Summer swim club starts up

By SEAN ROONEY on April 20, 2019.

The Medicine Hat Manta Rays are reviving the concept of a summer swim club in the city.

Five years after the Hurricanes last operated, a group of coaches led by Glen Mori have started up the Rays. They aim to be an introductory competitive club for young athletes not ready for the full winter seasons of the local Medicine Hat Waves and Alberta Marlin Aquatic Club.

“We just felt that it was a great entity for kids to kind of learn competitive swimming at a real novice and grassroots level,” said Mori, known in local coaching circles for his work with Hat High’s track and cross country running teams. “If they really wanted to transition into a year-round club, we have two phenomenal clubs there that they can choose to go in to.”

Mori grew up swimming in Ontario and captained the University of Lethbridge’s team in the early 2000’s before moving into coaching. He and wife Tonya, herself a Rays coach, have three children under the age of eight who are the obvious impetus for starting the club.

“Right now we’re probably at about 30 for the first year, which is right where we want to be,” said Glen of how many athletes are part of the Rays so far. “We’re hoping in about three years we get to that 80 to 100 marker, that’s what the summer club was before.”

The Rays also have ex-AMAC coach Blair Hughes, former Brigham Young University swimmer Nikki Johansen and ex-Waves member-turned-coach Ashley Thompson rounding out their coaching staff.

The Hurricanes used to swim out of Hill Pool, while the Manta Rays are at the Family Leisure Centre for now so that weather isn’t a factor in their training. Their first meet is set for June 15 in Taber, followed by the Southern Alberta Summer Games in Pincher Creek in July, then other meets leadingn up to provincials in August in Edmonton.

For more information visit the club’s website at https://sites.google.com/view/medicinehatsummerswimclub or email medicinehatsummerswimclub@gmail.com.