Thank You!

Club of The Century Award from Canada Artistic Swimming

On September 21st, 2024 the Calgary Aquabelles received one of the “Club of the Century” awards presented by Canada Artistic Swimming (CAS) at their Celebration of 100 Years dinner. The Aquabelles would like to thank CAS very much for this recognition.

We also want to thank and congratulate all the swimmers, coaches, board members and parents who helped contribute to this award. We are the club we are because of fabulous people like you! Congratulations to the three other recipients of this award, Quebec, Montreal and Olympium.

Calgary Aquabelle wins Silver at Paris Olympics

Calgary's Jaime Czarkowski takes on Olympics donning Stars and Stripes

“I feel super lucky,” said 20-year-old Czarkowski, herself a dual citizen. “All of my friends are incredibly supportive. And from my parents and family friends, I feel a lot of support, which I think is awesome.

What is artistic swimming (synchro)?

Artistic swimming is an Olympic sport that combines the athleticism of swimming with the dynamics of gymnastics and the grace of dance. Athletes showcase their skills to a choreographed routine in the water as a team, duet, or solo. Strength, flexibility, musicality and synchronization shine through in every moment.

Why artistic swimming (synchro)?

This is a sport for kids who love swimming, dance, or gymnastics – or all of them! Artistic swimming builds endurance, power, speed, flexibility, and grace. It also builds amazing team skills, a respect for practice and discipline, and everlasting friendships.

Why the Calgary Aquabelles?

The Calgary Aquabelles have a long-standing history of excellence in the sport, producing top-level and well-rounded athletes. We offer programs from the pre-competitive to the national competitive level. Fostering fun and friendships, swimmers learn skills together and support each other. We are a club of athletes that feels like one large family!

A Proven History of Success

  • 3 Gold

    Junior Tech Team

    Junior Free Team

    Junior Free Duet

    1 Silver

    Junior Tech Solo

    1 Bronze

    Junior Free Solo

  • Junior Team Technical Final won Bronze, the Senior Free Duet won Silver, the Senior Free team won Gold, and the Senior team technical won Gold.

    2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver & 1 Bronze

  • In the sport’s first competition back after the COVID-19 shutdown, the Aquabelles finished right where they left off in 2020 pre-Covid.

    8 Gold Medal, 1 Silver Medal & 2 Bronze Medals

  • Over the course of the year’s qualifying events, only 12 clubs from 100 across Canada qualify to attend and compete in the finals. Just to reach the final 12 teams is a great honour. With 9 gold medals, the Aquabelles nearly swept all 12 events in 2019.

    Arguably one of the most dominant performances in Canadian National Championship history!

    9 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal & 1 Bronze Medal

    2019 Canada Winter Games

    8 of 9 members were Calgary Aquabelles and won 3 Gold

  • 2024, Paris, France, Jaime Czarkowski, Scarlett Finn

    2020, Tokyo, Japan, Claudia Holzner, Halle Pratt

    2004, Athens, Greece, Erin Chan, Shayna Nackoney

    2000, Sydney, Australia, Erin Chan, Reidum Tatham

    1996, Atlanta, USA, Karen Clark, Karen Fonteyne, Cari Read

    1988, Seoul, Korea, Michelle Cameron and Carolyn Waldo

    1984, Los Angeles, USA, Sharon Hambrook, Kelly Kryczka and Carolyn Waldo

  • One of our proudest achievements each year, beyond our perineal success in the pool, is watching our young athletes receive extraordinary scholarships to outstanding colleges and universities across Canada, the USA and internationally. Many of our athletes have opportunities to attend Stanford, Ohio State, University of Incarnate Word and other great schools.

History

Sept 1966: Calgary Aquabelles founded by Mary Ann Reeves.

1967: Debbie Humphrey wins first AQB national medal.

1967: Ken Newans writes about AQB and synchro on the sports page, a move from the women’s page.

1971: AQB’s win silver at Pan Am Games and are welcomed back by the City of Calgary as the first sports team to bring back an international medal!

1972: Senior and Junior Team hold simultaneous National Team Medals. Repeated 3 times (not repeated by any other club to date).

