2020-2021 Swim NS Awards Recipients Recognized!
This past weekend, Swim Nova Scotia recognized last year’s award recipients for their accomplishments during the 2020-2021 swim-season!
Although there were no competitions outside of Nova Scotia and no multi-team events in the province, our members continued to excel and perform at their highest level.
Beth Casey, a member of the Swim Nova Scotia Board of Director’s presented on behalf of the organization:
Female Swimmer of the Year - University: Reagan Crowell, Dalhousie Tigers
Reagan’s 400m Freestyle time last season ranked her 2nd in the Country
Female Swimmer of the Year: Marion Synishin, Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club
Marion’s 200m Breaststroke ranked her 1st in the Country. She also set Provincial Records in the 15-17 50m, 100m & 200m Breaststroke last Spring.
Male Swimmer of the Year - University: Christian Payne, Dalhousie Tigers
Christian ranked 1st in the 50m & 100m Back last season in the Country.
Male Swimmer of the Year: Bo Stokesbury-Price, Wolfville Tritons Swim Club
Bo ranked 5th in the men’s 800m Free last season
PARA Female Swimmer of the Year: Natasha Sexton-Quillan, Sackville Waves Aquatic Team
Last season, Natasha was the top ranked female Para Swimmer in Nova Scotia.
PARA Coach of the Year: Zoe Miles, Sackville Waves Aquatic Team
Zoe coached Natasha to the highest-ranking Para Swimmer during the 2020-2021 in Nova Scotia.
Performance Coach of the Year - University: Lance Cansdale, Dalhousie Tigers
Lance coached Reagan Crowell and Christian Payne to the highest University ranked swimmers during the 2020-2021 season.
Lance has been the Provincial Coach for over 10 years, he has been instrumental in the development of provincial team initiatives over his time as the Provincial Coach.
Performance Coach of the Year: Mark McGrann, Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club
Mark coached Marion Synishin to the highest ranked age group aggregate performances last season for her performances last season. The Trojans earned three NS Provincial Records. He is an active member on many Swim Nova Scotia Committees and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the pool deck.
Official of the Year: Kelley Polley
Kelley first started her officiating career on the summer club pool deck with the Waeg Waves and continued her certification pathway with the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club. She fulfilled the role of the Club Chair of Officials before taking on the role of Chair of Officials for Swim Nova Scotia.
She continues to actively officiate at all levels of swim meets in our Province, including Masters, Summer, Varsity and Year-Round Meets. Kelley has been a mentor to many upcoming officials and has run a number of clinics across the province, including three mass officials’ clinics in the last two years.
Kelley has travelled to Varsity meets in Ontario to help officiate along with a number of SNC National Competitions.
This season, Kelley joined Swimming Canada’s Officials Competitions Rules Committee (OCRC) and was very excited to take on this new and exciting role with Swimming Canada.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Kelley has gone above and beyond the expectations of a Provincial Chair of Officials by assisting all of our clubs with virtual time trials and organizing multiple events on the same weekend. She has provided support virtually and in-person when needed.
Volunteer of the Year: Sue Jackson
Sue has been an active volunteer for over twenty years with Swim Nova Scotia and the Wolfville Tritons Swim Club. In her many years as a volunteer, she has been able to contribute to Swim Nova Scotia’s success at the Provincial, Regional and National level.
Sue was the President of Swim Nova Scotia from 2007-2020, in that time she has helped our organization achieve organization excellence and excellence in the pool. She has led us through challenging times during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She has also maintained a relationship with the age group club (Wolfville Tritons) and continued to volunteer for their club and continues to support their Board of Director’s as they need.
Sue is also a recipient of Swimming Canada’s Volunteer of the Year this year!
Sport Nova Scotia Good Sport Award Recipients:
Luke MacLean of Port Hawkesbury Antigonish Swim Team (May 2021). Luke MacLean keeps morale up by cheering on teammates with an infectiously positive attitude that endears his entire team. Despite limitations from pandemic restrictions last season, his cheerful attitude and determination to perform inspires fellow swimmers.
Yael Bloom of the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club (December 2021). Her determination to make a difference hasn’t gone unnoticed! This young woman swam 5 km, raising over $5000 for Adsum for Women & Children’s housing project, The Sunflower.
Adsum offers emergency shelter and affordable housing every night to women, families and gender-expansive persons. Yael is proud to support Adsum in its creation of new housing to provide those in need with the warmth, safety and security they need and deserve.
Peyton Ballem of the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club (January 2021). In her first season of year-round swimming with the Halifax Trojan Aquatic Club (HTAC), the nine-year-old displayed determination in the face of adversity. Regardless of challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, she managed to excel, swim personal bests, and actively go out of her way to lift up and congratulate teammates on their success.
Isabelle Dearnaley of the Sackville Waves Aquatic Team (February 2021) is a natural-born leader. She’s been instrumental in supporting athletes and providing leadership to senior swim groups. Without being asked, she gets all athletes together for a team cheer. She is always on her feet encouraging her teammates and creates an exciting environment during race nights by playing DJ.
Congratulations to all recipients and to all members who continue to play a significant role in advancing swimming in our Province!