The Weyburn Synchro Stars received a donation from the Weyburn Young Fellows on December 4th, which the recreational and competitive swimming club will put the funds towards their pool fees.

“It costs us about $2,000 a month for pool fees, so the donation of the Young Fellows is just a one-time $2,000 donation, but that will go in towards our general revenue funds, and just to give you an idea of what that could cover for us, it covers our pool fees for a month,” explained Abby Kradovill, Fundraising Co-Ordinator for the Weyburn Synchro Stars executive board.

Pool fees for their 23 swimmers, as well as other expenses, are covered entirely through donations such as this, as well as through different events hosted by the swimming club throughout the year. They have held colour runs, pasta fundraisers and other events including water shows.

This September, the swim club hosted a Drive-In Cinema Under The Stars, which received an excellent response from the community.

“It was so great to see so many people in the community come out and check out the drive-in,” she said. “We received a hugely positive response and lots of great feedback.”

It was a risk for the group to put on the drive-in movie, but Kradovill said it was worth it in the end.

“It’s a kind of a leap of faith to bring in the drive-in, because it’s an expensive operation to have come, especially with that big screen that comes from Alberta,” she explained. “But it was great and we’re going to do it again.”

“We will be doing the Drive-In in September again, and that will be our fundraiser for the next year.”

Since the drive-in did help them meet their fundraising goals, it has also enabled the group to focus on only one water show per year for the public. They have often performed two water shows per year.

“We’re not doing a winter show,” she said. “With our new rec program, we’re kind of focusing more on skills, and the development of the figures.”

The other reason for this decision is that the swimmers have only learned half of their routine in the winter.

“We felt like it was always kind of a stress for athletes and coaches to get more done just for the water show, and so we’re just focusing on our spring water show, where they can showcase their entire routine, kind of perfected, and hopefully just have a large crowd for that,” she said. “We’re hoping to just have our spring water show.”

Weyburn Synchro Stars’ new recreational program, which enables swimmers to try out and train in the skills in shorter-term sessions, began this fall.

“It’s been going really well,” Kradovill said. “Instead of doing a full year, or doing it in two half-years, we have four sessions, and so it allows maybe some of those athletes who are doing other sports, or that don’t fit to have the whole year to go in, they can come to any session throughout.”

She said the recreational synchro swimmers are placed in the proper program for their skill level, and as they progress, they move on throughout those levels.

“It’s to give the basic concept of synchronized swimming, but then they’re also integrating the science of athlete development, swimming, stroking, and then strength and flexibility within that.”

Not everybody is ready to do competitive synchronized swimming, so the recreational program prepares them for the competitive stream.

One session has been completed, one is wrapping up this week, and then in January a new session will begin. Click HERE for more from Discover Weyburn Sports on the new WSS recreational synchronized swimming program.

Kradovill said any skill level, age and gender is welcome.

“It’s known as more of a female sport, but there are some great men in the sport as well, and we would love to have some males join our team,” she said.

Click HERE more information on becoming involved with the swim club.

The Weyburn Synchro Stars at practice last month (photo by Marna McManus).

The Weyburn Synchro Stars at practice last month (photo by Marna McManus).