Viper Swim Club training for regionals

Taber Viper Swim Club has put the training into overdrive as many of its swimmers prepare for regionals this weekend at the University of Lethbridge pool.

“I think we will have 18 swimmers confirmed,” said Kaitlyn Kachmarski, head coach of the Taber Viper Swim Club. “It will be the most competitive meet of the season because there are the preliminaries in the morning and the finals in the afternoon. Swimmers are fighting to get in the top eight to make the finals and then swim again to try and get the top two to make it to provincials.”

Given wild cards, all the Vipers who competed last year qualified for provincials, although some chose not to go.

“We have some swimmers who will be competing at regionals where if they qualify for provincials they won’t go because they can’t make the trip,” said Kachmarski, adding provincials are in Edmonton this year. “This could be the last swim meet for some swimmers for the summer, so I just want them to go as hard as they can for the season and try and get a personal best. I want them to be happy with themselves with how they did, ending it on a high note, not a bad note.”

It has been a bit more of a unique challenge for Kachmarski and her coaching staff with the Vipers this season, being primarily younger swimmers where tactics have had to change in pushing the swimmers to their limits.

“We have really seen our endurance and effort improve since the start of the season,” said Kachmarski. “The season’s been good. It was a bit different this year than from years before. The club is a lot younger with less competitive people, but overall it’s been solid. Since we don’t have a lot of the older swimmers, it’s harder to do the higher mental training. With the younger swimmers you have to go about it a different way in building them up.”

Taber Viper Swim Club will have its wrap-up party and awards banquet on Aug. 28.