In 1969, Elizabeth Gray and
Joyce Corner responded to an ad looking for coaches for a new
synchronized swimming program beginning at Huron Park Pool in
Mississauga. They started the program using only one lane and
sharing the pool with a Red Cross Leader's course. Over the years,
the enthusiasm of the group grew and the programs expanded.
Currently, Elizabeth Gray still lives in Mississauga and enjoys
recreational synchro, and Joyce Corner is an international synchro
judge and Masters swimmer (visit http://www.synchroontario.com/Masters.htm
to see a picture of her with her team-mates from the New Wave
Synchro Masters).
By the mid 70's, under Head
Coach Roberta Ammariti, MSSA had a strong recreational base as
well as a team that placed sixth in the nation competition. In
addition, Lisa
Alexander, Olympic
Silver medalist for team synchro in the 1996 Olympic Games, was a
part of the recreational and pre-competitive programs with
MSSA.
With the construction of the
Etobicoke Olympium and the founding of its synchro club,
Mississauga returned to a recreational program until 1988 when the
next Head Coach, Shauna Press, started a Provincial Competitive
program. In 1991, the club added a National Team, and in 1992 took
over running the Parks and Recreation Synchronized Swimming
program for the City of Mississauga. This program is now known as
the MSSA Satellite program.
We are proud to say that
Debbie Stanton has been our Head Coach for 12 great years. She
swam with the Calgary Aquabelles for 7 years, winning National and
International awards, and continues to be a respected
national-level coach. Debbie is supported by a dedicated team of
skilled coaches.
The MSSA has had a Swim Show
every year for the past 37 years. In the early years, men swam and
coached with the club, and often parents would do routines and
swim them at the show. But MSSA has progressed. We no longer
require that the Swim Show bathing suits be recycled from year to
year!
In the last 5 years, MSSA
has expanded to include Athletes with Disabilities, and a Masters
program. Additionally, we have also returned successfully to the
National stream with our Tier 6 swimmers.
The 2008 season ended with a
wonderful banquet and awards night where the success of our teams
was celebrated. All our teams placed extremely well in their skill
categories during the 2008 competitive season, with swimmers and
teams improving over the year.
The members of MSSA want
their club to continue to offer quality synchronized swimming
programs, perhaps for another 39 years!
Join us, and enjoy the
fun!