News

• Alumni Update: Summer 2019

  Friday, June 21, 2019 | By Brock Swimming

  

  Congratulations to our 2019 Grads!

  Isabella Bonaldo: Isabella will be welcomed into the Brock Badger fold in 2019-20 as the Niagara Falls resident is staying on her home turf to attend Brock University. Izzy will be collecting academic scholarship money to study Concurrent Education at Brock, meaning she will graduate with a teaching degree. She is a current Senior group swimmer with Brock Niagara Aquatics, as well as teaching swimming lessons at our home pool.

  Mara Di Persio: Also reaping the benefits of academic scholarship money as an honours student, Mara will be joining Isabella as a varsity Badger in the fall of 2019. Mara will be majoring in Psychology at Brock University, while continuing her Butterfly prowess with the Badgers. She resides in Niagara Falls and is a long-time Senior swimmer with Brock Niagara Aquatics. Mara is also employed at our home pool as a lifeguard and instructor.

  Aidan Iapicco: Aidan made major strides in both school and swimming in the 2019-20 season. His academic average improved considerably to honour roll level, while in the pool Aidan qualified for Canadian Trials for the first time. The Senior group swimmer will be studying through Niagara College in the next year before potentially moving on to post-secondary education, so will continue to train with the Badgers in 2019-20 and attend Olympic Trials in April 2020. Aidan, a St. Catharines resident, will also continue to work at our pool as a lifeguard and instructor.

  Alex Jakovljevic: Niagara Falls resident Alex will be the third Senior group swimmer transitioning to the Badgers in the fall of 2019 as he embarks on a Physical Education degree at Brock University. His honours standing also puts him in line for academic scholarship money. Alex also works as an instructor and lifeguard when not training.

  And on the Post-Secondary Side:

  Simone Waller: Long-time Brock Niagara swimmer Simone graduates from Laurentian University this spring with a degree in Criminal Justice. A four-year member of the Laurentian swim team, Simone is from Niagara Falls. She is excited to start into Law School at the University of Ottawa in the fall of 2019.

  Categories: Alumni

• Western Region Championships

  Tuesday, February 05, 2019 | By Brock Swimming

  

  Twenty Brock Niagara swimmers travelled to London this past weekend to compete at the Western Ontario Regional Championships hosted by the London Aquatic Club. The competition was held over four days with over 800 swimmers from 27 clubs in attendance.

  New provincial qualifiers

  Picking up first-ever provincial qualifying times standards were Kura Cooper and Olivia Turavani—both achieved the Ontario Youth-Junior Championship level in the 50 Free; Olivia also bettered the Ontario Festival standard in the 100 Fly.

  Alyssa Montgomery (100 Breast, 200 Breast) and Nick Woodruff (800 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM) added new Ontario Youth-Junior Championship times; and Sophia St-Pierre (50 Free, 100 Back) added new Ontario Festival times for the first time an an 11-year-old.

  Medallists

  • Alyssa Montgomery: Gold 100 Breast, Silver 400 IM, Bronze 200 Breast
  • Sophia St-Pierre: Gold 100 Back
  • Jeremy Tang: Bronze 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 Breast
  • Olivia Turavani: Silver 100 Fly, Bronze 50 Free
  • Paje Brennan: Gold 1500 Free, Silver 100 Breast, 400 IM
  • Isabella Bonaldo: Bronze 800 Free

  Full results: swimming.ca/en/meet/27926

  
  Saturday’s finalists: Jeremy, Taejin, Blake, Kura, Alyssa, Nick, Olivia

  Tags: meets, regionals, results, wosa
  Categories: Meet Results

• 27th Annual Awards Banquet 2018

  Monday, November 12, 2018 | By Brock Swimming

  Brock Niagara Aquatics held its 27^th annual awards banquet and dinner on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at Coppola’s Ristorante & Banquet Facility in St. Catharines. The swimming club’s top achievers of the past 2017–2018 season were honoured.

  Outstanding Swimmer Awards

  Three awards are presented yearly for the top three long course performances in an Olympic event by Brock Niagara Aquatics athletes, based on world performance charts.

  Outstanding Swimmer of the Year Award: The Walker Cup

  • Gökhan Bozyiğit

  Brock Niagara’s top swim of the year was Gökhan’s 800 Freestyle at the 2018 Ontario Summer Provincials in Toronto in June; he won that race in a time of 8:20.55 LC and earned 736 FINA points. Gökhan also earned the Top Age Group award as a 15/over male.

