to Diep, racing against athletes aged 14 to 16.
“At 15, he's right in the middle of that age bracket, competing against very strong 16-year-olds,” Deep said. “Some of these boys are [nearly] 17, so they're at the top of the age group, and Sean is in there, competing against them. He still has to battle his fights, and good on him for qualifying for the finals three times.”
Another NCSA competitor in the 14-to-16 age group was Michael Schaan. The Grade-10, George McDougall High School student qualified for the finals in the 50-m breast stroke and finished 20th. The 16-year-old also competed in the 50-m butterfly.
Seventeen-year-old Sharpe enjoyed one of the club’s best showings by placing in the top 10 of three of his five events.
Diep said the five athletes will enjoy a well-earned break, before setting their sights on the summer competition season.
“We just have to press the reset button,” he said. “We’re going to go back and re-address what they need to improve in order for them to move forward and take into their next meet.”
Diep added the summer training and competition schedule will focus on preparing for the provincial championships and the Canadian junior championships. The latter will take place in Calgary, Diep said, adding it provides further incentive for the young swimmers to qualify.
