The Town of Cochrane Water Ninjas rocked the boat at the Lifesaving Society Alberta and Northwest Territories Provincial Championship at the University of Lethbridge March 18.
The 11-team tournament brought together lifeguard sports enthusiasts from all across the province in a bid for them to show off their skills against the best of the best. The Water Ninjas did themselves proud despite having far fewer members than any of the other competing organizations.
The competition tests ability in a variety of lifeguard-related skills.
“We placed eighth out of the 11 teams that competed,” said Water Ninjas co-head coach John Napier. “We brought 19 swimmers, while some of the other clubs had 40 to 50.
“So, we did really well all things considered.”
Nine of the team’s swimmers – Alexa Church, Brady Church, Erika Fisher, Ava and Sophie Greidanus, Camryn Guthrie, Grace Hansen, Medina Javier, and Kevin Knopf – recorded personal best times in numerous events.
Alexa won bronze in both the girls (ages 10 and 11) 50 Manikin Tow with Fins and 50 Manikin Carry with Fins categories, as well as gold in the girls (ages 10 and 11) 16 Line Throw with partner Ava Greidanus.
Joel Smyke, Levi Schmidtke, Gavin Shklanka, and Brady captured bronze in the boys (ages 14 and 15) 100 Manikin Relay, while Shklanka, Brady, Schmidtke, and Knopf bagged silver in the boys (ages 14 and 15) 200 Obstacle Relay.
“We do around four competitions a year, and this was the wrap-up to our season, since none of our kids are old enough to compete at the national level,” Napier said. “It was a good way to end the competitive year.”
The Water Ninjas have come a long way in the four years they have been in existence.
Operating out of the Big Hill Leisure Pool, the municipally run group has grown in size and stature since it started out with just eight members and the goal of teaching kids lifeguard skills, and becoming part of the pool staff.
Lifeguards have been training for more than 60 years, and while the production of properly trained guards is still the main aspect of the program, competitive events have added an extra element of fun.
“We started competing three years ago, and allow kids to start at the age of eight,” Napier said. “In terms of the people and age groups, the sky is the limit, people as old as me can compete, but right now our oldest competitor in our 25-strong group is 15-years-old.”
What does the future hold in store for the organization?
“Right now we have managed to squeeze in 25 members in our small pool, but we have a waiting list of 28 people,” Napier said.
“Hopefully when the new pool opens up in a year, we can get enough space to accommodate all the extra swimmers and the increased demand for the program.”