  Second Ranked Swim of the Year (1st Runner-Up): The Dr. Bob McKay Trophy

  • Aidan Iapicco

  The second-ranked swim of the year came from 17-year-old Aidan Iapicco at the Sandbox Invitational in Baltimore in July where he was a silver medallist in the 200 Breaststroke with a time of 2:28.07 LC and earned 631 points on the FINA scale. Aidan was also a finalist at the 2018 Eastern Canadian Championships and recipient of the Most Improved National/Junior National level swimmer award for the second year in a row.

  Third Ranked Swim of the Year (2nd Runner-Up): The Gloria Storm Award

  • Mohamed Boksmati

  Mohamed’s top long course performance of the year earned him 612 FINA points in the 100 Freestyle at the Prairie Winter International in Winnipeg in March where he led-off the men’s 4×100 Freestyle Relay and swam a time of 55.24 LC.

  Top Age Group Awards

  Presented to the top male and female swimmer in each of the 10/Under, 11/12, 13/14, 15/over age groups. To be eligible to win, swimmers must be in the age group for an entire season—either short course or long course—and must have swam at least one Provincial time.

  10/under Girls: The Roy Cairns Award

  • Sophia St-Pierre

  Sophia made the Ontario Festival time standard in the 100 Backstroke at the Burlington LC Invitational.

  11/12 Girls: The Oliver Gilbert Memorial Trophy

  • Piper Sarginson

  Piper qualified for the Ontario Festival championship meet in the 200 Breaststroke—soon after turning 13-years-old—at the Long Course Regional championship meet in Brantford.

  13/14 Girls: The Welland-Port Colborne Master Plumbers Association Award

  • Circe Garrido Morales

  Circe’s top swim was in the 400 Free at Nothers Fall Invitational; her time was 4:33.85 SC and she scored 628 FINA points.

  13/14 Boys: The V. Arthur Reece Award

  • Peyton Kipp

  Peyton scored 506 FINA points in the 100 Breaststroke at the Sandbox Invitational in Baltimore with at time of 1:11.68 LC.

  15/Over Girls: The Business and Professional Women’s Club of St. Catharines Trophy

  • Lea Formicuccia

  Lea was the top point scorer in the 100 Free with a time of 1:00.92 SC at the Ontario Team Showdown with 583 FINA points.

  15/Over Boys: The Acres International Award

  • Gökhan Bozyiğit

  Gökhan scored 736 FINA points in the 800 Free at the Ontario Summer Provincials.

  Most Improved Swimmer

  The award is mathematically calculated, based on percentage improvement of five most improved events over the course of the swimming year.

  Most Improved Swimmer (Regional Level): Courtesy Auto Sales Inc. Plaque

  • Blake Bishop

  Most Improved Swimmer (Provincial Level): Shoppers Drug Mart Award

  • Nicholas Woodruff

  Most Improved Swimmer (National/Junior National Level): Royal Canadian Legion Branch 613 Award

  • Aidan Iapicco

  Accomplishment Awards

  Awarded to the one swimmer per group who exemplifies dedication, diligence, and a daily positive attitude through the entire season.

  The most improved swimmer award is given to the swimmer in each training group who has shown overall remarkable growth and improvement (in performance, training, effort, attitude) over the course of the year.

  Age Group 1: The HI-TECollision Ltd. Plaque

  • Sophia St-Pierre

  Age Group 1 “Most Improved” swimmer

  • Isra Alsahli
  • Kaden Shaw

  ---

  Age Group 2: The HI-TECollision Ltd. Plaque

  • Piper Sarginson

  Age Group 2 “Most Improved” swimmer

  • Kura Cooper

  ---

  Age Group 3: The Durward Jones Barkwell & Co. Plaque

  • Blake Bishop

  Age Group 3 “Most Improved” swimmer

  • Calvin Teminski

  ---

  Youth Group: The Durward Jones Barkwell & Co. Plaque

  • Andie Lloyd

  Youth Group “Most Improved” swimmer

  • Alyssa Montgomery

  Championship Qualifiers

  Canadian Swimming Trials & Canadian Swimming Championships

  • Gökhan Bozyiğit (Trials)
  • Aidan Iapicco (CSC)
  • Peyton Kipp (CSC)

