Vipers cap off another successful season in the pool

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Taber Times

By Garrett Simmons
Taber Times

The Taber Viper Swim Club had a very busy season in the pool.

This year, the club boasted 52 swimmers, which included 50 youth athletes and two masters competitors.

Three Vipers coaches, who all hail from Taber, also competed this season. Coaches this year included former Vipers swimmers Dion Velarde (head coach), Adison Hutzul and Taylor Hutzul.

And while every season has its high points, 2025 was particularly special, as Taber hosted the Southern Alberta Summer Games swim meet.

The two-day event required approximately 80 volunteers and coaches each day.

The club was very successful at the regional championship swim meet this year at the University of Lethbridge, where Taber competed against clubs from Nanton, Claresholm, Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass,

Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Brooks. To qualify to compete at the provincial championship swim meet, a swimmer (or relay team) had to place first or second in an event at their regional championship swim meet. Most of the Viper swimmers qualified for provincials in at least one event.

At the Alberta Summer Swimming Association (ASSA) Provincial Championships Aug. 1-3 in Edmonton, 1,155 swimmers from 60 clubs across the province hit the pool. The Vipers sent 25 athletes to provincials and brought home 38 medals, which featured 18 bronze, 12 silver and eight gold.

Provincial medal winners included:

– Jovian Beebe -Boys 8 and U 25 breast Bronze

– Kinley Hughes – Girls 11-12 100 IM Bronze

– Adison Hutzul – Girls 15-17 100 back Silver, Girls 15-17 50 back Gold

–  Kaylee Hutzul – Girls 15-17 100 fly Gold

– Elizabeth Ostrop – Girls 13-14 100 IM Bronze, Girls 13-14 200 free Bronze, Girls 13-14 50 free Bronze

– Cole Payne  – Boys 11-12 100 IM Bronze

– Dion Velarde – Men 18 and O 100 IM Bronze

– Team – Girls 14 and U 200 medley relay Silver (Dawn Velarde, Elizabeth Ostrop, Kaylee Bruce and Bria Hall)

Team – Girls 14 and U 200 free relay Bronze (Dawn Velarde, Elizabeth

Ostrop, Kaylee Bruce and Bria Hall)

– Team – Mixed 17 and U 200 free relay Gold (Kaylee Hutzul, Don Velarde, Chase Egeland and Adison Hutzul)

– Team –  Mixed 12 and U 200 medley relay Silver (Cole Payne, Keira Payne, Dexter Leishman and Kinley Hughes)

– Team – Mixed 12&u 200 free relay Bronze (Cole Payne, Keira Payne, Dexter Leishman and Kinley Hughes).

Regional Relays Provincial Medals (regional relays are composed of the fastest swimmers in each category/event in our region) included the following.

– Jovian Beebe – Boys 8 and U 100 free regional relay Bronze

– Chase Egeland, Don Velarde – Boys 15-17 200 free regional relay Bronze

– Kinley Hughes, Keira Payne

– Girls 11-12 200 medley regional relay Silver

– Adison Hutzul, Kaylee Hutzul – Girls 15-17 200 medley regional relay Gold

– Elizabeth Ostrop – Girls 13-14 200 free regional relay Silver.

For more information on the club, visit TaberVipers.com.