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Synchro BC is pleased to announce the athletes who will represent Team BC in the Solo and Duet artistic swimming events at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta.

Swimming a Solo Technical Routine to music from Fantasia, Nanaimo’s Hannah McDonagh-Proud, 18, hopes to bring emotion to her routine that carries the themes of restoring hope, facing heartbreak and rising above. In her Solo Free Routine, Hannah, who trains with Victoria Synchro, will swim her Firebird routine to the music of Rise Up by Andrea Day.

Kendall Stirrat, 16, of Pacific Wave Synchro in Vancouver, is looking to have the best performances of her artistic swimming career at the Canada Games with her water-themed Solo Technical Routine to Song by Bishop Brigs. Her Solo Free Routine will feature a burlesque-theme to the song Welcome to Burlesque by Cher.

McDonagh-Proud and Stirrat will also join forces to compete in the Duet events swimming a jazz-themed Technical Routine to It Don’t Mean a Thing by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga. The duo is aiming for a strong and dramatic Free Routine swimming to Two Steps from Hell. Hailing from two different communities and clubs separated by the Strait of Georgia, the collaboration and commitment of these two athletes to train together in preparation for the 2019 Canada Winter Games is second to none. McDonagh-Proud and Stirrat are coached by Tara Gant, Olena Foshchevska and Catharine Edwards from Victoria Synchro, and Kara Kalin and Meng Chen of Pacific Wave Synchro.

Mara Lambert-Wilson, 17, and Kaitlyn Aylesworth, 16, both from Victoria, will also represent Team BC in the Duet events. The Lambert-Wilson & Aylesworth Technical Routine is competed to a multi-song remix with a Michael Jackson flare while their Free Routine, called Jungle Tiger, is competed to jungle-themed music with prominent drumming. The duo is coached by Tara Gant, Olena Foshchevska and Emily Trenchard from Victoria Synchro.

As a team, the 10 athletes who will represent the province and Synchro BC at the Canada Winter Games are excited to perform at their best. Their dedication, intensity, skills and talent are expected to translate into exemplary elements in their Technical Routine and an authentic and meaningful presentation of their Free Routine.

The members of Team BC include:

Annie Wang – BC Aquasonics | Caitlyn Nichols – BC Aquasonics | Hannah Kryworuchko – Pacific Wave Synchro | Hannah McDonagh-Proud – Victoria Synchro | Kaitlyn Aylesworth – Victoria Synchro | Kendall Stirrat – Pacific Wave Synchro | Mara Lambert-Wilson – Victoria Synchro | Preet Lehal – BC Aquasonics | Sasha Nixon – Burnaby Caprice | Zara Herbert – BC Aquasonics | Daisy Vasquez – BC Aquasonics (Alternate)

Team BC is led by Head Coach Susan Kemper and Assistant Coach, Jennifer Koptie.

“This team loves to swim together and has worked incredibly hard in preparation for the Canada Winter Games,” commented Team BC Head Coach, Susan Kemper. “With athletes living in the Lower Mainland and on the Island, we value the training time we have together and use it effectively to ensure we are prepared for the moments that count. Our goal is to be doing our 100th full swim during the Technical Preliminary event – with just over a week before we leave for the Games, I’m confident that we are ready!”

Team BC will be performing their routines during a Water Show at the Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex at 9:30 am on Sunday, February 10, 2019. A $5.00 admission fee will directly support the athletes as they prepare for the Canada Winter Games.