Eight members of Drumheller’s local swim club, the Canadian Badlands Aquatic Club (CBAC), competed in the Killarney Swim Club Invitational in Calgary on November 19 and 20, 2022.
Coach Morgan Syversten took four swimmers to the meet, ranging in age from 13 - 16. Grady McGougan, 16, competed in six events. He had improved times in 100 m Freestyle, 50 m Butterfly, 50 m Freestyle, 100 m Breaststroke, and 50 m Backstroke. He made the finals in the 50 m Backstroke event and improved his time again, swimming 34.55 and placing seventh overall. He also swam 50
Breaststroke.
Marlee McGougan, 13, swam in six events - 50 m Freestyle, 100 m Freestyle, 50 m Backstroke, 50 m Breaststroke, 100 m Breaststroke, and 50 m Butterfly. She achieved improved times in 100 m Breaststroke, 100 m Freestyle, 50 m Breaststroke, and 50 m Butterfly.
Kennedy Holmen, 14, swam 3 improved times - 100 m Freestyle, 50 m Breaststroke, and 100 m Breaststroke. She swam the 50 m Butterfly for the first time, finishing with a time of 44.65. She also competed in the 50 m Freestyle and 50 m Backstroke events.
Marlee Eccleston, 13, improved her times in 50 m Backstroke and 100 m Breaststroke. She also swam 50 m Freestyle, 50 m Butterfly, 50 m Breaststroke, and 100 m Freestyle.
“Competitions are the moment of truth, where swimmers and coaches get to see whether all the time and effort has paid off. I was very happy with the results of this meet. These young athletes have worked very hard over the last few months; they earned all these new best times. The most fulfilling part of coaching is being there and sharing their excitement. I’m so proud of them,” said Syversten.
Coach Brenda Davies also had four swimmers in attendance, all aged 11. Three of the swimmers competed in six events and one competed in four events during the two-day meet. “My swimmers haven’t attended very many meets and this was the first one of the season. Competition validates for them why they work so hard training in the pool,” she said.
Zoe Eccleston swam improved times in 100 m Backstroke, 50 m Freestyle, 100 m Breaststroke, and 50 m Backstroke. She also swam in the 50 m Breaststroke and 100 m Freestyle events.
Rowan Geissberger achieved success with improved times in 50 m Breaststroke, 100 m Freestyle, 50 m Freestyle, and 100 m Breaststroke. Rounding out her six events, she also swam in the 50 m and 100 m Backstroke events.
Xyza Yap swam five improved times - 50 m Backstroke, 100 m Backstroke, 50 m Freestyle, 100 m Freestyle, and 50 m Backstroke. She also swam in the 50 m Breaststroke event.
Hayden Peever swam the 50 m Backstroke, 100 m Backstroke, and 100 m Freestyle events for the first time. He also swan 50 m Freestyle and got an improved time.
CBAC members train at the Drumheller Aquaplex three days a week.

The Drumheller FunTeam Hockey Club continued its tradition of supporting The Salvation Army Food Bank at this annual Christmas Benefit Games.
There were five games were played on Sunday, December 4 in an effort for the Drumheller FunTeam Hockey Club to give back to their community. The Rookie Dragons took on the Rookie Miners, the Rookie Canucks played the Rookie Avalanche in the Junior Category, it was the Battle of Alberta as the Jr. Flames hosted the Jr. Oilers.
In Varsity the Chinook challenged the Freeze and to end the night The Intermediate Hurricanes played the Sr. Avalanche.
Games were won and lost but the real winner was the Salvation Army as the players and spectators donated 635 lbs of food and $100 cash towards a very worthy cause.
Part of the Drumheller FunTeam Hockey Program is not only to teach our youth hockey skills but also to promote citizenship and encourage how they can give back to our community. This past year that included the Salvation Army Christmas Hamper program, Alberta Highways Clean Up program, donation to Midland Community Hall Outdoor Rink project and a donation to the Grace House Society.