The Moose Jaw Flying Fins have been busy the last couple of months preparing, training and competing in a number of competitions.
The team sent over 30 swimmers to four different meets around the area and many finished with personal bests and strong showings in all their performances.
In early March, the Fins sent five swimmers — Jay and Joyce Arends, Lauran Armbruster, Gary Cong and Richard Tipper to the Man/Sask swim meet in Winnipeg, MB with over 500 swimmers from four different provinces.
“It was high technical meet. It was a big meet and the swimmers were able to compete against other swimmers from Ontario and B.C. and Alberta…it was a great experience,” said Monty Smith, head coach for the Fins. “Watching these swimmers push themselves and producing top performance swims, I can’t wait to see these swimmers and more compete at the long course Man/Sask meet this summer.”
At the end of March, Lauran Armbruster and Smith went to the Prospect West Swim Camp in Montreal. While Armbruster trained twice a day with the other prospects, Smith was also learning and speaking with other coaches about techniques. Both were able to watch the Olympic trials that were happening during that time as well, which was “a great opportunity.”.
“It was a great learning experience for her as an athlete and me as a coach,” Smith said. “We got to see Ryan Cochrane and Scott Dickens…all these swimmers that made the Canadian team.”
With only five coaches from Saskatchewan that were invited to the meet, Smith was able to talk with a lot of other coaches and see what they are working on and what teaching techniques they use with their respective clubs.
“As a coach, I got to see what our kids are working on is also going on across Canada,” said Smith.
For more on this story, read an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
