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INUVIK
These Muskrats might be some of the fastest things in the water around Inuvik.

Muskrat Swim Club members Darcie Setzer, left, Julienne Chipesia, Leesha Setzer, Tyson Mistaken Chief and Kierra McDonald. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The Mackenzie Muskrat Swim Team isn't resting on its laurels after achieving some very good results in the territorial swim competitions two weeks ago in Yellowknife.

Coaches Vince Brown and Alice Graham were busy training the team members May 30 at the pool in the Midnight Sun Complex instead of basking in the glow of victory. That's in keeping with their coaching philosophy, as they've made the swimmers into some of the hardest-working athletes around.

The coaches emphasize improvement over winning and teamwork over individual results, although some members, such as Annika Krizan, had excellent results.

"The team did really well this year and last year," said Brown. "They improved on all their performances and they all did really well."

"We don't like to single anyone out. We had four girls who won medals, and they all did equally as well and I wouldn't say one out-performed the other. Some of our members were at the top of their age groups, some were at the bottom. It's not necessarily that important what medals they got. It's all about improving and having fun."

That philosophy is reflected in the team members who don't swim competitively, Brown said.

"We're really proud of all of them for their hard work," added Graham. "It's all about hard work and organization."

"No, it's about fear and intimidation," Brown said with a wink as Graham shot him an exasperated look that dissolved into a smile.

"No, it's the positive attitude," she hastened to add.

Brown was the founder of the club about four or five years ago. Before then, he said there was an informal group, but the opening of the new pool at the rec centre with its swim lanes offered new possibilities.

"The facilities here are so amazing. We're lucky we have the four lanes in the pool given the location of Inuvik," Graham said.

Both he and Graham have backgrounds in competitive swimming they draw upon. Graham said she enjoys working with young swimmers, because they're more "coachable."

Graham will be leaving the team later this year, as she relocates to British Columbia.

"It's going to be sad and probably the thing I'll miss most is the team," she said.

The club has 17 members, ranging from eight to 16 years old. Most of them are girls, which the coaches said is just a "demographic thing" that moves in cycles.

"It's luck of the draw at the moment," said Brown.

The team practises year-round, taking a break only when the rec centre pool shuts down for its annual maintenance.

The territorial championships are the only real competition the club attends each year, due to the relatively small number of teams and facilities found in the NWT.

"There's not really a lot of options for that," Graham said. "There is a swim meet in Tuktoyaktuk during the summer."

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