Another thought I’ve had of late stems from a conversation with Ryan Hood at the Owen Sound Aquatic Club.
In early March, a handful of swimmers from St Mary’s High School in the city earned the right to compete at the OFSAA Championship which really presents the best of both worlds; they get to compete at a sport they do well, and 2) they get to represent their school
In our conversation, Ryan was enthused about the potential of school swim meets at the Y & Julie McArthur Rec Centre, in fact, with extra curricular’s being more possible in the future than the recent past, he’s of the opinion a school swim team at West Hill is a distinct possibility and believes an OSCVI entry would make for a terrific annual meet.
In my imagination, I’d take it one step further and see if an Owen Sound Elementary Meet or a regional swim meet of elementary students isn’t also a possibility.
Sure, swimmers in swim programs would have the advantage, but it would be no different than track & field or cross country where generally, the club athlete is most likely to win the race.
Still, an elementary swim meet in Owen Sound would also serve a dual purpose, exposing youngsters to competitive swimming, allowing the Aquatic Club to conceivably identify a youngster who may have otherwise slipped through the cracks, plus an annual sporting festival would be a great highlight on a school calendar
I’m Fred Wallace