Summerside Dolphins back in the pool looking to make waves

Hannah Ngwenya, left; Leah Carruthers, middle, and Stella MacNeill are members of the Summerside Dolphins Swim Club, based out of the Credit Union Place swimming pool in Summerside, P.E.I. Photo by Summerside Dolphins Swim Club /ContributedArticle contentAfter a year of major growth, the Summerside Dolphins Swim Club is looking for more big things this year.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe Dolphins started in the fall of 2025 with 53 swimmers and saw that number grow to just over 80 by the end of the season.Article contentArticle content“Then we started this season with 102 (swimmers) and we got a few more since we started,” Dolphins head coach Robin Loyola told the Journal Pioneer in a recent phone interview. “The energy is so great, and the swimmers are super excited…Article contentArticle content“It’s great to see so many kids wearing the red T-shirts. We’re pretty excited about it.”Article contentProgrammingArticle contentThe Dolphins’ season in the Credit Union Place pool began on Sept. 14. Once again, the Dolphins are offering learn-to-swim and competitive programming, and the club has 11 coaches overall.Article content“Our learn-to-swim program is not competitive,” said Loyola.Article content“We do hope that they will catch the bug and want to compete, so we do teach them all the rules, turns, starts and dives that will make for a successful integration into the competitive program (should they decide to transition).”Article content Kate Blacquiere, a coach with the Summerside Dolphins Swim Club, watches as swimmers Owen Bell, left, and Isaiah Lynde, train at the Credit Union Place swimming pool in Summerside, P.E.I. Photo by Summerside Dolphins Swim Club /ContributedArticle contentDifferent levelsArticle contentLoyola explained that the Dolphins offer different levels of competitive programs.Article content“We have a multi-sport stream and then we have a performance stream,” said Loyola. “They start out with our White squad, which is our first level of competitive (swimmers), and they swim four times a week. Then our swimmers in Gold train seven times a week.”Article contentLoyola said the competitive swimmers set goals for the season with their target meet the East Coast championships.Article contentArticle content“With that one, there’s an extra carrot for our athletes that get to that level of a meet,” said Loyola.Article contentArticle content“Because the competition is so high, they become eligible for the external sport credit program that Sport P.E.I. got off the ground, which is just a fantastic initiative.Article content“It gives our athletes a school (extracurricular) credit, but they have to meet a certain requirement of training and performance to be eligible to apply.”Article content The Summerside Dolphins Swim Club’s, from left, Rylai Supetran, Stesha Salazar, Charlotte Yang, Vanya Bacay and Amelia Landry, take a break from training at the Credit Union Place swimming pool in Summerside, P.E.I. Photo by Summerside Dolphins Swim Club /ContributedArticle contentComponentsArticle contentLoyola pointed out that there are also mental and dryland training components for competitive swimmers.Article content“When you are training, I always say that it’s like 90 per cent physical and 10 per cent mental, but then when you start going to swim meets that switches – it becomes 90 per cent mental and 10 per cent physical,” said Loyola. “It really depends on the mindset.Article content“So, it’s talking to the athletes to prepare them for competition; getting them to understand that being confident isn’t about never feeling doubt – it’s how to respond to doubt or how to bounce back when things don’t go the way you want.”