New Program for the UBC Dolphins

2010-07-19 Vancouver, BC. The UBC Dolphins announces the hiring of Tom Rushton as the Head Age-Group coach. Rushton moves over from the Winskill Dolphins Swim Club – who are part of the UBC Dolphins organization. In this new role, Rushton will work with the top age-group swimmers in Canada, developing them onto international teams. The role will also include outreach programs to the UBC Dolphins member organizations, as well as providing assistance to the UBC Thunderbirds varsity program.

“The time is right for this type of program at UBC,” says Rushton. “Our goal here is to provide these youth and junior aged swimmers with a training environment that will give them the skills necessary to race successfully at the international level.”

Head Coach of the UBC Dolphins Chad Webb states that "We are very excited to have Tom Rushton joining our coaching team at UBC. His results with the Winskill Dolphin's speak loudly to his energy and enthusiam that he will bring to coaching this Age Group Program. This September we will start with this great program that will allow age group swimmers to succeed on the International level, and we have the right coach to do it."

Rushton spent the last four years in Tsawwassen where he developed the Winskill Dolphin team into a premier program. Last short course season Winskill girl’s team placed first at the Short Course BC Provincial Championships, and over the past 12 months the club has placed eight swimmers on various National team initiatives. Since Rushton took over the program the swimmers have set almost 700 club records, 24 Provincial Records and one National age-group record. They have gone on to represent Canada on both the Junior and Senior National teams.

Rushton graduated from Kenyon College in 2001 after helping the varsity team to four of the Lords 31 consecutive NCAA titles. He then went on to study under Dr. Joel Stager at the Counsilman Centre for the Science of Swimming in Indiana University before returning to Canada and coaching with the dolphin program.

The Application for the International Age Group Program at UBC can be returned to the UBC Dolphins at the UBC Aquatic Centre or faxed to 604-822-9513.