Team Showdown 2024

Wow. Region of Waterloo Swim Club… ROWs showing at Team Showdown has left us relatively speechless. As a swim club, we rose above and beyond all expectations - with massive best time rates by incredible margins, greater energy than 1000 suns, and a sense of unity that should not be taken for granted!  What a great group of athletes!

Team Showdown is a team meet, with the overall objective of winning the Team Banner.  In order to win the Team Banner, a club needed to have the highest total of [#points/#athletes =] points per athlete.  To optimize this equation, clubs would need to score as many points as possible, with the fewest number of athletes.  Given the value ROW puts on a collaborative effort, we opted not to minimize the number of athletes in attendance and instead, rise to the occasion and race for the team banner with almost 100 swimmers.

Although a disadvantage in optics, ROW raced their hearts out - putting on display, what it means to be part of #ROWNATION!  We witnessed:

• Team spirit at an all time high - cheering before, during and after each session!
• Athletes engaged in the preparation process, in putting together their best performances
• Athletes pushing themselves to the limits, for the team cause - greater than the individual cause
• Athletes in ALL heats fighting for tenths, to get their hands to the wall before their opponents
• Moving past tough swims and DQs, re-focusing on future events for the team
• Athletes prompting and leading teammates towards the team goal
• Parents highly spirited and engaged, representing ROW in team uniform!

Amongst all the successful racing, here are some of the personal accolades achieved:

• Medal Count - 33 Gold, 29 Silver, 21 Bronze
• Medalists - Leo S, Leo SM, Esther S, Joseph L, Zade M, Le Anne D, Mia T, Sky Q, Wellington M, Tommy F, Ethan W, Aris C, Aerowyn R, Beckett S, Athena L, Nikkolai T, Daphne L, Evelyn W, Nora H, Lucas LB, Stella N, Olivia G, Olivia S, Eliza L, Nicholas W, Miran D, Nathan L
• New Club Records
  • Nicholas W - 13/14 Boys - 100 Breast: 1:09.36, 200 Breast: 2:29.66
  • Aric C - 13/14 Boys - 100 Free: 54.50, 200 Free: 2:00.13
  • Olivia S - 11/12 Girls - 200 Back: 2:28.37
  • Eliza L - 9/10 Girls - 100 Fly: 1:16.08
• Qualifications - Several new WOSA, OAG, OSC qualifiers. Look for an article coming out.
• PB Rates - Over 80% PB across the entire club (which is far beyond the norm)

In the end, although ROW scored the most points - we finished in 3rd place with the size stipulations. The final tally’s:

By Total Points:

By Points per Athlete:

*There may be some discrepancies in the number of athletes representing each team, meaning scores might not be 100%.

Although ROW did not earn its third consecutive Team Showdown banner, we would not have traded ROWs results for those of any other club.  It was a hugely successful meet, with heartfelt racing and significant team pride!  We are looking forward to the remainder of the season, with Team Showdown as its preview!!

#GOROWGO #ROWNATION 

AJ