On Dec. 5, 17-year-old Benjamin Henger was one of seven Nova Scotia swimmers to compete for Wolfville and Nova Scotia at an Ontario Junior International Meet in Toronto.
Henger had ”an awesome meet,” recording five new personal best times, Milward said.
The Hants County resident had new PBs in 100 backstroke and 200 IM (improving his previous best in the 200 IM by 7.35 seconds), made finals in 100 butterfly and 200 backstroke, and also swam in three relays.
“The first day was a little rough mentally, but I was able to refocus for the final two days,” Henger said Dec. 15.
The presence of “the British junior national team and a couple of swimmers from the U.S.” made it a true international competition.
“I had lots of fun, and it was great getting to swim relays with the best swimmers in Nova Scotia,” he added.
Following the competition, all the swimmers got to take part in a day-and-a-half training camp.
Henger will be eligible to attend the same meet in a year’s time, but he will be in university by then “and my schedule may not allow me to go.”
In Grade 12 this year, Henger said he is “still deciding” about university, and “keeping my options open.”
One factor in his decision may be that his older brother Patrick is already swimming for Acadia.
Strong meets
Also Dec. 5, a Novatec 2 South meet was held in Wolfville, with Yarmouth, Clare and Greenwood joining the host Tritons in a four-team field.
The Tritons’ Novatec group, which Milward described as less experienced novice swimmers still learning to compete, combined for 50 new personal best times.
Individually, Sykora Cooper placed first in 50 back and 200 IM, while Olivia Williams was first in 100 IM and Tyler Hutchinson was first in 50 back.
Other Wolfville swimmers turning in top-three finishes included Nedas Bent, Aydin Nembert, Olivia Keddy and Bailey Stokes. Ashlynn Clarke had a pair of first-place swims for Greenwood.
On Dec. 11, the Tritons and Greenwood Dolphins were among the swim clubs attending the Candy Cane Invitational in Truro.
This time, Milward said, the Wolfville contingent of 17 swimmers combined for 98 new personal best times.
Ava Vial, Matthew Bent and Bo Stokesbury-Price had the best individual results. Vial was first in 50 free, 100 and 200 breast and 200 IM and third in 200 and 400 free.
Bent was first in 200 ’fly and 400 free and second in 50 free, 50 ‘fly and 200 and 400 IM. Stokesbury-Price was first in 800 free, second in 50 breast, third in 400 free and 200 IM and fourth in 50 and 200 ’fly.
Bent, Stokesbury-Price, Daniel Jurt and Gabriel Graves teamed up to place third in both the 4x50 freestyle and medley relays.
Among the top Greenwood swimmers at the Candy Cane meet was Raphaella Syzek, who was first in 100 and 200 free and 50 and 100 back, and second in 50 and 400 free. Abby Shears was first in 1,500 free and second in 50 and 200 back and 100 and 200 ’fly.
Milward said all the Wolfville swimmers “have been working very hard” and deserved all the top results and best times they recorded at all the meets.
“They’re beginning to gel,” she said. “I’m a new coach for them. I’m beginning to get to know them, and they’re beginning to trust me.”
In Truro, the 17 Tritons “did exactly what I was looking for” and were rewarded for it. “We’re a really happy club right now, with all kinds of happy swimmers.”
On Dec. 5, 17-year-old Benjamin Henger was one of seven Nova Scotia swimmers to compete for Wolfville and Nova Scotia at an Ontario Junior International Meet in Toronto.
Henger had ”an awesome meet,” recording five new personal best times, Milward said.
The Hants County resident had new PBs in 100 backstroke and 200 IM (improving his previous best in the 200 IM by 7.35 seconds), made finals in 100 butterfly and 200 backstroke, and also swam in three relays.
“The first day was a little rough mentally, but I was able to refocus for the final two days,” Henger said Dec. 15.
The presence of “the British junior national team and a couple of swimmers from the U.S.” made it a true international competition.
“I had lots of fun, and it was great getting to swim relays with the best swimmers in Nova Scotia,” he added.
Following the competition, all the swimmers got to take part in a day-and-a-half training camp.
Henger will be eligible to attend the same meet in a year’s time, but he will be in university by then “and my schedule may not allow me to go.”
In Grade 12 this year, Henger said he is “still deciding” about university, and “keeping my options open.”
One factor in his decision may be that his older brother Patrick is already swimming for Acadia.
Strong meets
Also Dec. 5, a Novatec 2 South meet was held in Wolfville, with Yarmouth, Clare and Greenwood joining the host Tritons in a four-team field.
The Tritons’ Novatec group, which Milward described as less experienced novice swimmers still learning to compete, combined for 50 new personal best times.
Individually, Sykora Cooper placed first in 50 back and 200 IM, while Olivia Williams was first in 100 IM and Tyler Hutchinson was first in 50 back.
Other Wolfville swimmers turning in top-three finishes included Nedas Bent, Aydin Nembert, Olivia Keddy and Bailey Stokes. Ashlynn Clarke had a pair of first-place swims for Greenwood.
On Dec. 11, the Tritons and Greenwood Dolphins were among the swim clubs attending the Candy Cane Invitational in Truro.
This time, Milward said, the Wolfville contingent of 17 swimmers combined for 98 new personal best times.
Ava Vial, Matthew Bent and Bo Stokesbury-Price had the best individual results. Vial was first in 50 free, 100 and 200 breast and 200 IM and third in 200 and 400 free.
Bent was first in 200 ’fly and 400 free and second in 50 free, 50 ‘fly and 200 and 400 IM. Stokesbury-Price was first in 800 free, second in 50 breast, third in 400 free and 200 IM and fourth in 50 and 200 ’fly.
Bent, Stokesbury-Price, Daniel Jurt and Gabriel Graves teamed up to place third in both the 4x50 freestyle and medley relays.
Among the top Greenwood swimmers at the Candy Cane meet was Raphaella Syzek, who was first in 100 and 200 free and 50 and 100 back, and second in 50 and 400 free. Abby Shears was first in 1,500 free and second in 50 and 200 back and 100 and 200 ’fly.
Milward said all the Wolfville swimmers “have been working very hard” and deserved all the top results and best times they recorded at all the meets.
“They’re beginning to gel,” she said. “I’m a new coach for them. I’m beginning to get to know them, and they’re beginning to trust me.”
In Truro, the 17 Tritons “did exactly what I was looking for” and were rewarded for it. “We’re a really happy club right now, with all kinds of happy swimmers.”
