Winds of change were blowing for the Whitehorse Glaciers Bears this past season.

Bronwyn Pasloski took over as the new head coach of the club coming out of the pandemic.

“The season was actually quite incredible. It was a season of big, positive change.”

Pasloski said the swim meets the club participated in went really well.

“I think this year was quite unique in a sense that there was a big change at the beginning, with myself taking on the head coach role. And with that, it took some time for us to navigate together as a team, both the athletes and the coaches, as well as the board and the parents, to get into our rhythm and routine.

“And we saw a lot of our athletes able to go and travel at some meets, and it was incredible, because many of these athletes haven’t ever traveled outside of the territory to be able to participate in a competition. And that’s solely because of COVID.

“Many of our athletes, really the majority of the club right now, as they were still young in the club, and then COVID created delays, they haven’t had that experience. So when we were able to get into the rhythm of things and we brought our athletes down (south), it was substantial to see the excitement that was really ignited in the club. And to start seeing that team come back together again.”

The local swim season wrapped up in June with the Yukon Championships in Whitehorse.

“It was electric, the emotions that were associated with how the results were and how our team really came together,” recalled Pasloski. “It’s been I think quite a while since we’ve seen the opportunity for some of our younger swimmers to really start to blossom in their results due to the lack of competition. So having this be the first year, we’ve already seen results and having more athletes qualify for divisional times and making big leaps.

“We’re entering this next year way ahead than we were last year, and we’re expecting some pretty significant results to come out of it.”

Pasloski said that she is settling into the head coaching role.

“Absolutely. I was always excited and ready to go. It was without hesitation that I stepped into the position.

“I officially accepted the position just a couple of months ago now and have signed on and committed to the Whitehorse Glacier Bears for an additional two more seasons to come. We’ll continue on from there I’m sure. It seems like it might be a lifetime with Whitehorse Glacier Bears, which is exciting.”

Pasloski said the future is looking bright for the swim club.

“Lots of very exciting things will be coming out of this next year. I have really found my ground and I think that my team around me, my coaches, have really started to flourish as well. So I have a great network of coaches around myself and we’re all on the same page and why we’re doing what we’re doing and why we love coaching.”

Pasloski thought the Speedo Canadian Swimming Championships, which took place Aug. 1-6, were “great.”

Thomas Gishler and Thomas Bakica represented the Whitehorse Glacier Bears.

“It was lovely to see them and to see their results and their growth,” related Pasloski.

“Thomas Gishler did fantastic ending the year. With years of change and being at a high level of swimming, results don’t always come at every single swim meet, so he ended his season on a very positive note with his season bests, which is really all that we could ask for.”

Pasloski said this was Bakica’s first year at nationals.

“The experience for him was wonderful.

“I think that for everyone that attended and myself, it just kind of set the tone for this coming year, which is a big one in the swimming world and the sport world in general because the 2024 Olympics are approaching, so for us as swimmers, the Olympic trials are held in the middle of May in Montreal, so that’s what we are getting focused on.”

Pasloski said Gishler has been racing at nationals for the past two and a half years.

Bakica went to his first national event this spring.

“This is his first summer nationals that he was able to attend,” said Pasloski. “So when you are going to nationals, you are only able to race in the events once you make a qualifying time.

“Thomas Bakica is just starting his journey. He had one qualifying time, so only raced one event.”

Bakica finished 21st in the 50 m breaststroke.

Gishler had three events in which he qualified and achieved season’s bests with these results:

• 18th in the 400 m freestyle;

• 16th in the 1500 m freestyle; and

• 12th place in the 800 m freestyle.

WGB alumnus Amelia (Mia) Barrow competed in the 18+ age group for the University of B.C. and had the following results:

• 16th in the 100 m Breaststroke;

• 9th in the 400 m medley;

• 12th in the 200 m Medley; and

• 8th in the 200 m Breaststroke.

Pasloski was asked what stood out to her about this season.

“Resilience,” she replied, “That was probably the biggest component to seeing how the kids really were able to navigate change. I think that especially coming through COVID I did notice, a lot of our athletes, they really trained incredibly hard this last summer leading up to the Canada Games. And naturally that can always come with a bit of a low afterwards, just experiencing something so exciting.

“All of us together really had a great journey in terms of getting connected again as a team. And I just think that the biggest standout for me, as a coach anyway, was seeing this next level of results start to come out of my swimmers like, big leaps sort of happened at the back end of the year. As well as the team coming back together and really feeling united. And we’re going to be focusing on that a lot this coming season and onwards. That’s one of our priorities.”

As far as improvement went, Pasloski said she saw great leaps in results from all the athletes in Kodiaks, Polar Bears and Silvertips, who really stepped up their training.

“This next year will be great to see who’s going to be able to qualify or become closer to qualifying times at some of our more senior level competitions like the senior level B.C. championships or internationals or even nationals. I think that we’re gonna see some breakouts coming up soon.”

Pasloski mentioned Roy Oborne, 12, of Haines Junction as a possible up-and-comer.

“The commitment of this young individual is unmatched. He drives in with his family every day to come and practice.”

Pasloski said Oborne is “very dedicated. He was able to attend his first provincial championship this summer. And that was a great experience for him. So I think that we’ll be excited to see what Roy can achieve in the coming years as well.”

As for the near future, a pool closure at the Canada Games Centre will delay the start of training for the Glacier Bears, et all, to October. They would normally start training in September.

To that end, the swimmers will be working with the Northern Strength Academy for some dryland training in September.

Pasloski said Thomas Gishler is the only qualifying athlete for the upcoming Olympic Trials next May 12-19 in Montreal.

“He’ll be focused on getting conditioned and getting his training prepped to race in May.

“Our other athletes, we are going to just focus on improving in general but having fun. We’re going to be traveling to some of our favourite meets throughout the year and trying to focus on getting more travel out there for our younger athletes to really see what we can accomplish, but I think our big goal for this year is to start developing our younger athletes to get closer to their divisionals and their provincial qualifying times so we can have more athletes have more opportunities.”

Pasloski added, “I’m very excited for this next year. I think it’s going to be something very special.”