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The History of Okotoks Masters Swim Club

OMSC was started in 1991 as the Okotoks Orcas. Over the years it has gone through phases of competitive masters swimming and more of a fitness club for local swimmers and tri-athletes with ad hoc workouts written on a white board. The club was run out of the original four lane Swindel’s pool prior to the expansion of the Okotoks Recreation Centre in 2006 that resulted in a six lane competition pool.

OMSC’s membership was capped at around 50 swimmers due to lane space and numerous potential members were turned away. Volunteer coach Leslie Posein entered the program in 2007-2008 adding needed structure to the Monday and Wednesday evening workouts. Interest in Masters swimming continued to grow in the greater Okotoks area and the club’s organizers were keen to accommodate more members. The pool management provided an opportunity for Tuesday and Thursday morning lane space in the 2008-2009 season and structured coaching continued under Todd Melton. The membership jumped to 72 swimmers but potential members still had to be turned away.

At the end of the that season the organizers realized that the club was at a size that required structure and process and the amount of money being handled justified formalizing the club under bylaws. A provisional board of directors was established in June of 2009 and an ambitious new program designed with a significant increase in lane space and practice times.

OMSC’s 2017-2018 season continues to offer five weekday 1-hour morning sessions, two evening 1-hour and 1 ˝ hour workouts and a 1 1/2 hour Sunday morning session.

Coaches Bio’s

Emma Hesterman (Head Coach)
Emma is a former competitive swimmer of 11 years competing throughout the UK and in Europe. Emma has a huge passion for the love of swimming and fitness in general. Emma is in her 10th season of coaching and her 7th year of coaching Masters. Emma’s goal is to provide FUN, FITNESS AND PARTICIPATION.

As Head Coach of Okotoks Masters Swim Club, she is dedicated in building a successful, competitive and recreational swim club that focuses on stroke technique and long-term athlete development for every age and every level.

Emma will be coaching Tuesday and Thursday mornings and providing the practices for the weekend sessions.

Cara Clifford (Assistant Coach)
Cara is entering her fifth year as a coach with OMSC, working with our Monday & Wednesday evening swimmers and our Wednesday morning swimmers. Cara's background includes competing with swim clubs in Ontario and Manitoba, and has been actively coaching competitive swimming for 17 years. In addition to working with OMSC, Cara is a coach for the Foothills Stingrays Swim Club. Cara enjoys working with swimmers of all ages and abilities, with a focus on technique and achievement of swimmers' individual goals, all while having fun!

You can download our Bylaws below:

OMSC_BYLAWS.pdf