By Dan Plouffe
March’s Ontario east regionals at the Nepean Sportsplex provided the kick-off for what will be a very busy 2013 synchronized swimming competition season locally. Ottawa will welcome some of the province and country’s best athletes in two more major events later this spring.
“It’s nice to have it near home instead of going somewhere to a new pool,” notes Gloucester Synchro Club swimmer Deanna Masur.
Masur’s age 13-15 team won gold in their east regionals division ahead of a pair of Nepean teams.
“I was really happy. My whole team was. We were cheering and jumping around,” recounts the Grade 9 St. Peter Catholic High School student who trains 14 hours a week with her teammates. “We’re like one huge family. We spend a lot of time together, so it’s good that we get along really well.”
It was a standout competition for the event’s host club, as Gloucester earned gold in the age 16-20 team competition (followed by Nepean and Ottawa), topped the 10 & under team event and took silver behind Durham in age 11-12.
“It’s really sweet,” smiles Genna McBain, Gloucester co-head coach along with Chandra Costello. “The girls worked really hard, and it’s awesome to see it applied come competition. That’s the hard part. You get the nerves and the adrenaline and you have to keep that focus. They did a fabulous job.”
Local synchro talent will again take centre stage at the Nepean Sportsplex from May 22-26 for Synchro Ontario’s age group provincials, hosted by the Nepean Synchro Club. And the next weekend, Gloucester will take the organizational lead for the May 29-June 2 Canadian espoir championships/age 13-15 national team trials, again at the Sportsplex.
While Gloucester won’t enter any teams in that event, a few alumni who have moved elsewhere to chase the higher levels of the sport should be in the field.
“It’s an amazing opportunity,” highlights McBain, thanking parent volunteers for the crucial role they play. “It’s a great way to end the season for the girls to be able to come and see the best in our country.”