  Canadian Junior Championships & Eastern Canadian Championships

  • Mohamed Boksmati (CJC)
  • Circe Garrido Morales (East)
  • Andie Lloyd (East)

  Provincials, AA & Festival

  • Mara Di Persio (Prov)
  • Lea Formicuccia (Prov)
  • Nick Woodruff (Prov)
  • Paje Brennan (AA)
  • Alyssa Montgomery (AA)
  • Jeremy Tang (AA)
  • Michael Taylor (AA)
  • Piper Sarginson (Fest)
  • Sophia St-Pierre (Fest)

  Club Record Breakers

  Andie Lloyd

  • 13/14 Girls 100 Freestyle 1:01.66 LCM

  Circe Garrido Morales

  • 13/14 Girls 100 Freestyle 1:00.17 SCM
  • 13/14 Girls 100 Backstroke 1:06.02 SCM
  • 13/14 Girls 100 Backstroke 1:09.02 LCM
  • 13/14 Girls 100 Butterfly 1:07.87 LCM
  • 13/14 Girls 100 Butterfly 1:07.36 LCM

  Aidan Iapicco

  • 15-17 Boys 100 Breaststroke 1:05.41 SCM
  • 15-17 Boys 100 Breaststroke 1:07.49 LCM

  Attendance Awards

  Presented to every swimmer who achieved an attendance record of 90% or better over the course of the entire swimming year.

  Age Group 1

  • Maggie Gauthier, Kaylin Jensen, Kaya Lambrechts, Sophie McMurray, Kaden Shaw, Lily Shennan, Sophia St-Pierre

  Age Group 2

  • Eve Brum, Piper Sarginson, Nicholas Woodruff

  Age Group 3

  • Patrick Fidler

  Youth Group

  • Paje Brennan, Mara Di Persio, Aidan Iapicco, Andie Lloyd, Alyssa Montgomery, Jeremy Tang

  Honour Roll

  Presented to every Brock Niagara Aquatics swimmer who attains a Provincial or National standard while maintaining an 80% or “A” average in school.

  • Mohamed Boksmati, Paje Brennan, Mara Di Persio, Lea Formicuccia, Peyton Kipp, Andie Lloyd, Alyssa Montgomery, Sophia St-Pierre, Jeremy Tang, Michael Taylor, Nicholas Woodruff

  Tags: awards banquet
  Categories: Meet Results

• Joe Kerkhoven Memorial Walker Invitational

  Monday, October 29, 2018 | By Brock Swimming

  

  October 27–28, 2018— St. Catharines

  Brock swimmers win double-gold in annual Kerkhoven–Walker Invitational

  Brock Niagara Aquatics hosted their 41^st annual Joe Kerkhoven Memorial Walker Invitational this past weekend at the Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre at Brock University. The competition attracted five other local swim clubs and over 250 young athletes from Ontario and western New York to compete in over two days of racing.

  The swim meet is named in memory of Coach Joe Kerkhoven, one of the original coaches of the St. Catharines swim club; and Walker Industries, a long-time former sponsor of the event.

  The highlight of the weekend was the gold medals won by Brock swimmers in the prestigious open-age “Walker 400” Freestyle event where Alyssa Montgomery took top-placing for the girls and Aidan Iapicco captured gold on the boys side. It was only the third such occasion in the past 30 years where Brock swimmers have won double-gold in this event.

  Top scorer among Brock swimmers was Andie Lloyd of St. Catharines who individually captured 83 points, seven gold medals, two silver, and one bronze; Andie is a 15-year-old Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School student. Aidan Iapicco of St. Catharines was top scorer on the men’s side with 79 points, six gold medals, one silver, and three bronze; Aidan is a 17-year-old Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School student.

  Clarington Swim Club took home the team high-point award trophy, the “Walker Cup” with 1025 points; Wilmot Aquatic Aces placed second with 783 points; and Brock Niagara Aquatics placed third with 665 points.

