26 swimmers heading to CARIFTA games

(CIASA): The Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA) has announced the National Junior Representative Swimming Team which will travel to Nassau, Bahamas to compete in the XXIV 201CARIFTA Swimming Championships 12-15 April. Swimmers from Stingray Swim Club (SSC) and Camana Bay Aquatic Club (CBAC) have been training hard all season. With the final qualifier  – the Pete Ribbins Memorial Consolidated Water Meet – behind them, CARIFTA Head Coach Dominic Ross and assistant Coaches Katie Lambert and Paula Swaby-Ebanks have made the final team selection of 26 members.

“As coaches we are fully aware of the levels of commitment, sacrifice and effort displayed by each of these athletes,” said Coach Ross. “It is their dedication to the sport they love that has brought them to this point. The future has never been brighter for Cayman Islands Swimming and it is with immense pride and tremendous anticipation that we continue with the final preparations for this team, working in unison towards a successful CARIFTA 2012 next month in the Bahamas"

Swimmers who will be representing the Cayman Islands at the XXIV 2012 CARIFTA Swimming Championships are:
– Girls 11-12: Katie Klein (SSC), Lauren Hew (CBAC), Stefanie Boothe (SSC),  Kavanagh Lambert (CBAC), Jayde Solomon (SSC), Flynn Hope (CBAC) and Samantha Bailey (SSC).
– Boys 11-12: Rory Barrett (CBAC), Matthew Somerville (CBAC), Samuel Burnstein (CBAC) and Jonathan Key (SSC).
– Girls 13-14: Coral Tomascik (CBAC), Catriona Macrae (SSC), Isabella Tongnazzo (CBAC), Ashley Theaker (SSC)and Alice Narborough (SSC).
– Boys 13-14: Simon Butler (SSC), Iain McCallum (SSC) and Cole Morgan (SSC).
– Girls 15-17: Lara Butler (SSC) and Tori Flowers (SSC)
– Boys 15-17: Geoffrey Butler (SSC), Alex McCallum (SSC), Elliot Vernon (SSC), Joshua Bain (SSC) and Asher vanZanten (Unattached)

Mark Matthews, CIASA Director and Chairman of the Representative Team Committee (The Representative Team Committee – RTC – is a sub-committee of CIASA which deals with matters relating to the representation of the Cayman Islands at international aquatic competitions) said it was delighted to receive the recommendations.

“Cayman Swimming has experienced incredible growth in the past year and we anticipate that this growth trend will continue in the coming years under the leadership of Ian Armiger, the new Technical Director for swimming,” he added.

With a potential maximum team size of 32 swimmers the Cayman Islands will be sending 26 swimmers this year and with veteran CARIFTA swimmers from the Butler and McCallum families on the team the first time competitors will have good mentors in their team mates.

“I would like to congratulate all of our swimmers,” said the sports minister Mark Scotland. “Swimming requires incredible commitment, discipline and focus … and many early hours at the pool. I want to acknowledge the fortitude of these young athletes and to thank their parents for the support and often referenced ‘swim taxi service’ which they provide. On behalf of the Ministry of Sports and the Cayman Islands Government we wish you all success in the Bahamas.”

The CARIFTA Team travelling to Nassau will include Head Coach Dominic Ross, Assistant Coaches Katie Lambert and Paula Swaby-Ebanks; Team Managers Melanie Solomon and Jeffrey Wight and Team Phsyio Cayman Physiotherapy’s Bethany Cook.