It's been a strong season for the Battlefords Orcas Swim Club (Facebook/Battlefords Orcas Swim Club)

By Brady Lang

in the water

Higgs making strides in the pool for Orcas

May 8, 2019 | 4:53 PM

The Battlefords Orcas Swim Club is enjoying a banner year for 2018-19.

Madison Higgs qualified for the Western Canada Games during her performance at Prairie Champs in mid-March. The games will begin at the end of August in Swift Current, which came with some adversity said Coach John Mcleod.

“It wasn’t the best conditions for her to qualify. She got sick at the competition, but swimming is one of those sports where you have to take every opportunity that you have,” he said.

Despite the bug, she ended up with strong races to qualify for the games. When it comes to the high-level and the high-performance swimmers coming out of the program, Mcleod said it’s a lot of realization for them that they can compete, no matter the competition.

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“They are stronger, and better and faster than they realize. Not only are we racing against the best in the province, (but now) we’re looking at the best in the province,” he said. “It sets the tone for the future of the program.”

The 2018-19 Orcas are having a strong season in the water (submitted photo/John Mcleod)

With the work that Higgs has been able to put in for the program, it opens the door down the line for other swimmers coming up the ranks to be exposed to the elite status.

“I think it builds excitement in the program,” he said. “It keeps them training hard, because this is a long, tough sport. They’re making the most of the opportunities that are given to them.”

In the last meet, the Orcas had a season-high 16 swimmers in the water and competing. McLeod said for the kids, there’s more focus on getting to that next level, and competing at that higher level than when he first arrived on the scene in August.

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brady.lang@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @BradyLangBFN