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Local swim team adjusting to new precautions while getting back in the pool

After roughly four months out of the pool, the Sault Surge are returning to some familiar training methods with some precautions mixed in as well
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With the John Rhodes Community Centre opening, the Sault Surge Aquatic Team is getting back into the water to train.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the team to put training on hold for roughly 17 weeks, meant the team needed different ways to train.

Among those were walking, running, and bike riding.

The team put together a virtual cross-country challenge, recording their distances and comparing it to the distance of the Trans-Canada Highway. The team put together over 6,700 km as part of the challenge.

The return to training at the John Rhodes pool has meant some changes to their approach.

Among the precautions in place are detailed entry and exit instructions, screening questions and temperature checks, lane assignments, and masks.

Earlier this summer, the team took the opportunity to honour its swimmers in a virtual awards night.

Among the award winners for the 2019-20 season were:

  • Ella Rocca, Ethan Haas, Raili Kary, and Alec Seccareccia – Junior and Senior Outstanding Performance Awards
  • Georgia Burns, Andrew Li, Haley MacFarlane, and Will Banton – Junior and Senior Most Improved Awards
  • Alex Bravener and Cam Hutton – Junior and Senior Dr. Hui Lee Memorial Spirit Awards
  • Oliver Bennetto – Nancy Mancuso Memorial Award
  • Lauren Bowden – Coach’s Award
  • Liana Seccareccia and Greg Hutton – Bob Dumanski Memorial Volunteers of the Year Awards
  • Emma Vallee, David Lloyd, Sophia Li, Jasper Tchir, Brie Reid, Alexander Orazietti, Emma Broadbent, and Ethan Murphy – PULSE Awards (Perseverance, Upgrowth, Leadership, Sportsmanship, Enthusiasm)

The team also honoured its graduating swimmers. Among them were:

  • Paige Banton (St. Mary’s College), who is heading to Marshall University on a swimming scholarship
  • Julie Delorme (St. Mary’s College), who is going to Nipissing University
  • Elisa Dumanski (Korah), who is going to Queen’s University
  • Raili Kary (St. Mary’s College), who is going to the University of Toronto on a swimming scholarship
  • Riley Reid (Superior Heights), who is going to Sault College
  • Olivia Starzomski (Superior Heights), who is going to Michigan State University on a swimming scholarship

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