VANCOUVER – After a highly successful 2024-25 season, the Thunderbirds aim to keep their momentum going for this upcoming campaign.
With an eye ahead towards the UBC University Cup in a few weeks and the Canada West Championships at the end of November, the T-Birds hit the water for their first meet at the UVic Senior Circuit in Victoria this Saturday, October 18th.
The meet will provide the opportunity for many of the fresh faces on the UBC roster to show their stuff against some strong competition, as the 'Birds have nine new recruits in the fold this year. Six have joined the men's team, while three have joined the women's team.
"Our new men on the team are very committed to being the best that they can be," said Thunderbirds head coach Derrick Schoof on those half dozen new swimmers. "I am already impressed with their performances in the pool, and their presence on the team. With a big amount of hunger and talent they have big goals – and are already working hard to achieve them."
That group includes a number of athletes coming to Vancouver from abroad – Andrew Coombs from the United States, Paul Hebrard from Singapore and Sebastian van de Logt from Paris. Aiden Kirk from Kelowna is the lone B.C. recruit, and rounding out the group is Jaques Harrison from Toronto and Zach Parise from Montreal.
On the women's side, Benya Mattig also joins the T-Birds from Singapore, and like Hebrard is a graduate of Nexus International School. Lindsay Gordon hails from Montreal while Ruby Kehler comes from Kelowna.
"I am thrilled about our incoming rookie class this season for the women's swim team," added Schoof. "They have seamlessly transitioned onto the team and are already pushing the pace in training sets and are ready for more. They will add some excellent firepower at our meets and lots of positive energy into the team dynamic."
Last season the Thunderbirds swept the golds at all three of the UBC University Cup, Canada West Championships and U SPORTS Championships. They'll strive for the same again in 2025-26, with the Senior Circuit this weekend providing a valuable warmup for the big events to come.
FULL RECRUIT INFORMATION:
Name: Andrew Coombs
Hometown: Olympia, Washington
High School: Capital High School
Primary Event(s): Freestyle, IM
Major: Science
Name: Jaques Harrison
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
High School: ESC Père-Philippe Lamarche
Primary Event(s): 400m IM, 200m Backstroke
Major: Conservation, Faculty of Forestry
Name: Paul Hebrard
Hometown: Singapore
High School: Nexus International School
Primary Event(s): 100m/200m/400m Freestyle
Studying: Commerce
Name: Aiden Kirk
Hometown: Kelowna, BC
High School: Okanagan Mission Secondary
Primary Event(s): Distance Freestyle, IM
Major: Applied Biology
Name: Zach Parise
Hometown: Montreal
High School: John Abbott College
Primary Event(s): 200m/400m Freestyle
Major: Commerce
Name: Sebastian van de Logt
Hometown: Paris
High School: École Diagonale Paris
Primary Event(s): 50m/100m/200m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly
Major: Commerce
Name: Lindsay Gordon
Hometown: Montreal
High School: John Abbott College
Primary Event(s): Butterfly, Freestyle, IM
Major: Psychology
Name: Ruby Kehler
Hometown: Kelowna
High School: Kelowna Secondary School
Primary Event(s): 200m/400m/800m Freestyle
Major: Psychology
Name: Benya Mattig
Hometown: Singapore
High School: Nexus International School
Primary Event(s): Sprint Butterfly and Freestyle
What is their major: Applied Science
