Island Games swim team announced
(L-R) Island Games swim team member Eddie Weber celebrating a win at a recent open-water event with CIASA president Michael Lockwood
(CNS): Twelve swimmers will represent the Cayman Islands at the NatWest Island Games XVI, to be held in Jersey from 27 June-3 July. The Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association (CIASA), in conjunction with the Cayman Island Games Association (CIGA), announced the team of Shaune Fraser, Brett Fraser, Geoffrey Butler, Lara Butler, Alex McCallum, Iain McCallum, Cole Morgan, Rory Barrett, Jonathan Key, Eddie Weber, Lauren Hew and Ella Plunkett.
Based on a review of qualifying times, athletes’ compliance with training, and eligibility requirements, coaches recommended swimmers to CIASA and CIGA, with the CIASA board of directors ratifying the team roster.
“This has been already been an exciting season for so many Cayman Islands swimmers. We have seen an incredible amount of improvement and success; and we are expecting more great swims as well at the Island Games,” said Bailey Weathers, CIASA’s technical director and the Games swim team head coach.
CIASA thanked the Cayman Islands government and Maples for their support every year which has helped make the position of technical director possible, a job that is largely credited with the recent upsurge in swimming in Cayman, including learn-to-swim and competitive swimming. In addition, Davenport Development has come on board as a new sponsor.
While athletes’ families contribute to the cost of the trip, CIASA provides much of the funding, with money raised at the recent Dine and Splash with Olympians, raffle ticket sales and the first annual CIASA golf tournament held earlier this year.
CIASA president Michael Lockwood, a competitive swimmer in his youth and now a masters swimmer, was delighted with the announcement of the team. “Following on from our improved performance at CARIFTA earlier this year, the CIASA board of directors was pleased to see an increased number of swimmers qualify for the Island Games this year,” he said.
“The Island Games will provide our swimmers with the opportunity to race against swimmers outside of the Caribbean region and to test the boundaries of their hard work.”