1977: Helen Vanderburg and Michelle Calkins win Elaine Tanner Canadian Athletes of the Year, winning Gold at Pan Pacifics in Mexico City and Gold at the World Aquatic Championships in West Berlin.

1981: Debbie Muir named Head Coach.

1981: AQB’s Cowboy routine beats the USA in Team for the first time ever during the Pan Pacifics.

1984: Synchronized Swimming joined the Olympics.

1984: Aquabelles win silver in solo and duet the first time Synchro is in the Olympics (Carolyn Waldo, Kelly Kryczka and Sharon Hambrook).

1988: It is a sweep at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul – Gold in Solo for Carolyn Waldo, Gold in Duet for Carolyn Waldo and Michelle Cameron with Alternate Karin Larsen.

1994: Another sweep (Solo/Duet/Team) at FINA World Junior Synchronized Swimming Championships in Bonn Germany.

1998: US Open in Santa Clara, Aquabelle athlete Raphael Jablona used Knox gelatin for the first time in hair during a competition and word spread to be the norm.

2001: Canadian Team (including Aquabelle Sarah Alexander & Erin Chan) win Bronze at World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

2008: Beijing Olympics Team places 4th with Aquabelles' Jennifer Song and Alison McKenny.

2011: Junior UANA – The Canadian Junior team takes gold in figures, solo, duet, and team. Aquabelles representation included Gabriella Brisson (duet), Claudia Holzner (duet) and Kaylene Scheil (team) coached by Jenn Tregale (head coach).

2014: Mary Ann Reeves recognized by ISOF (International Swimming Hall of Fame) with Paragon Award for Leadership in Synchronized Swimming.

2015: Junior UANA - The Canadian Junior team takes solo, duet and team with Aquabelles’ Jayd Kasprick and Halle Pratt (solo & duet) coached by Jenn Tregale.

2017: Mark Tewksbury named honourary member of the Aquabelles, celebrating his underwater training with the club prior to his gold medal win in the Barcelona Olympics.

2017: Calgary Aquabelles 50th Anniversary.

Meet the Team

When you choose to join the Calgary Aquabelles, you’re joining the best club with the best coaching staff! Our Head Coach Jenn Tregale, is one of the most successful and winningest coaches in Artistic Swimming history. We often hear, “why are those Aquabelles so good year after year?” and the answer is simple – we have the best coaching staff in Canada.

Come meet with our club, meet our coaches and have fun winning this year!

  • Brooke Whitney

    INCOMING HEAD COACH

    Brooke is the newest addition to our coaching staff. She joins us this year as our Incoming Head Coach. Brooke is a fantastic technician with many new drills and focuses for our athletes. She brings a fresh approach to our artistic and creative training. We are so pleased to have Brooke on our coaching team and look forward to many great years with her here.

  • Jenn Tregale

    OUTGOING HEAD COACH

    Head coach since 2004, Jenn’s Calgary Aquabelles teams and athletes have consistent podium finishes at all levels from 10 and under Provincial to Senior Nationals. This explains why she’s been honoured with the Synchro Alberta National Coach of the Year award for 14 years running!

    Responsible for the entire Aquabelles program, coaching staff, training and scheduling, Jenn also coaches our Senior, Junior and 13 – 15 National Stream teams. Over the span of her distinguished career, Jenn coached numerous Provincial and National teams – leading them to Gold in solo at Canada Games, Junior Pan Am Championships and 4th for team in Junior Worlds. As an NCCP Level 4 Coach, Jenn finds reward in seeing her athletes reach their full potential.

    Jenn is a celebrated athlete herself, swimming 11 years and being on the National gold medal winning team for 13 – 15 and Senior (1983, 1987). Synchro runs in her family blood: Jenn’s Mom, Penny, was also a past President of Synchro Canada. When Jenn is not hanging out at the edge of a pool deck, she loves to spend time with her husband, friends and family including her triplet niece and nephews.

  • Jenn Battista

    NATIONAL COACH

    Jenn B is a jack of all trades. During her time in the Aquabelles she has been a swimmer, a mom, a treasurer, an advisor to many board positions, our Classic Coordinator and a National Coach. Jenn is working with our National 13-15 team this year as well as heading up our Classic (Provincial) part of the club. Jenn is passionate about the Aquabelles and the well being of the club. We are very lucky to have her with us every day.

