Nova Tech 1 Review
Nova Tech 1 Review
The Waves and remaining Novice swimmers opened their competition calendars at Nova Tech 1 at Centennial. This meet is always a chaotic start to the year with wiley veteran Waves and Novice swimmers leading the way, while many Waves swimmers are making their respective debuts in the racing pool. There are always a few missed swims, surprising outcomes, and learning experiences at Nova Tech 1. However, SWAT came away feeling very proud of our young swimmers. Big time improvements and successful first races were witnessed across the groups and swimmers. We especially congratulate 3 swimmers for graduating out of Nove Tech into AA competition.
🧒 Mini Group
The Mini swimmers brought energy and enthusiasm to the meet. Simone Bernon led with a 4.67-second drop in her 25 Free, while Charley Morgan impressed with a 5.98-second improvement in the same event. Evelyn McCarten posted the largest drop of the group, cutting 14.30 seconds in her 50 Free. These young athletes are already showing signs of future speed and skill, and their progress is a joy to watch.
A big round of applause to Beverley Bonvie, Andy Easton, Charles Palmer, Frederick Palmer, George Palmer, Santino Villalba Morton, Megan Strapps, Abby Wong, Medhu Syamala, and River Shunamon for completing their first meet! Competing for the first time is a huge achievement, and every swimmer who stepped onto the blocks deserves recognition. We’re excited to see how they grow with each race and proud to have them as part of the team.
🌀 Tidal Group
The Tidal swimmers showed impressive progress at the Nova Tech #1 Central meet. Meredith Black led the charge with a remarkable 13.41-second drop in her 50 Breaststroke. Madhura Chinta shaved off 15.45 seconds in the 50 Back, while Harper Spears cut 9.90 seconds from her 100 Medley. Frederick MacAdam and Kai Villalba Morton each dropped over 4 seconds in their medley events, and Alexa MacDonald improved by 5.36 seconds in her 50 Free. Jackson Connors, Miles Cornelius, Evelyn MacFarlane, Marshall Burke, Lesi Xing, and others also posted solid improvements, showing the depth of talent across the team.
A warm congratulations to Claudia Choi, Robin Spencer, Myra Walia, and Chelsea Wang for completing their first competition with Tidal! Their participation marks an exciting beginning. Every race is a learning experience, and their presence on the blocks is a huge step forward. We’re proud of their courage and commitment—here’s to many more meets ahead!
🌊 Novice Group
The Novice swimmers delivered some standout performances. Liam Hazlehurst stunned with a massive 41.61-second drop in the 200 Free, while Yashod Dharmawansa cut 7.47 seconds in the 50 Free. Natalie Watson wasn’t far behind, improving by 7.34 seconds in her own 50 Free. Victoria Hui, Olivia MacDonald, Xavier Marsman, and Alex Easton also made strong showings, each posting meaningful time drops in their respective events. These swimmers are clearly ready for the next level.
We’re thrilled to announce that Yashod Dharmawansa, Liam Hazlehurst, and Natalie Watson have officially graduated from Nova Tech into AA competition! Their consistent improvements and dedication to training have earned them this advancement. Moving into AA is a major milestone, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to grow and challenge themselves in the next tier of racing.
Some AA Novice swimmers will be invited to AGD 2 Distance at Truro November 9. The Nova Tech series continues Saturday, December 6.