Aces’ Scheerer calls coaching role ‘dream come true’

Ethan Scheerer oversees the Wilmot Aquatics Aces while standing on the deck. Scheerer is the program's new head coach, succeeding Joni Sanders who served in the role for over two decades. Contributed photo

By Spencer Seymour

The Wilmot Aquatic Aces recently named Ethan Scheerer, a former competitor within the swimming program, as their new head coach.

Scheerer told the Gazette he is incredibly enthusiastic about overseeing the swimming program he was a part of for much of his youth.

“The Aces program is amazing to be a part of,” said Scheerer. “It’s honestly like a family. It’s a tight-knit community full of happy and driven people. It’s a welcoming program. I’m very proud to have gone through the Aces and to be back coaching because it helped me get out of my shell when I was younger and become the person I am today. It’s grown incredibly since I first joined back in 2010. When I was first part of the Aces, there were 30-40 swimmers and now, we’ve got just over 160, so the growth has been incredible.”

As noted, Scheerer first joined the program in 2010 at the age of eight and spent a decade as a member of the Aces. He then spent two years swimming at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick before returning to become part of the Aces’ coaching staff.

Scheerer succeeds longtime coach Joni Sanders, a driving force for the program’s creation and development for over two decades, and who Scheerer said has left a lasting and incredible impact on himself and the program as a whole.

“It means a lot,” Scheerer said about taking over from Sanders. “This is a coach who I've known over half my life. It's been a dream of mine to be head coach of the Aces, in part because of Joni, and now that dream is finally coming true. Joni built it into what it is now and is a very well-known and accomplished coach. It's big shoes to fill and I’m fortunate that Joni and I are still close and I’m able to utilize her experience and wealth of knowledge.”

As he looked ahead to his hopes for the program under his leadership, Scheerer explained that the swimmers’ enjoyment of the sport is his top priority.

“My number-one goal for this season and probably for the seasons to come, too, which I told all my fellow coaches this to make sure that they're on the same page, is to make sure we’re sending our swimmers home with a smile. That’s always my top priority. When they get out of the water at the end of practice, I want a smile on their face and I want them to be energized and wanting to come back.

“It's obviously nice when we get fast times and provincial or national qualifications or medals,” continued Scheerer. “We want to get better than we were yesterday, and it’s a very intense sport that requires a lot of hard work, but if we’re having fun, we’ll be more willing to put in the work. If our swimmers have a smile on their face when they get out of the water, their drive is going to follow.”