  • Maxime Mclean

    NATIONAL COACH

    Maxime is a former Aquabelle who has returned to coach our National Stream Athletes. During her time as an athlete, Maxime was a part of many National titles and was also a member of the 2013 Team Alberta group who travelled to Texas for the US Open and brought back two bronze medals. She was also a part of the 2015 Canada Winter Games Team.

    Returning to Calgary after her undergraduate degree in Halifax, Maxime is now completing her Master of Science in the department of Kinesiology, with her research focusing on Sports Psychology. She is also conducting Mental Performance Sessions with the National Stream Athletes this season.

    Maxime is an enthusiastic member of our coaching staff, always looking to lighten practice up with a good joke or funny story. In her free time, Maxime enjoys working out, spending time at her cabin and cuddling with her dog!

  • Breanne Law

    STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH

    A former Calgary Aquabelles swimmer herself, Breanne is now coaching the 13-15 and Junior national stream teams. Breanne began her synchro journey in Edmonton, where she swam for Nova Synchro and the Edmonton Auroras. She was on the 2009 12&U Alberta Canada Uana PamAm Games team. Breanne moved to Calgary in 2011 and joined the Aquabelles for her junior and senior swimming. During this time, she was on teams that won team and combo events at the Canadian Open/ nationals. Breanne also swam with the University of Calgary Dinos Synchronized Swimming team for 4 years, and performs shows with Aqualillies Canada.

    Besides coaching synchro, Breanne is also a Strength and Conditioning Coach and works with synchro swimmers and other sports like hockey and golf. Breanne graduated from Mount Royal University, where she studied Physical Literacy. She has focused most of her research and studies on finding ways to improve athlete performance in the gym and pool environments and loves every minute of it!

  • Colette Rennie

    FLEXIBILITY COACH

  • Kelsey Ayers

    CLASSIC COMPETITIVE COACH

    Kelsey has been coaching with the Aquabelles since 2019, focusing on the pre-competitive program and the 11-12 and 13-15 classic age groups. Her athletes have developed the necessary skills for confident performances at competitions, with some representing Team Alberta in the 11-12 and 13-15 programs. Kelsey's responsibilities include collaborating with athletes to achieve their seasonal goals and communicating with parents to ensure all needs are met. She currently coaches the 11-12/13-15 Whitney Team.

    Having had the honor to coach for Team Alberta, Kelsey takes pride in her ability to develop athletes capable of representing the team. Certified in competition development, her involvement in Artistic Swimming spans 18 years. Joining the Aquabelles in 2016 led to her becoming a well-rounded athlete with numerous accomplishments. As an athlete, her favorite skill was spins, while as a coach, she prefers barracudas.

    Kelsey's mother, Janet Ayers, who also participated in artistic swimming, introduced her to the sport early on and has remained supportive. Janet continues to coach for the Aquabelles as well.

    Outside of coaching, Kelsey enjoys playing with her dog, attending university, watching sunsets, and catching up with friends. She is also committed to developing her coaching skills and finding new ways to improve.

  • Kali Wong

    CLASSIC COMPETITIVE COACH

    Our Novice coach is Kali. Kali is looking forward to a fantastic year with her new team. She is focused on teaching great base skills and ensuring proper technique. Kali is also an Athletic Therapist.

  • Oxana Anpilogva

    CLASSIC COMPETITIVE COACH

    Oxana brings a huge smile and her Russian experience to the pool when coaching the younger Provincial Stream teams to podium finishes.

    She joined the Aquabelles a few years ago and made a huge impact in a very short time, being awarded Most Promising Synchro Coach of the year from Alberta Artistic Swimming in 2017.

    Herself a swimmer in Russia, Oxana is a life long lover of the sport. She organized and coached one of the first recreational synchronized swimming clubs in Moscow. Now she shares the love with her family – her kids are competitive swimmers and artistic swimmers themselves.

  • Janet Ayers

    PRE-COMPETITIVE COACH

    Our healthy precomp sessions are led by our fantastic Janet. She is dedicated to teaching excellent basics while instilling a love of the sport.

  • Elizabeth

    ASSISTANT COACH

  • Yi

    ASSISTANT COACH