Riverside Secondary’s swim team is a hardworking group, with each swimmer putting in an equal amount of effort. Some swimmers compete outside of school for different clubs. They have already competed in the Districts and at the Fraser Valleys. This year the team had eight swimmers qualify for the Provincials, which will be happening tomorrow, November 17, 2017.

The team competes in a number of different events, “They have four different styles of swimming that they participate in: freestyle, breast stroke, butterfly and a backstroke,” said swim coach Mr. Jamal Ahmelich. They also participate in relays and individual events. Riverside’s swim team has two sets of sibling competitors. “Their names are Taylor and James Pettyjohn and Aidan and Emma Schulmeister,” said Ahmelich. Schulmeister also swims for the Poco Marlins, and commented that having his sister by his side has been fun. “Considering I have had my sister on the Poco Marlins team with me my whole life, it’s been the same with swimming with her at Riverside and is enjoyable for me,” said Schulmeister.

The swimming community is a great place for the kids to perform their abilities in different ways, while growing and making new friends at the same time. “There are so many great parts about swimming; the best part about it is the community, it’s competitive but still a good atmosphere,” said Schulmeister. Aidan has been on the Poco Marlins for nine years, adding to his commitment and hard work to the Riverside team for the last three years. The students that will be participating in this years provincials will be Angelina Burton, Shelby Connelly, Matthew Hetrea, Karolina Mastalerz-Sanchez, Ryann Mccready, Aidan Schulmeister, Emma Schulmeister, James Pettyjohn, Tobiasz Majerkiewicz and Carol Abdelmalek. We wish you the best of luck at the provincials team, Go Rapids!