Three members of the Estevan Mermaids synchronized swimming club started their season early last week.
Hannah Mantei, Haley Copeland and Brooke Kruger occupied a spot among the five-member Team Sask. Elite. They joined athletes from Regina and Saskatoon and are the only athletes from a rural club.
“This is the second year that Brooke Kruger has been invited, and the third year in a row for Hannah Mantei,” said Mermaids head coach Brenda Lyons. “I was excited that Haley Copeland made the camp as an 11-year-old. She has huge potential in this sport.”
The three Estevan athletes earned the invitation to swim with the best synchronized swimmers in Saskatchewan by testing top in the province for their age group in the development program while trying out for Synchro Saskatchewan's high performance program last June.
“I am very proud of the continued efforts these athletes have put into their sport,” said Lyons. “They set high goals for themselves and worked hard all season long and the results are that they are now swimming with the best of the best. It is also a feather in the cap of all the volunteers that direct the Mermaid board and of the volunteer coaches to see our athletes flourishing and developing into highly skilled athletes.”
The Team Sask. Elite camp ran Aug. 27 and 28 in Saskatoon and was coached by Synchro Saskatchewan high performance coach Laurie Wachs. It focused on skill development and conditioning for the start of the season.
The Mermaid season starts Sept. 16 with dry land sessions before hitting the pool on Sept. 28.
