The Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA) today announced the Junior Swimming Team which will travel to Martinique to compete in the 2016 CARIFTA 50 Metre Pool and Open Water Swimming Championships, 22 – 26 March 2016.

In addition to rigorous training and meeting minimum qualification times, to be considered for selection, a swimmer must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Be a registered member of CIASA in good standing;

2. Have signed the 2015/2016 CIASA Representative Swim Team Agreement;

3. Have signed and agreed to Representative Team Protocols; and

4. Be between the ages of 11 — 17 as of 31 December 2015.

Swimmers have been training hard, as evidenced by the CIASA, National and Club records which fell last weekend at the Cayman Islands National Swimming Championships.

Based on a review of qualifying times, athletes’ compliance with training and eligibility requirements, coaches made a recommendation to CIASA and the Team Roster was agreed and ratified by the CIASA Board of Directors on 22 February 2016. Bailey Weathers, CIASA’s Technical Director commented: “This has been already been an exciting season for so many Cayman Islands swimmers. We have seen an incredible amount of improvement and success; and we are expecting more great swims as well at CARIFTA.”

Swimmers who will represent the Cayman Islands at the 2016 CARIFTA Swimming Championships are:

11-12 Girls

Sabine Ellison (CBAC)

Avery Lambert (CBAC) **

Stephanie Royston (SSC) **

Isabel Watler (CBAC) **

11-12 Boys

Jake Bailey (SSC) **

Finn Bishop (CBAC) **

Corey Frederick-Westerborg (SSC) **

Ben Somerville (CBAC) **

13-14 Girls

Alison Jackson (SSC)

Ria Plunkett (SSC)

Holly Stradling (CBAC)

13-14 Boys

Jordan Crooks (SSC)

Zachary Moore (SSC)

15-17 Girls

Samantha Bailey (SSC)

Lauren Hew (CBAC)

Catriona MacRae (SSC)

Ella Plunkett (SSC)

15-17 Boys

Rory Barrett (CBAC)

John M. Bodden (SSC)

Jonathan Key (SSC)

Cole Morgan (SSC)

Eddie Weber (CBAC)

** This year we are pleased to welcome seven rookies to the team.  Veteran parents and swimmers are invited to offer guidance to assist rookie swimmers and parents with paperwork and patience during what may seem a hectic few weeks ahead.

(Note: SSC — Stingray Swim Club and CBAC — Camana Bay Aquatic Club)

As is now the custom, the CARIFTA Squad will have a Training Camp which brings the athletes together as a team for pool training and team building. The Training Camp is in addition to the swimmers’ regular club training and focuses on common technical aspects of their swims such as starts, turns and relay changes.

Special thanks is extended to the Cayman Islands Government and Maples for their support every year which has helped make the position of Technical Director possible, providing swimming in Cayman with a growth strategy which, in its third year, is seeing continued positive growth. Additionally Davenport Development is into its second of a three year commitment to help fund representative team events and DART, through its sponsorship of the recent National Championships also supports the Junior Representative Team.

CIASA is pleased to be able to provide much of the funding for this trip, from funds raised at the recent Dine and Splash with Olympians, raffle ticket sales and the upcoming Second Annual CIASA golf tournament to be held on 26th February. However, travel to Martinique is quite an expensive proposition and with such a large team travelling, the team and parents will also be pulling together to raise additional funds for the trip. In addition to travel expenses, there will be additional costs for accommodations, meals and gear, so please — when you see a swimmer approaching with a raffle ticket book in hand — be generous.

Michael Lockwood, CIASA President; a competitive swimmer in his youth and now a masters swimmer, was delighted with the announcement of the team. “The CARIFTA 2016 qualification times were announced in September 2015, with the qualification process being tweaked just a little to acknowledge the increasing number of swimmers achieving the faster qualification times. Swimmers were required to achieve a minimum of two (2) qualification times. This requirement notwithstanding, we have seen some outstanding results and this year CIASA is proud to announce a team of 22 swimmers will attend CARIFTA 2016.”

With a potential maximum team size of 32 swimmers the Cayman Islands team of 22 swimmers is a testament to the swimmers hard work and dedication; and with veteran CARIFTA swimmers such as Lauren Hew, Ella Plunkett, Eddie Weber and Cole Morgan on the team the seven first time competitors (rookies) will have good mentors in their team mates.

“I would like to congratulate all of our swimmers,” commented the Hon. Minister of Sport, Osbourne Bodden. “Swimming requires incredible commitment, discipline and focus … and many early hours at the pool. I also want to thank our athletes’ 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 Martinique.”

The CARIFTA Team travelling to Martinique will be accompanied by Head Coach and Manager Bailey Weathers, Associate Head Coaches Caleb Miller and David Pursley and Assistant Team Manager Myriam Plante.