  Full results (top-8 individual placings; top-3 relay placings)

  10/under Girls

  Malaak Boksmati: 7^th 100 Fly; 8^th 100 Back

  Eyrie Forestieri: 7^th 100 Back

  Sierra Kelly: 4^th 100 Fly; 6^th 100 Back; 8^th 50 Fly, 50 Breast, 50 Back

  Raine West: SILVER 50 Fly, 100 Fly; BRONZE 100 Back, 100 Free; 4^th 50 Back; 5^th 50 Breast, 50 Free; 6^th 100 Breast; 7^th 100 IM

  S. Kelly, M. Boksmati, R. West, E. Forestieri: SILVER 100 Medley Relay

  Camryn Friesen, Abby Cabaj, M. Boksmati, R. West: SILVER 100 Free Relay

  10/under Boys

  Mahmoud Boksmati: 5^th 100 Fly, 100 Breast; 6^th 50 Fly; 8^th 50 Breast, 50 Back

  Quinlan Stark: 6^th 50 Breast, 100 Free

  Mark Zhang: 6^th 100 Fly

  11-12 Girls

  Luz Aguilera Ballesteros: BRONZE 200 Fly; 4^th 100 Fly, 200 Back, 200 IM; 6^th 100 Back; 8^th 100 Breast

  Ella Beaudoin: BRONZE 200 Breast; 4^th 200 Fly; 5^th 100 Breast; 8^th 100 Fly, 100 Back

  Eve Brum: SILVER 200 Free; BRONZE 200 Back, 100 Back; 4^th 100 Free; 8^th 200 IM

  Maggie Gauthier: 7^th 100 Fly

  Lily Shennan: 6^th 100 Breast; 8^th 200 Breast

  Sophia St-Pierre: SILVER 100 Back; 7^th 200 Back

  S. St-Pierre, L. Shennan, L. Aguilera Ballesteros, E. Brum: SILVER 200 Medley Relay

  L. Aguilera Ballesteros, Kaya Lambrechts, S. St-Pierre, E. Brum: SILVER 200 Free Relay

  11-12 Boys

  Camren Courchene-Carter: 8^th 100 Fly, 200 IM, 200 Breast

  Kaden Shaw: 7^th 200 Fly

  Austin Weng: 8^th 200 Fly

  Baxter Lawrence, C. Courchene-Carter, K. Shaw, A. Weng: BRONZE 200 Medley Relay

  13-14 Girls

  Kura Cooper: 5^th 200 Breast; 7^th 200 Back, 200 Free; 8^th 100 Breast

  Charley Crane: 5^th 200 Back; 7^th 100 Breast

  Piper Sarginson: GOLD 100 Breast, 200 Breast; SILVER 200 Back, 200 Free; BRONZE 200 Fly, 200 IM; 4^th 100 Fly; 7^th 100 Back

  Olivia Turavani: 8^th 100 Back, 200 IM

  Mia Watanabe: 8^th 200 Fly

  13-14 Boys

  Mahmoud Radwan: 6^th 200 Back; 8^th 200 Free, 200 Fly

  15/over Girls

  Isabella Bonaldo: BRONZE 200 Breast; 7^th 200 IM

  Paje Brennan: 4^th 200 IM; 5^th 100 Breast; 6^th 100 Back; 7^th 100 Free; 8^th 200 Back

  Mara Di Persio: SILVER 100 Fly; 4^th 200 Free; 5^th 200 Back; 7^th 100 Breast

  Andie Lloyd: GOLD 100 Fly, 200 Back, 200 Free, 200 Fly, 100 Back, 200 IM, 100 Free; SILVER 200 Breast; BRONZE 100 Breast

  Alyssa Montgomery: GOLD 200 Breast; SILVER 200 IM; BRONZE 100 Free; 5^th 100 Back; 6^th 100 Breast; 7^th 200 Free

  A. Lloyd, P. Brennan, M. Di Persio, A. Montgomery: GOLD 200 Medley Relay

  A. Montgomery, I. Bonaldo, P. Brennan, A. Lloyd: SILVER 200 Free Relay

  15/over Boys

  Mark Barca: SILVER 100 Fly, 200 Back, 100 Back; BRONZE 200 IM; 6^th 100 Free

  Aidan Iapicco: GOLD 100 Fly, 200 IM, 100 Breast, 200 Free, 200 Breast; SILVER 200 Fly; BRONZE 200 Back, 100 Back, 100 Free

  Alex Jakovljevic: 7^th 200 Fly

  Peyton Kipp: SILVER 100 Breast, 200 Breast; 4^th 200 IM; 6^th 200 Free; 8^th 100 Free

