Shukaliak makes Team Alberta for SYNC competition

By Lethbridge Herald on June 18, 2022.

Submitted photo Lethbridge Synchrobelles’ Mataya Shukaliak’s efforts in the pool have earned her a spot on Team Alberta for the SYNC competition this July in Edmonton.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Synchrobelles Synchronized Swimming Club’s Mataya Shukaliak will be competing  as a  part of the 11 and 12-year-old  Team Alberta category at the SYNC competition in Edmonton next month.

Swimmers had to accept an invitation to a one-day training camp last month and worked under the provincial coaches and were selected based on their skills, sportsmanship and coachability.

“I have been working hard with my coaches preparing for the training camp and competition in July. I am learning a new routine. I like that it’s challenging,” said Shukaliak,

“They invited swimmers that made a certain mark or impression on judges or our technical director,” said Synchrobelles coach Sara Kindt.

She will be competing against artistic swim clubs from Ontario and Quebec.

“Exciting, because I have never done anything like this before,” said Shukaliak.

She is looking forward to working with a larger team.

“I think it might be harder though because there will be more people to be in SYNC with,” said Shukaliak

 “I hope the experience this summer will make me a stronger swimmer for next year.”

There were 10 athletes chosen for that age group with eight swimming on the team and two alternates.

“She goes for two weeks, (for) like a training session, where she swims six hours a day and then ends with this meet and it’s quite an accomplishment. And I think she’s going to really excel and become such a stronger swimmer with the whole process of it,” said Kindt.

Since January, Kindt said they’ve seen so much improvement and drive from her.

SYNC will be held July 13-16 in Edmonton.

There will also be a 13-15-year-old, junior and senior categories. 

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