KSC Celebrates!
Killarney Swim Club Celebrates!
In case you missed out on our Celebration Night here’s what took place!
Club President Address: Anna shared her that her club experience is close to 20 years. Killarney has come a long way in this time. She is so proud of the accomplishments and Killarney’s elevation this season. There are over 30 Universities in Canda that have swim programs. Keep on swimming, there is so much opportunity for you. Anna thanked Club Executive & Board, KSC committees, volunteers, Tanya Wolff GM and Brad Mori for the endless hours worked.
Head Coach Address: Brad opened by echoing Anna’s comments that he is so proud of the Organization as a whole, from swimmers, to coaching staff, and volunteers. Swimming Friends, Alumni, Sponsors, have taken notice of Killarney’s Progress and Results across Alberta and Canada.
Brad recognized and thanked Mike Meldrum (not in attendance), for all the years of service to this club to build KSC from 50 members to thriving 235 performance club, plus active alumni.
With Change comes Growth: Brad shared the coaching new structure and introduced Natasha as the Assistant Head Coach, Tammy as Fundamentals Lead Coach, and Alex Dawson (not in attendance) as Performance Coach. Killarney’s future looks bright!
Brad highlighted the 2025-2026 season by month with the Meets, Performances and Spain Training Camp. The key theme, over the season, was best times, finals, medals, club records, provincial records, a national record and outstanding team placings including Summer Festivals – UPDATED to 1st Place Team Finish. The team is swimming very well in the BIG Moments!
Statistics Presented:
- 30 new sprockets Experienced Killarney and Competitive Swimming for the first time.
- Leveling up (First Time Items): Making Finals, winning a Medal, Winning an Event, Qualifying for the next level AB Festival, AB Trial, AB Champ, Westerns, SNC Trials. Etc. So many proud moments.
- Thus far 27 competitions = 6235 Best Times + Summer meets still to come.
- Festival Qualifiers 65 (combined winter & summer)
- Festival Team Placing: 4th at Winter and 1st at Summer (UPDATED) (gold medal rankings)
- Provincial Trial qualifiers: 67 (combined Winter and Summer+++)
- Provincial Champs qualifier: 80 (combined Winter and Summer+++)
- AB CHAMP Team Place 4th at Winter.
- Best of the West qualifiers: 23 this was a new meet, 7th overall.
- SNC Trials: 12 swimmers Qualified – Killarney’s highest recorded.
- CSCA Team Ranking: 19th
- Swimming Canda "On Track" Team Ranking: 9th
SWIM AB Watch List – New this year and based on a percentage of on track times.
7 Matea, Alan, Nicole, Sophie, Sophia, Matthew, Evelyn. These swimmers were invited to attend Swim AB Provincial Camps following the Provincial Series Meets.
Swimming Canada Carding – Alan Piatek and Matea Gigovic (and AB JR female of the Year)
Sophie Holowaychuk will be added next season with her 100 BK 1:02.5
Club Records (82) since last Celebration Night
Provincial Records (13) not including repeats.
Alan Piatek
16-year-old 50 BK SC & (National Record)
16-year-old 50 FL SC
Sophia Shpak
11-year-old SC 50, 100, 200 BR
12-year-old SC & LC 50BR, 100 BR
Sophie Holowaychuk
13-year-old SC 100 BK
14 -year-old LC 50 BK 100 BK
Matea Gigovic
17-year-old SC 50 FL & 100 FL
Swim Alberta Youth Recognition (18)
• Top 1 – Sophia Shpak, Matea Gigovic, Alan Piatek, Sophie Holowaychuk
• Top 5 – Jacquline Li, Daniel MacLock
• Top 10 – Dorothy Dean, Georgia Carscallen, Emily Piatek, Evelyn Washbrook, Nicole L’Heureux, Megan L’Heureux, Maya Share, Sky Song, Matthew Sun, Samantha Thistle, Grace Rowe, Soren Young, Jacquline Li
Coaching Achievements:
Natasha completed her 201
Natasha was selected as Lead Coach for a Swim Alberta Camp in Grand Prairie last week. Tammy also participated in this event.
SWIM A THON: Coach Natasha celebrated our Swim A Thon achievement of close to $58,000 raised. Natasha presented the individual top 3 and group Pizza party.
1st Eren Oz, 2nd Elyse Jugnauth Eliana Jugnauth (tie), 3rd Petra Shouldice. Senior Group = Pizza party.
Thank you Time:
Brad thanked Club President, Tanya Wolff GM, Coaching Staff for stepping up with quality and many hours. This staff, Natasha Senkow, Tammy Andersen, David Thibodeau, Luke Allen, Grace Mills-Rush, Liam Durda, Maisey Phillips, Jessica White, Rianne Gamayo, and Joy Phan are incredible!. Thank you to all the club volunteers. AND Special Thanks to Teresa Stauft for sponsorship and all the officiating support.
REBECCA SMITH – KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Rebecca shared her swimming journey from humble beginning in Red Deer, moving clubs teams/coaches CASC, Toronto Pan Am Center, UofT, UofC. Swimming on the Canadian National team for over a decade. Competing at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan Pacific Championships, Commonwealth Games. Winning Medals at all these events, highlighted with an Olympic Bronze Medal at Tokyo 4 x 100 Free Relay.
Rebecca shared that is about taking your time to enjoy the process of achievement.
Rebecca is now a Nurse at Foothills Hospital.
CELEBRATING OUR GRADS Class of 2026!
• Elizabeth Barber – University of Saskatchewan – Bio Med. (first KSC swim 2018- age10)
• Matea Gigovic – University of Tennessee – Nuclear Engineering & Swimming Vol. (2016- age 8)
• Megan L’Heureux – University of Ottawa – Mechanical Engineering & Swimming Gee Gee’s (2023- age15)
• Peyton Pelham – University of Lethbridge Bachelor Science (Ecology and Environment) (2017-age 8)
• Kamryn Rideout – Western University Bio Medical Engineering (2016-age 8)
• Maya Share – Western University – Social Sciences & Swimming Mustang (2014- age 6)
• Pablo Zendejas – University of Victoria Biochemistry (2015-age 7)
KSC Coaching Graduates:
• Maisey Phillips – Western University
• Joy Phan – University of Calgary - Art History (Sincere Apologies for not recognizing you at the banquet)
Graduate Address: Maya and Matea shared their Killarney Journey. When asked what is your Best Time? The answer was not a time or a stroke, it was about the Best Times they had from Swimming at Killarney. Team Travel, Swim Meet, Training Camps, enduring practice together with Friendships. Their theme very much echoed Rebecca's comments. Strong KSC values have been embedded into these athletes! They thanked parents, teammates, and coaches.
The celebration night had all it’s usual fun, Fantastic Dinner, Raffle prizes, Picture Slide shows by group and Grads, and Dance. All the swimmers dressed up nicely! Thankyou for a great night KSC.