Torpedoes making a big splash with relaunch

The Tillsonburg Torpedoes are back in the water. The swim team started in March, will continue to June and then start again in September. Programs are offered for ages ranging from six to adults. (Jeff Helsdon Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

The Tillsonburg Torpedoes swim team is back, and making waves in the recently-opened indoor pool.

Paul Armstrong is sharing the coaching duties with Dave Chisholm, principal at Glendale High School and a former high-level university champion, and Zach Sanders, son of Torpedoes alumni Joni Sanders and coach of the Wilmot Aces swim team. Isabel Willson, who is from Tillsonburg and a nationally-ranked swimmer

The swim team started on March 18 and already has 41 swimmers from ages six to 60. The older age group are part of the master’s program that already has 16 swimmers.

“A little bit of everything,” Armstrong smiled of the club’s program offering.

The interest is way beyond his expectations. He said interest spread by word of mouth, an ad in the community guide and a promotional story.

The team will continue practicing until June 20, and then take a break for the summer.

“Our plan is to grow and hit the ground running for September,” he said.

There have been no competitions for club members yet, but that is something that will be looked at next season.

Standing on the deck overseeing a swim practice is a bit of a homecoming for Armstrong. Originally from Saskatoon, he came to Tillsonburg to coach in 2003. After a five-year stint, he moved to the Brantford Aquatic Club. Armstrong will finish out the season in Brantford and will run swimming clinics for Olympians across the country – from the east coast to the west - while coaching the Torpedoes.

“By doing that, I’ve had an opportunity to spend more time with my family,” he said, explaining many of the clinics are online.

Armstrong’s two children are on the Torpedoes and his wife in the masters.

“That’s really my motivation for getting this running, to offer competitive swimming in the area for my boys and wife, but also for anyone interested,” he said.

The Torpedoes have shone on the national stage, with several swimmers going to nationals, provincials and earning varsity scholarships. Evan VanMoerke competed in the Olympics in 2016 and Michael Heath in the Paralympics in 2012.

The goal of the revitalized Torpedoes is to have a program for swimmers of all levels, from pre-competitive, to competitive and masters. Using the master’s program as an example, which is for swimmers 18 and over, swimmers can practice up to three times per week for an hour, but can also choose to only come once per week. The other programs are set up the same way where the participants can choose how often they practice. Sessions are 30 minutes for the youngest swimmers and an hour for the intermediate age group.

“Ideally, we can put little kids and masters in the pool and get everyone swimming,” Armstrong said. “It really is a life-long sport.”

The goal is to provide fitness and a healthy workout. Sign up is through the town’s recreation web site. For more information, e-mail swimmingtorpedoes@gmail.com