USC making a splash on the swim meet scene
Submitted by Melissa Briggs
It may have been too cold outside to even think about swimming for some, but the Uxbridge Swim Club (USC) has had little else on its mind over the winter months!
Over the winter break, USC swimmer Chloe Walker travelled to Japan as part of the 2025 Japan Cultural Exchange Tour Team with Swim Ontario. This was a huge experience for Walker, which exposed her to international racing and training opportunities in Sagamihara, Japan. The exchange also allowed her to explore different food, travel, and team experiences.
In January, 86 USC swimmers competed at the Richmond Hill Aquatic Club Winter Invitational swim meet. Swimmers of all ages within the club participated and had successful results, with many new best times and top finishes.
Uxbridge Swim Club relay team members, from left: Anika Bastien, Grace Williams, Julia Fortunato, Hannah Currie. Photo submitted by Melissa Briggs
Next, was the Oshawa Aquatic Club Durham Cup, where 31 swimmers travelled to Oshawa to race and continued to improve.
USC swimmers were busy again during the short course championship season. Members travelled across the GTA to compete at a number of events.
First up was the Division One Regionals, where 33 swimmers had qualifying times to enter. From there they went to the Division Two Regionals in Etobicoke, where 43 USC swimmers again showed their efforts to race fast over the year and earned a qualifying spot to compete.
Finally, the Ontario Age Groups Championship (where the fastest in the province compete) had a strong contingent of USC swimmers competing and putting up new best times in their age groups. Some notable results include: Chloe Walker finishing 1st in 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 400m medley, 800m freestyle, and 2nd in 100m freestyle, and 200m backstroke; Anika Bastien placing 3rd in 50m freestyle and 200m back; Alora Walsh finishing 1st in 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, and 200m breaststroke; and Grace Williams placing 2nd in 50m freestyle and 3rd in 200m freestyle. The team also came together for some outstanding and exciting relay events.
USC will be busy in April preparing to host other teams at the local USC Swim Meet at Uxpool. Other teams will travel to Uxbridge to compete at this volunteer-run event. USC appreciates that this may be one of the last meets at the current Uxpool with the exciting news of a new local pool in development.
As a not-for-profit organization, USC is forever thankful to the sponsors and to those who donate to support the group. This spring will see the tradition of the fundraising “Swim-A-Thon” take place. Swimmers will be challenged to swim for two hours straight or 5000m (whichever comes first!), with pledges supporting their effort and the club.
Finally, USC is hosting four weeks of summer swim camps, beginning July 6 and running until July 31. Interested parties can reach out to uxbridgeswimcamp@gmail.com to ask for more information.