  Jeremy Tang: 6^th 200 Fly; 7^th 200 Back; 8^th 200 IM

  Calvin Teminski, A. Iapicco, J. Tang, P. Kipp: SILVER 200 Medley Relay

  P. Kipp, J. Tang, A. Jakovljevic, A. Iapicco: BRONZE 200 Free Relay

  Open Women “Walker 400” Freestyle

  GOLD A. Montgomery; SILVER A. Lloyd; 4^th M. Di Persio; 6^th P. Sarginson; 7^th I. Bonaldo

  Open Men “Walker 400” Freestyle

  GOLD A. Iapicco

  ---

  Host: Brock Niagara Aquatics (BROCK)

  Visiting teams: Chatham Y Pool Sharks (CYPS), Clarington Swim Club (ROC), Grand Island Swim Club (GISC-NI), St. Thomas Jumbo Jets (STJJ), Wilmot Aquatic Aces (WAAC)

  Full meet details and results can be found at swimming.ca/en/meet/24841
  Web results: brocku.ca/brockswimming/results

  More information about BROCK-hosted competitions.

• WOSA open water clinic & cake swim

  Wednesday, September 19, 2018 | By Brock Swimming

  

  About a dozen swimmers aged 12–16 from Western Ontario, including three Brock Niagara swimmers, were invited to take part in an open water clinic and race last Sunday, held at Deer Creek Conservation Area in Norfolk County. Eve Brum and Piper Sarginson raced the 1K event while Calvin Teminski took part in the 4K swim. Piper was the first female to finish and placed 2nd overall in the 1K race; Eve came in close behind. Calvin finished middle of the pack in the more challenging 4K distance.

  The morning started off with a talk by Coach Brian (CYPS) about the differences between pool swimming and open water swimming; and about the unique challenges open water swimmers face. He also talked about his recent trip to BC and visit with National Open Water Coach Ron Jacks of Pacific Coast Swimming; and gave us an idea of that program’s philosophy and the training regimen that the world-class open water swimmers follow along with some samples of what their workouts may look like.

  The WOSA swimmers then took to the lake and rehearsed some open-water skills—sighting, turning corners, breathing, pacing—and received some helpful feedback that they could take and use later during their races.

  Following all the races, swimmers were treated to some snacks, prizes … and cake! We couldn’t have asked for better weather on this warm and sunny day.

  Tags: meets, open water, results
  Categories: Meet Results

• Sport nutrition tips from coach.ca

  Tuesday, July 24, 2018 | By Brock Swimming

  

  Proper nutrition is essential for overall good health and optimal athletic performance. Participants of all ages and at all levels of competition are affected by good nutrition. It’s about knowing what to eat and when to eat, especially if you’re on the road with your athlete or with other parents.

  https://www.coach.ca/sport-nutrition-s14783

  Categories: Parents

• The Ride Home

  Tuesday, July 24, 2018 | By Brock Swimming

  

  theridehome.ca

  truesport.ca | Benefits of sport through shared values and principles

  Categories: Parents

• The truth about sports parents…

  Tuesday, July 24, 2018 | By Brock Swimming

  

  What kids think of their how parents watch their sporting events. https://youtu.be/u2LR4c3JsmU

  ilovetowatchyouplay.com | A place for parents seeking balance, sanity, and an edge in the crazy world of youth sports.

  Categories: Parents

• Brock LC Invitational

  Monday, April 23, 2018 | By Brock Swimming

  

  April 28–29, 2018— St. Catharines

  Welcome to our visiting teams from the regions of Brampton, Chatham, London, Milton, North York, Stoney Creek, and Wilmot!

  Psych list and meet results brocku.ca/brockswimming/results

  Full meet details and results can be found at swimming.ca/en/meet/21563

  Tags: brock lc, meets, results
  Categories: Meet Results

• Joe Kerkhoven Memorial Walker Invitational

  Wednesday, October 25, 2017 | By Brock Swimming

  

  October 28–29, 2017— St. Catharines

  Congratulations to Brock Niagara Aquatics on winning the team high-point award—the Walker Cup!

  Full meet details and results can be found at swimming.ca/en/meet/21561

  This year marks the 40^th annual Walker Invitational, now named in memory of coach Joe Kerkhoven who started it all. (Yes, the event even pre-dates Brock University’s pool!)

  Tags: kerkhoven, meets, results, walker
  Categories: Meet Results