With the largest training roster for the program in over a decade, which includes 19 student-athletes on the eligibility certificate, the present and future of the Bisons swimming program is bright.
 
This year's roster includes four fresh faces who are actively competing on the women's side (Aryana Arquero, Annabel Kolman, Arielle Patts, Jillian Stacey), and six on the men's side (Cameron Adamson, Stephen Banek, Harlem Lau, Mahinder Singh, Jerome Timpug, Rowan Wick), complementing an experienced group alongside them.
 
Veterans Carson Beggs, Indi Halldorsen-Haines, Ella Howe, Shea Guest, Avery Weiland , Eric Dupre, Brayden Stacy, Ty Unrau, Tam Doan, Rhade Kostelnyk (redshirting) and Andriy Usan (redshirting), have done a fantastic job integrating the rookies. The culture within the program is as strong as it's ever been, and the results have been fantastic as well.
 
The Bisons enter the Canada West Swimming Championships today through Sunday in Lethbridge with high hopes, having swam countless best times entering the competition.
 
Away from the pool, the group of young stars – eight of whom are products of the local Junior Bisons and Manta Swim Clubs – have gelled seamlessly with the experienced crop of Bisons.


 
"We talk about One Herd a lot. I think that really resonates with this group. We all step back and work with the younger group. That's a big part of our program. The Junior Bisons are a big part of us. And merging the two clubs right now, with Manta and Bisons, you really get to work with and get to know recruits that are coming in. The boys that came in had that opportunity," said Beggs, a breaststroke specialist in his fifth year with the program.
 
"On the girls side, we had two come in from our program. Jill, with her brother being Brayden, this is now a family trend. They're all doing that job, they're making the changes. The jump from club swimming to varsity, it is a jump and there's a huge demand to ask. This group is just so tight-knit and they're committed. They ask the questions that need to be asked, and get the help that they need."
 
At Pan Am Pool, the Bisons have set up shop in the high performance training centre, as their makeshift team room. They spend "a lot of time together" there, learning and growing together.
 
"A lot of the guys and girls are taking classes together. We see third years and fourth years going back and helping. I've seen Ella [Howe] giving tutoring lessons in economics classes more times than I can count. It's this meshed group, not only on the swimming side, but on the social and school side," added Beggs.
 
"We've never seen a bigger group of swimmers on UMAC trying to get involved. That's a really big part of our program and trying to grow it. Indi is the co-chair. I'm the executive assistant. Ella is on the executive board. Shea and Avery are our team reps, and Andriy and Mahinder on the guys side, so there's seven of us. In my second year, there were just two of us."
 
Halldorsen-Haines (mid distance – freestyle specialist), and Howe (sprint freestyle specialist) jumped right into opportunities on the athletic council's executive board, and over the years, more of their teammates have gotten involved.


 
It's been an important way for the group to stay engaged with other student-athletes, and advocate for what's important to their program and others in a leadership role.
 
"It's a really great leadership group that we've got going," said Beggs. "We all want to see this program succeed. That is felt all through the program from the veterans to the rookies. They want to see what happens next, not just what is happening right here right now."
 
In the pool, expect big results from Manitoba this weekend.
 
Howe, a gold medalist in the 50m free at Canada West, is coming off a summer representing her country in the Canada-Great Britain Dual Meet, which took place in Loughborough, England. She qualified thanks to a stellar showing at U SPORTS last year, and she'll be key for Manitoba in the relays as well.
 
"She is a hard worker and competes well. As soon as she stepped on the deck in Vancouver [at the College Cup], some of the swimmers that were there with her in the summer, you could tell that there were connections there that were formed," said head coach Vlastik Cernty. "That's a real neat thing to see. She formed some new friendships and relationships."
 
Expect all of Manitoba's relay teams to make noise overall. Specifically on the women's side, the 4x100, 4x200 and medley should perform well, with the likes of Halldorsen-Haines, Howe, Guest, Weiland, and rookie Aryana Arquero likely to be in the mix.
 
Arquero is one of the women's "fastest sprinters" in the butterfly and has "an opportunity to be competitive."
 
On the men's side, Manitoba has strong depth in the breastroke, paced by Beggs, while Tam Doan has also been racing at best times.
 
"Tam has come into his own. He raced well in Vancouver. [Beggs and Doan] are duking it out for that spot on the relay team," said Cerny.
 
"He has really become more consistent in his training and it's starting to show in his racing. We do these race simulations in the pool and he's really stepping up in his performances."
 
"Tam, the best part of College Cup was watching him win a swim-off to get into the A final," added Beggs of his teammate.
"When Tam is put in that pressure situation, he just steps up. He's that guy, he'll do it. He's very good in relays when his team is relying on him, or the pressure is high, you know Tam is going to step up."
 
Eric Dupre, the school record-holder in the 200m backstroke (short course) is also one to watch. He's balanced a demanding course load in the Faculty of Engineering, and has thrived.  
 
"Eric has been a top performer on the team. His school has been pretty heavy so he's been coming in earlier and training on his own," said Cerny. "He's been an Academic All-Canadian and managing his swimming which is not an easy task."
 
Additionally, Dupre, Beggs and Ty Unrau are all members of Manitoba's record-breaking 400m medley relay, establishing a top time of 3:44.26 in 2023.
 
Long story short, Manitoba has the talented and skill to thrive this weekend, and they're as connected as ever.
 
"We might not be the biggest team. But you're not going to meet a group that is more tight-knit and caring than this group," smiled Beggs.