| The
following is an excerpt from
information sent to Swim Ontario by Jean Hudacin, Publicity
Chairman,
Ernestown Barracuda Swim Club.At the end of
March, the Ernestown
Barracuda Swim Club celebrated its 10th anniversary. It was 10 years
ago that
Jim Norris and Glenn Goodman, and a handful of enthusiastic
parents got
together and made a commitment to competitive swimming in the Ernestown
area.
The first team consisted of 17 swimmers. (This year the club is at
capacity
with 60 swimmers.) The accomplishments of the club in the intervening 10 years has been unprecedented. In the history of swimming in Ontario, the Barracudas are the only club ever to climb the ladder through all three divisions to team championship. Over the last 10 years, many a coach or team member (from other teams, of course) doubted the ability of such a small club, training from such meager facilities. Many doubted Ernestown's ability to compete with the larger, more affluent teams. The swimmers, parents, and coaches have proven that through dedication and hard work, a team can produce. As a team, the Barracudas have moved through the divisions. As individuals, the club now boasts 3 current provincial records, and one national record. It has national qualifiers and youth national qualifiers. In each of the past 3 years, Ernestown has qualified one third of their swimmers to swim in the Ontario Age Group Championships. This meet is designed with stiff qualifying times, to attract only 5% of the swimmers in Ontario.At the A Team Championships in the 89-90 season, the Barracudas finished 11th in a field of 15 teams. Not as good as they had hoped, but they have rebounded from much worse. In the preceding 10 years, they have continued to accept a challenge, and this is but another. The swimmers and coaches have accepted the challenge. They'll be back. By the way, if you haven't guessed by now, let me tell you in the words of the coaching staff, "you ain't seen nothing yet!" The parents and friends of the Ernestown Barracuda Swim Club would like to boast of their swimmers and their coaches. Not only do they recruit and develop their own swimmers, but they recruit and develop their own coaches. The loyalty and dedication of the coaching staff is as remarkable as the talent of these young swimmers. I am proud to be a parent of three competitive swimmers.
lam prouder yet to be
a
Barracuda.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!! |