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Join Our Club!
Winning against all odds
By Andrew Coakley
FN Sports Editor
Thursday, July 14th 2005
The YMCA Wave Runners swim club may have finished in fourth place at
the recent Swim Nationals in Nassau, but the place finishing speaks very
little of just how much this swim club has accomplished over the past few
months.
To get a glimpse of just how far this club has come, consider the fact that
two of their swimmers broke a number of national records at the event.
And three were awarded top point winners.
John Bradley, who is quickly becoming the "Golden Boy" of swimming set
three national records. Bradley set a new record in the Boys 13-14 1,500
Free, with a time of 18:28.57, breaking the old record of 18:47.26.
He also set a new record in the 200m Free (2:09.36), breaking the old
record of 2:10.57 and he also set a new record in the 400m Free, with a
time of 4:35.25, breaking the old record of 4:39.12.
But if you think that was great, consider up and coming future swimming
sensation, 10-year-old Evante E. Gibson, who had an outstanding Meet,
breaking six national records!
Evante set a new national record in the following:
Boys 9-10 50m Breaststroke in a time of 39.80, breaking old record of
40.99.
Boys 9-10 100m Fly, in a time of 1:14.04, breaking the old record of 1:18.46.
Boys 9-10 100m Free, in a time of 1:09.03, breaking the old record of
1:09.23.
Boys 9-10 50m Fly, in a time of 33.73, breaking the old record of 35.03.
Boys 9-10 100m Breast, in a time of 1:28.78, breaking the old record of
1:33.42.
Boys 9-10 50m Free, in a time of 31.19, breaking the old record of 31.56.
Gibson was also one of the high point winners of the Meet, along with Taryn
Smith and Dean Bethel.
"We are so proud of these kids, because they've worked so hard to
accomplish what they have," said Mrs. Bradley, John's mother.
"People have no idea just what these kids had to go through to accomplish
what they have."
And therein lies the other part of the story. Actually, the part where heroism
comes in.
The YMCA Waverunners, obviously, had their home at the YMCA, where
they would practice and swim on a regular basis.
However, since last September's storms, the YMCA has been out of
commission. The swimmers were left stranded, with no home pool to swim
and practice in, and with the Nationals pending.
But not to be deterred, the Waverunners took to the ocean, going to the
beach each morning where they would fight the elements and the waves to
get in some practice.
From the beach, the swimmers were allowed to use the pool at UNEXSO,
which was a step up from the ocean. Although the gesture was a kind one
from UNEXSO, because of a constant traffic by workers, it became a matter
of see-sawing for the swimmers.
The executives from the Royal Oasis Hotel, heard of the swimmers' dilemma
and offered them the use of the pool at the hotel.
With the hotel closed, access to the pool was free and opened.
"All of the people who helped us, we are extremely grateful to, because
without their help, only God knows what would have happened to the club,"
added Mrs. Bradley.
"But even in the midst of it all, the kids showed a strong determination. They
could have easily given up after the YMCA was shut down.
"It was not easy going out on the beach and trying to swim against the tide,
or swimming in a pool without lanes.
"I used to take John to the UNEXSO pool 5:30 every morning and because
the pool had no heat, I watched him swim in ice, cold water.
"I was standing on the side, shivering and there he was in the cold water
practicing. The determination of these kids were amazing."
To show their appreciation for their hard work, the parents of the swimmers
held an awards presentation and party for the kids at the new Bowling Alley.
While there were a few stand-outs on the team, parents and coach Pyfrom
were proud of the entire 14-member team, all of whom put in the hard work
and dedication to make it to the Nationals and perform well.
By Andrew Coakley
FN Sports Editor
Thursday, July 14th 2005
The YMCA Wave Runners swim club may have finished in fourth place at
the recent Swim Nationals in Nassau, but the place finishing speaks very
little of just how much this swim club has accomplished over the past few
months.
To get a glimpse of just how far this club has come, consider the fact that
two of their swimmers broke a number of national records at the event.
And three were awarded top point winners.
John Bradley, who is quickly becoming the "Golden Boy" of swimming set
three national records. Bradley set a new record in the Boys 13-14 1,500
Free, with a time of 18:28.57, breaking the old record of 18:47.26.
