Summerside Dolphin Swim Club honours ‘dynamic duo’ Corish, Palmer

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Abbey Corish and Logan Palmer were more than just teammates with the Summerside Dolphin Swim Club.

The longtime friends shared many memories, both served as club captains and the two graduating members were recently honoured as the 2018-19 Dolphins swimmers of the year.
“To be perfectly honest, I would be six or seven when I started,” recalled Palmer. “Abbey is my neighbour and she started (swimming) and my parents convinced me to go in it with her.
“She helped me get into it and made me feel comfortable going. Once I got there, the first few practices, I just loved it – all the atmosphere, all the friends and it’s an individual sport but a team atmosphere. I really like that.”

Lauren Folland was selected as the 2018-19 Dolphin of the year recently. “Lauren Folland is one of our up-and-coming leaders and she’s shown great dedication to the sport,” said Dolphin head coach Jennifer Power-Hawrylak, who presented the award. “Lauren is always on the deck, is the last person to leave and always makes sure everyone feels included. She has great spirit and is a great cheerleader for the club along with being a great swimmer herself.”

The two Grade 12 students at Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside were presented with the prestigious awards at the Dolphins’ recent awards dinner.
“I met a lot of people, not only from our swim club but other swim clubs as well,” reflected Corish, 18. “I had a lot of great experiences, some that I wouldn’t have had if I wasn’t in the swim club.
“I made a lot of friendships and I learned more about being a leader and a role model for others. Being in the program has helped me a lot, not only about swimming but about myself. I’m kind of sad to see it go, but it’s been great.”
Palmer leaves the Dolphins with many fond memories from his final season.
“There are a lot of people who deserve that award and I’m happy to get it obviously,” said the 17-year-old, who will study engineering at Memorial University in St. John’s, N.L. “There was a lot of fun stuff that happened throughout the year and I’m glad I made an impact on people.”
Dolphins head coach Jennifer Power-Hawrylak acknowledged the impact Corish and Palmer have had on the club.
“The two of them together have been the dynamic duo,” said Power-Hawrylak. “They came in together 10 years ago, they are neighbours and they are like siblings. They really bring our team up a notch.”

Credits parents, coaches
As graduating members, Corish and Palmer were given the opportunity to address the gathering of fellow swimmers, parents, coaches and supporters. Palmer took the opportunity to recognize the contributions and dedication of parents and coaches.
“A lot of what makes a successful swimmer is behind the scenes with the coaches and parents,” said Palmer. “Personally, I think we hit the jackpot to be supported by such an amazing crew of parents, coaches and volunteers, who over the years have given us the chance to compete on and off-Island and even out of the country.
“These people have given us so many amazing opportunities that we will not soon forget.”
Palmer then asked all coaches, followed by board members, then parents and other volunteers to stand.
“These are the people who make swimming work and make us work as a club,” said Palmer.
The Dolphins have certainly had an impact on Corish’s life.
“I am extremely lucky to have joined a program such as this because I have come to consider most of you as family,” said Corish, who will attend Dalhousie University to begin a bachelor of science in kinesiology. “Some of my favourite memories with the Dolphins are the team trips we go on every year, the time we got storm-stayed in Quebec and a microwave exploded and the time my neck pillow exploded and a rendition of Miley Cyrus’s ‘Wrecking Ball’ came on, or the time we sang along to the entire movie of ‘Elf’ on the ride home a few years earlier.”
Corish also touched on the impact coaching has had on her.
“I learned more about leadership when I started coaching the juniors three years ago and this year I coached the Tier 1Bs as well,” she said. “I really enjoy coaching, mostly because of the stories and songs my swimmers tell me from one girl telling me she brought worms in her pockets, to a swimmer telling me all his siblings were named after super heroes and to a boy singing ‘It’s Raining Tacos’ on repeat every single day.”

Barb McNeill presents the Barb McNeill Channel Award for the 2018-19 season to Claire Ashley. The award is presented annually to a member of the Summerside Dolphin Swim Club.

Did You Know

Summerside Dolphin Swim Club facts:
The Dolphins are based out Credit Union Place in Summerside.
The Dolphins had 84 swimmers for the 2018-19 season.
The ages of the swimmers ranged from five to 18-years-old.
The featured an all-female coaching staff for 2018-19. They were Jessica Vos, Emily MacIsaac, Mya Welton, Jenna Chiasson, Abbey Corish and Jennifer Power-Hawrylak.
“The club in general had a fantastic year,” said Power-Hawrylak. “We started it off last year in Iceland in June. From there, we had a great long-course season, short-course season, we went to Montreal by train and had some fantastic swims and even took in a Habs’ (Canadiens) game, which they liked, even if you don’t cheer for the Habs. From there, we basically spent every second weekend in Halifax trying to gain our Eastern Canadian standard times.”

Set them apart
Power-Hawrylak provided examples of Corish and Palmer being rewarded for their hard work. She noted Corish realized a goal of attaining time standards for a return trip to the Eastern Canadian championships in Quebec City.
Palmer had a goal of attaining as many team short-course records as he could in his final year. He set many personal-best times in both short and long course, including some new records. Power-Hawyrlak noted both Palmer and Corish had a lot of “personal-best times” during a three-day meet in Montreal against university swimmers.
“Both swimmers set the standard of commitment to practise and when at practice to work hard while there,” said Power-Hawrylak. “They both attended almost all meets they were eligible for.”

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