The Kamloops Sunrays host the Canadian Artistic Swimming Championships from May 6-11 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

ARTISTIC SWIMMING

Growth of Kamloops Sunrays helped in its bid to host national championships

May 3, 2019 | 6:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Sunrays are slowly growing, jumping from about 28 athletes to 35 in the last two years. They are now to the point where they have the numbers and the talent to host nationals.

“It’s taken us a couple years to build a national program and now that we have a national program and we’re hosting the event, it’s a really big jump in our club,” said head coach Tina Naveri.

A club is officially designated as a national club with participation in every age group. Naveri has worked hard to build up the club since she took over in 2017.

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“It feels really good,” noted Naveri on being recognized as a national-level club. “It’s hard to get recognition as a small club and as a small team, and with us hosting everyone knows who Kamloops is, everyone knows who we are.”

The Canadian Artistic Swimming Championships start on Saturday with practice before competition begins Monday at the Canada Games Pool. The event welcomes 500 athletes from across the country.

The Sunrays are entering one team of six in the 13-15 team competition that will involved 27 teams. All the girls are excited to show off what they’re been working on.

“It’s a four-minute routine with music and it’s tribal-themed,” said athlete Kira Fawcett. “It’s very difficult [to be in sync], but with music it’s easy to be on the same count, and so eventually you get the hang of it.”

Charlotte Ribalkin is competing individually in the two events – in the senior technical solo and the senior free solo.

“I really like doing solo events just because you just have to focus inwards and everything that you put out in the water is directly because of what you are doing, so the more effort you put in, the more results you’ll see,” said Ribalkin.

Ribalkin, who’s been with the club for nine years, has seen major growth in the sport over the years.

“Since I started, I think I’ve noticed just the level of competition in Canada kind of increasing,” she noted. “I think a lot of the younger girls are finding their passion for competition at a much younger age than I did.”

The nationals run from May 6-11 and the event is still in need of volunteers. Anyone interested can call Tina at 778-938-4473 or email her at headcoach@kamloopssynchro.com