​Kincardine Kippers wrap up season with swim meet, awards dinner

The Kincardine Kippers Swim Team competed at five swim meets this session, with teams from Fergus and Woolwich.

The competitions were held June 11 in Fergus, June 25 in Kincardine, July 9 in Woolwich (semi-finals), and July 23 in Wilmot (finals).

Although Kincardine’s team was the smallest (seven boys and 11 girls), at the finals, held at the Wilmot Recreation Complex in Baden, Kincardine’s swimmers did amazingly well.

8 and Under Boys:
 

• Myles Fraser placed 1st in Freestyle, Backstroke and Breaststroke, 3rd in the 11 and 12 Freestyle Relay and 3rd in the 9 and 10 Medley Relay. He was awarded the Gold Medal for this age group.
• Blake Devitt placed 2nd in Freestyle, Backstroke and Breaststroke, and 3rd in the 11 and 12 Freestyle Relay. Blake was awarded the Silver Medal for this age group.

8 and Under Girls:
 

• Unfortunately, Kincardine had no girls entered in this age group.

9 and 10 Boys:
 

• Malcolm Scott placed 2nd in Freestyle and Backstroke, 3rd in the Butterfly, 3rd in the 11 and 12 Freestyle Relay and 3rd in the 9 and 10 Medley Relay. Malcolm was awarded the Silver Medal for this age group.
• William Murphy placed 4th in Freestyle, 2nd in the Breaststroke and in the Butterfly, 3rd in the 11 and 12 Freestyle Relay and 3rd in the 9 and 10 Medley Relay. William was awarded the Bronze Medal for this age group.

9 and 10 Girls:
 

• Asha Hamann finished off an outstanding season, placing 1st in the Individual Medley, Freestyle, Butterfly, 9 and 10 Freestyle Relay and the 9 and 10 Medley Relay. Asha was awarded the Gold Medal for this age group.
• Laylah King placed 4th in the Backstroke, 1st in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke events, 1st in the 9 and 10 Freestyle Relay and the 9 and 10 Medley Relay. Laylah was awarded the Silver Medal for this age group.
• Harmony Shute placed 1st in the Backstroke, 2nd in the Breaststroke, 2nd in the Butterfly, 1st in the 9 and 10 Freestyle Relay and the 9 and 10 Medley Relay. Harmony also was awarded the Silver Medal for this age group.
• Madeline Hunter placed 6th in the Freestyle, Backstroke, and Breaststroke events, 1st in the 9 and 10 Freestyle Relay and the 9 and 10 Medley Relay.

11 and 12 Boys:
 

• Tommy Scott placed 1st in the Freestyle and Backstroke, and 2nd in the Butterfly, 1st in the 11 and 12 Medley Relay and 3rd in the 11 and 12 Freestyle Relay. Tommy was awarded the Gold Medal for this age group.
• Oscar Weerasinghe placed 5th in the Freestyle, 1st in the Breaststroke, and 3rd in the 11 and 12 Medley Relay.

11 and 12 Girls:
 

• Bryna Devitt placed 8th in the Freestyle and Breaststroke, and 1st in the 11 and 12 Medley Relay and 3rd in the 11 and 12 Freestyle Relay.
• Audrey Kernighan placed 2nd in the 50m and100m Breaststroke events, 1st in the 11 and 12 Medley Relay and 3rd in the 11 and 12 Freestyle Relay.
• Sloan Murphy placed 7th in the Freestyle, 2nd in the Backstroke, 3rd in the Breaststroke, 1st in the 11 and 12 Medley Relay and 3rd in the 11 and 12 Freestyle Relay.

13 and 14 Boys:
 

• Unfortunately, Kincardine had no boys entered in this age group.

13 and 14 Girls:
 

• Adelaide Boettinger placed 4th in the Backstroke and 5th in the Breaststroke, 3rd in the Open Medley Relay and in the Open Freestyle Relay.
• Kendra Newton placed 5th in the Backstroke, 8th in the Breaststroke, 3rd in the Open Medley Relay and in the Open Freestyle Relay.

Open Boys:
 

• Unfortunately, Kincardine had no boys entered in this age group.

Open Girls:
 

• Natalie Newton placed 1st in the Individual Medley, 3rd in the Freestyle, 2nd in the Breaststroke, 3rd in the Open Medley Relay and in the Open Freestyle Relay. Natalie was awarded the Silver Medal for this age group.
• Brenna Hegmans placed, 2nd in the Freestyle, 1st in the Backstroke, 3rd in the Breaststroke, 3rd in the Open Medley Relay and in the Open Freestyle Relay. Brenna also was awarded the Silver Medal for this age group.

The Kippers season would not have been possible without volunteers. Every swim meet required parents to volunteer as timers, runners and judges. During this season, most of the swim coaches were volunteers as well.

Tuesday, July 26, the Kincardine Kippers celebrated the end of their 2022 swim season with a family swim, potluck supper and awards ceremony. The executive, president David Kohut and treasurer Mike Specht, thanked all of the volunteers for another successful year.

Head Coaches: Joe Casciano and Ken Corbett

Assistant coaches: Brent Urie, David Kohut, Heather Boettinger, Vy Waller and Colleen Shute

As well, the following special awards, were presented:

B.A. Eggleton Award (for the boy and girl who have shown team spirit and sportsmanship, chosen by the Kippers swimmers. Swimmers can win this award only once – Malcolm Scott and Adelaide Boettinger

Peter Dingle Award (for the boy and girl who have shown team spirit and sportsmanship, chosen by the Kippers coaches Swimmers can win this award only once – Tommy Scott and Brenna Hegmans

Beta Sigma Phi Award for Most Improved Swimmer (for the boy and girl who have shown most improvement, chosen by the Kippers coaches – Oscar Weerasinghe and Natalie Newton

Emma Johnstone Memorial Award - Love of Swimming (for the swimmer who demonstrates those special qualities like Emma did, chosen by the Kippers coaches – Madeline Hunter

The Kippers coaches will be meeting soon to begin plotting Kippers strategy for the next competitive season. They have a number of ideas to improve the quality of coaching and with the support of the team members and their parents/guardians, they expect to have an even better season next year.

Kippers Winter Session will start in mid-January, 2023, running through to March. The Spring/Summer competitive session will start in mid-April, running through to the end of July. Stay tuned to local media announcing registration as well as the Kincardine Kippers website and Facebook page.



The Kincardine Kippers and their coaches gather for a photo at the awards ceremony, July 26; photo courtesy of David Kohut