Two local swimmers making big waves for Sault Surge

To say that the young members of the Sault Surge Aquatic Team are dedicated would be an understatement.

Andrew Li and Brie Reid — two 14-year-old Surge swimmers — practice at the John Rhodes Community Centre Pool nine times a week.

Morning practices for the two start at 5:45 a.m. before they put in a full day at school, followed by after school evening practices.

That hard work has produced excellent results for Li and Reid in numerous swimming competitions.

“I’ve been swimming pretty much since I was able to walk,” said Li, a Grade 9 Korah Collegiate student speaking to SooToday.

He has been a competitive swimmer with the Surge since he was six years old.

Most recently, Li set a club record in the Boys 13-14 age category in the 400 metre individual medley — a medley including butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle — with a time of 5:41.63 at the Markham Winter Invitational in Markham, Ontario during the weekend of Jan. 20-21.

“Most of my medals have been gold with a few silvers and a bronze. Last time I counted it was over 100 medals,” he smiled.

“The sport, the pool, is my safe space. I forget about everything else and just focus on swimming whenever I’m at the pool. It feels really good to get in those morning practices before school. It gets me focused for the rest of the day,” Li said.

He said competitive swimming is a confidence booster for him and a way to build and maintain discipline and dedication.

“I’ve learned many life skills that I can apply to the rest of life, like time management, to know what to focus on, like school assignments. Swimming has helped me with my discipline. Waking up at five o’clock every morning’s not easy but I know it’s what I need to do.”

He added that his parents are very supportive of his goals in swimming.

“I’m hoping for a scholarship in the future. That’s my goal in swimming,” Li said.

Brie Reid has been a Surge swimmer since she was eight years old.

“A friend of mine was on the swim team and she said ‘you should join.’ I tried it and I loved it,” said the Grade 9 Superior Heights student.

Reid has won three silver medals and two bronze medals at provincial competitions.

She currently ranks number one in Ontario and number three in Canada for 14-year-old girls in the long course 100 metre breaststroke after competing at the Markham Winter Invitational during the weekend of Jan. 20-21.

Reid will be off to the 2024 Speedo Western Canadian Championships in Winnipeg March 21-24.

Breaststroke is Reid’s favourite stroke in the pool.

“It feels natural for me,” she said.

“I’ve always been a very athletic person. I like to be always moving and it’s a full body workout. I love competing. I’m a very competitive person.”

Like Li, Reid says competitive swimming has helped her develop her time management skills in other aspects of life.

She too wants to pursue a scholarship through competitive swimming.

“I’ve always had a way with water,” she smiled.

“They are a pleasure to coach. I want to make a contribution in their pursuits in swimming,” said Rod Thomas, Sault Surge Aquatic Team head coach.

“They stand out,” said Thomas of Li and Reid, though the Surge has approximately 100 talented swimmers ranging in age from seven to 18 years old.

“They are, right now, our Ontario Swimming Championships qualifiers. I’m hoping we can add a whole lot more and I think there are a lot more in the pipe but right now Andrew and Brie are at that level. Brie is knocking on the door of qualifying for Olympic trials.”

If all goes well, those trials for Reid will be held May 13-19 in Montreal.

A Kirkland Lake native, Thomas first served as Surge head coach in 2017-18 before taking on that leadership role again in August 2023.

He has worked as:

• Coach of Northeast Regional All Star Team 2002-2007
• Coach of Ontario Paralympic Winter Games Swim Team
• Coached Ontario Provincial medalists
• Coached athletes to Olympic Trials in 2004 and 2008
• Coached athletes that have accepted scholarships at CIS, NCAA Division I

He is a Canada Games double gold medalist (1989) and a two-time Olympic Trials qualifier.

“It’s been my passion,” Thomas said of swimming.

The next competition for swimmers Li, Reid, their Surge teammates and coach Thomas will be the Dave Kensit Memorial Regional Championship to be held at the John Rhodes Community Centre Pool Feb. 2-4.

The competition will include swimmers from across northeastern Ontario.

“The Sault Surge is like a family and these young swimmers develop pretty good habits through the sport in terms of eating well and exercising, which tend to fall by the wayside for some at that age. I feel really proud when I see some kids do something special in swimming. That’s what drives me, is to see kids come through and do some things that they probably never thought they were capable of doing,” Thomas said.

The Surge coach said it is especially rewarding for him to see swimmers go on to earn swimming scholarships at universities, do well and hopefully make return visits to inspire their hometown club.

“I’m looking forward to what Andrew and Brie will do at Kensit and beyond. It’s going to be a fun year,” Thomas said.