Established in 2019, the Aldergrove Sea Monkeys Aquatic Club is the new kid on the block, or at least in this region.
Despite this relative newness, the club鈥檚 head coach Katie Davidson is seeing great things now and for the future.
The competitive swim club is one of eight from the Fraser Valley region of 黑马磁力 to Hope.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still considered a very new club. We started out with eight swimmers back in 2019. We鈥檙e at over a hundred swimmers. We鈥檙e very happy with where our registration is at. We鈥檇 love to have more,鈥� said Davidson, who's been with the Sea Monkeys since August 2020.
The club operates year-round, though summer is the busy season, and still has openings for the second summer session in the Micro Monkey, introduction to competitive, and developmental groups.
Micro Monkeys are swimmers ages five to 10 who have been assessed by a Sea Monkeys coach; introduction to competitive is for those ages five to 12 who have completed Swimmer 1; and developmental is an entry-level competitive program for those ages seven to 15.
Fall and winter seasons are considered 鈥渕aintenance鈥� times, according to Davidson, when swimmers participate at reduced hours to stay in shape for the spring when things ramp up again.
鈥淚 started volunteering since the beginning of 2020, and I became a coach in August of 2020,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love how supportive everyone is. It鈥檚 just such an awesome community. It鈥檚 a lot of fun.鈥�
The club was established by people passionate about swimming and the community and by people who wanted to bring a competitive swim club to Aldergrove.
The Aldergrove Community Centre pool serves as the club鈥檚 home base, but recent maintenance on the lap pool has caused logistical challenges.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a bit more of a chaotic summer, but I鈥檝e been really proud of the club and how they鈥檝e come together,鈥� Davidson said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e managed to keep it positive and keep it fun.鈥�
Junior swimmers have been able to continue their swims in the leisure pool, but the more advanced swimmers are swimming out of W.C. Blair Recreation Centre in Murrayville.
鈥淥ur club focuses on being fun and engaging while helping the swimmers grow their swim skills 鈥� while growing their confidence both within and outside of the water,鈥� she said.
The youngest swimmer in the club is four, while the oldest 鈥� in the masters program for those aged 18 and up 鈥� is about 40.
鈥淥ur whole program is about getting the whole family in the water,鈥� Davidson said. 鈥淲e just believe in getting the whole family involved.鈥�
Some of the club community vibe comes into play during year-round fundraisers. Baked goods sales are common, and those involved in the club can be found raising funds in a variety of other ways as well.
There鈥檚 also a swim-a-thon.
鈥淥ne of the big ones we like to do is a swim-a-thon,鈥� Davidson elaborated. 鈥淭he swimmers are basically challenged to see how many laps they can swim in an hour and pledges are given to them if they reach a certain number of laps.鈥�
Those practice laps in the fundraiser will come in handy as club members participate in swim meets and work to qualify for provincial-level meets.
Despite being a new club 鈥� which is smaller than most others 鈥� there have been a few swimmers to qualify for provincials each year. They need to finish in the top three in their events in order to qualify and go on to compete at the provincial level.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not an easy feat,鈥� she said of qualifying.
鈥淚鈥檓 very proud that we鈥檝e had a few each year. The larger clubs, a lot of those kids have been swimming at those clubs since they were really little. Some of our kids at 15 or 16, they鈥檝e been swimming with us since they were 10, so the fact that they are getting to qualifying for provincials is a really special thing.鈥�
The club got its first provincial medal in 2023. She feels there are lots of opportunities for more medals ahead, though she doesn鈥檛 want to name names.
鈥淵ou never know how the season is going to progress,鈥� Davidson added. "And I don鈥檛 like to put that pressure on people. There are quite a few swimmers I鈥檓 keeping my eye on for making it to provincials this year.鈥�
Provincials are open to competitive swimmers aged six and up.
The club has a volunteer-run board and there are eight coaches in total. Davidson oversees program development and the coaches and their development.
