PCS Christmas Cracker 2025

Thirty Dinos jetted off to Victoria for a weekend of fast swimming and holiday spirit. For some, it marked their third annual trip to this meet - bringing familiarity, confidence, and leadership that helped set the tone for strong team culture and mature race preparation. For others, it was their biggest team travel meet to date, offering plenty of opportunity for learning, growth, and lots of fun with teammates along the way.

Day one was all about leaning into the challenge. Athletes raced well and set the tone early. An oversubscribed meet demanded adaptability from the very first session - adjusted warm-ups, long sessions, and finals with unconfirmed timelines meant the focus stayed firmly on what we could control. Not every moment of Session #1 was perfect, but swimmers who faced tough moments showed resilience, pivoting quickly and resetting to move forward with purpose.

Our final swims of the “morning” session saw our 1500 swimmers finishing around 2:00pm. Ezra Canji delivered a standout performance, swimming to a lifetime best by over a minute and earning his first-ever Provincial Championships cut. Sierra Stratton and Natalie Kostka took on the event for the very first time, racing boldly side by side for the entire distance and finishing with smiles that reflected both effort and enjoyment.

Day 1 finals kicked off with excitement as Katarina Gibbs opened the session with a 50 Fly swim-off, taking the win in a lifetime best - dropping 0.9 from the morning. With girls racing at one end of the pool and boys at the other, the session moved quickly, but our swimmers were ready each time they stepped on the blocks, carrying momentum and confidence into the rest of the evening.

Saturday brought a more grounded approach for many athletes. With one full day under their belts, swimmers settled into their routines, growing more confident in their processes and more familiar with the environment. The day also came with important lessons in team travel - checking physical heat sheets, being on time for team meetings, and understanding that once you’re done swimming, your role as a great teammate has only just begun.

Our final day was just as sharp as the first. For a Sunday morning, our Dinos were back in business right away, showing mindfulness and presence in both preparation and racing. Athletes made the most of their morning swims being invested in the race and reflecting meaningfully after. Finals being held all in one end of the pool allowed the entire team to come together for a strong, unified finish to the weekend.

Our "Swim of the Session" winners (awarded to swimmers, by swimmers):
Day 1 Prelims - Sophie Smith & Ezra Canji
Day 1 Finals - Maria Haboc & Justin Chen 
Day 2 Prelims - Julia Wagner & Leo Zhang
Day 2 Finals: Brooke Rousselle & Jack Short
Day 3 Prelims: Hanna Cseh, Georgie DaCosta, and Uno Reyes
Day 3 Finals: Demi Wilson, Tea Holloway, and Zachary Vinuya 

We are incredibly grateful to our chaperones Suzane Gibbs & Monica Liu for helping keep our athletes well-fed and ready for racing all weekend long! 

It was the perfect weekend of racing to bring out 2025 to a close, while sparking inspiration for what next steps to take come 2026.