The Estevan Golden Eels Swim Club won’t have a competitive season for the second straight year, but the Eels are still pleased to be back in the water and building their skills.
The Eels held their first practice of the year on May 12, after the reopening of the RM of Estevan Aquatic Centre. It was the first day that the pool was open following the annual pool shutdown, and after a one-week closure of the Estevan Leisure Centre.
“It’s really good to see the kids back in the water,” said Charlotte Andrist, who is the co-head coach of the Eels alongside Auriel Bill. “It’s been so long since they’ve been swimming.”
This is the first year that Andrist and Bill will serve as head coaches. Andrist is looking forward to working with Bill, who had a decorated tenure as a water polo athlete in the NCAA.
Andrist has been an assistant coach for two seasons.
The Eels, who won five straight provincial championships from 2015-2019, didn’t have a season last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But at least the kids are swimming this year, Andrist said, and they can have a season in which they build their skills.
This year they have 35-40 swimmers. For the first few weeks of the season, the Eels will have to split the swimmers into groups of eight for practices.
“They don’t get to swim every day. We’re alternating due to the COVID regulations,” said Andrist.
Provincial restrictions for sports could ease up next month, but it’s not known how that would affect the Eels. If restrictions are lessoned, that could create more time for swimmers to be in the pool, which would be good for the older athletes and the swimmers looking to make big improvements.
Keeping the club fun for kids will also be a priority this season.
“It will be harder to get them more motivated, so we’re looking at more drills and more stuff, and trying to even do competitions just within their groups,” said Andrist.
The kids are excited to be back in the water. Most of them haven’t been able to swim for over a year. Some of them were joking about how out of shape they were.
“I think it’s good for their mental health, too. Just to have an outlet. Being cooped in the house is hard sometimes, so I think it’s really good they are able to go to the pool now,” said Andrist.
It’s disappointing not to have a competitive season, especially with how good the Eels have been for nearly a decade. But it’s understandable, and Andrist said the club’s top priority is the safety of the members.
“I think it creates new opportunities and new ways to modify and change our club. I think it will be a cool year.”
And she hopes the Eels can start competing against the best in the province again next year.
The Eels practice five days a week from 4-6 p.m. at the RM of Estevan Aquatic Centre.
