Seven young swimmers from the Greenwood Dolphins Swim Club returned home at the end of March break with more than just race results: they brought back confidence, friendships and memories that will last far beyond the pool deck.
Swim N.S. offers a Developmental Provincial Tour Team to all 11-14-year-old registered swimmers that meet the qualifying standards. The intent is to help build athlete independence, a cohesive team unit as Team Nova Scotia, and to allow development swimmers the opportunity to travel outside of Nova Scotia. Summer Nadeau, Dana Larson, Hunter Valkenier, Garnet Maxwell, Petra Spicer, Elise Kelly and Carl Sokolov, representing the Greenwood Dolphins; all traveled to Maine – an experience that pushed them outside their comfort zones and gave them a taste of competition on a larger stage.
“I was nervous at the start of the trip, not knowing what to expect,” said Nadeau. “But, as the days went by, I grew more confident and, by the time I was coming home, I was really excited about everything I had achieved.”
Valkenier was looking forward to independence: “When leaving for Maine, I was excited to go to a new country and to have no parents around. I was looking forward to being with my friends, and excited to swim in a new pool.”
Second-year participant Larson described the anticipation differently.
“I was really excited to go! I was looking forward to getting to experience Maine again.” Still, the return home came with mixed feelings. “It was bittersweet going home, as I made so many friends and had great experiences there.”
In the pool, personal bests and strong finishes highlighted the week, with athletes returning with multiple podium medals, top-eight finisher ribbons and a shared sense of growth among the team.
Coming from a smaller club environment, the chance to be part of a larger provincial team left a lasting impression.
“It was nice to be able to have lots of friends cheering me on, and vice versa,” said Larson. From Valkenier: “The best was winning bronze, and the whole team cheering me on during the whole thing.”
That sense of connection and support is something these swimmers hope future participants will embrace. Their advice to next year’s team is simple: don’t let nerves take over. As athletes settle back into their routines in Nova Scotia, they carry with them not only improved times and race experience, but also a deeper sense of independence and belonging within the sport. For a group that started the trip unsure of what to expect, they returned home as more confident competitors – and teammates.
