On January 27^th the Valley East Waves Swim Club will roll out the carpet for competitors from North Bay to Sault Ste. Marie during the North Eastern Ontario Regional Development Meet at the Recreation Centre. 

The meet is the only one to be held in Valley East this season and the members are hoping for excellent fan support as they try to qualify for the A & B Championships in February.

The races will be held between 12 noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 27, and will continue on Sunday, January 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Over 200 boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 17 will be competing, including about 25 from our very own Valley East Waves Swim Club. They will be coming from swim clubs in North Bay, Sturgeon Falls, Sudbury’s Laurentian Swim Club, Espanola, Elliot Lake, Sault Ste. Marie, and, of course, Valley East.

Admission is free and Head Coach, Sharon Leger is hoping for a standing room only crowd. “It always means a lot to the kids to see that the stands are filled with their family and friends cheering them on as they try to exceed their personal best. This is their ‘home pool’ and they always seem to swim faster at home.”

During a swim meet held in Sault Ste. Marie earlier in the season, Gillian Russell and Megan Villeneuve were co-winners of the high point trophy for their age group. In addition, Karly Roberts won it in hers and Jamie Ellerton was runner up in the Boys 13-14 A group. Three other swimmers, Steven McAnulty, Stephanie Aubin and Josee Pilon had perfect meets, all achieving personal bests in all their events. These swimmers, plus the rest of their team mates will be heading up the local contingent in the Regionals.

The meet will be followed shortly thereafter by the Junior Waves Program Try-outs on February 3. Boys and girls between the ages of five and 11 are invited to attend the tryouts between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.. This is the development program for the competitive segment of the Valley East Waves. While in the Junior Waves, children are taught the skills necessary to move up to competition. There are currently a total of approximately 60 members in the Valley East Waves with about half of that in the Junior Waves Program.