He also set a new record in the 200m Free (2:09.36), breaking the old
record of 2:10.57 and he also set a new record in the 400m Free, with a
time of 4:35.25, breaking the old record of 4:39.12.
But if you think that was great, consider up and coming future swimming
sensation, 10-year-old Evante E. Gibson, who had an outstanding Meet,
breaking six national records!
Evante set a new national record in the following:
Boys 9-10 50m Breaststroke in a time of 39.80, breaking old record of
40.99.
Boys 9-10 100m Fly, in a time of 1:14.04, breaking the old record of 1:18.46.
Boys 9-10 100m Free, in a time of 1:09.03, breaking the old record of
1:09.23.
Boys 9-10 50m Fly, in a time of 33.73, breaking the old record of 35.03.
Boys 9-10 100m Breast, in a time of 1:28.78, breaking the old record of
1:33.42.
Boys 9-10 50m Free, in a time of 31.19, breaking the old record of 31.56.
Gibson was also one of the high point winners of the Meet, along with Taryn
Smith and Dean Bethel.
"We are so proud of these kids, because they've worked so hard to
accomplish what they have," said Mrs. Bradley, John's mother.
"People have no idea just what these kids had to go through to accomplish
what they have."
And therein lies the other part of the story. Actually, the part where heroism
comes in.
The YMCA Waverunners, obviously, had their home at the YMCA, where
they would practice and swim on a regular basis.
However, since last September's storms, the YMCA has been out of
commission. The swimmers were left stranded, with no home pool to swim
and practice in, and with the Nationals pending.
But not to be deterred, the Waverunners took to the ocean, going to the
beach each morning where they would fight the elements and the waves to
get in some practice.
From the beach, the swimmers were allowed to use the pool at UNEXSO,
which was a step up from the ocean. Although the gesture was a kind one
from UNEXSO, because of a constant traffic by workers, it became a matter
of see-sawing for the swimmers.
The executives from the Royal Oasis Hotel, heard of the swimmers' dilemma
and offered them the use of the pool at the hotel.
With the hotel closed, access to the pool was free and opened.
"All of the people who helped us, we are extremely grateful to, because
without their help, only God knows what would have happened to the club,"
added Mrs. Bradley.
"But even in the midst of it all, the kids showed a strong determination. They
could have easily given up after the YMCA was shut down.
"It was not easy going out on the beach and trying to swim against the tide,
or swimming in a pool without lanes.
"I used to take John to the UNEXSO pool 5:30 every morning and because
the pool had no heat, I watched him swim in ice, cold water.
"I was standing on the side, shivering and there he was in the cold water
practicing. The determination of these kids were amazing."
To show their appreciation for their hard work, the parents of the swimmers
held an awards presentation and party for the kids at the new Bowling Alley.
While there were a few stand-outs on the team, parents and coach Pyfrom
were proud of the entire 14-member team, all of whom put in the hard work
and dedication to make it to the Nationals and perform well.
THE "A" TEAM – Members of the Waverunners swim club, along with coach Pyfrom,
pose with their medals won during the recent National Swimming Championships,
which were held in Nassau. The team finished with a total of 32 medals. Two swimmers,
John Bradley and Evante Gibson broke a number of national records. But the medals
only tell half of the story the team went through to get to the Nationals.(Sports photo by
Andrew Coakley)
pose with their medals won during the recent National Swimming Championships,
which were held in Nassau. The team finished with a total of 32 medals. Two swimmers,
John Bradley and Evante Gibson broke a number of national records. But the medals
only tell half of the story the team went through to get to the Nationals.(Sports photo by
Andrew Coakley)
None of the Wave Runners can think of a Christmas gift better than getting
back in our own pool. As each day passes we get closer to this goal and
along the way we must thank many people, epically:
Kiefer Pool Chemicals - http://store.kieferpoolchemicals.com/
UNEXSO Grand Bahama - wwww.unexso.com
The Royal Oasis Hotel
back in our own pool. As each day passes we get closer to this goal and
along the way we must thank many people, epically:
Kiefer Pool Chemicals - http://store.kieferpoolchemicals.com/
UNEXSO Grand Bahama - wwww.unexso.com
The Royal Oasis Hotel
