Pinnacle Gryphons Aquatics Club

EGA Winter 2.
Let's go 💪🏼

From our coach, Kerry Heatlie:

The National Rankings have been released. These are for the past season 2021/2022. Times are taken from the 1st May 2021 up until 30th April 2022.

To make the Top 100 is big.
To make Top 50 is wow!
To make Top 20 is awesome!!!
To make Top 10 is Fantabulous!!!!!!
Top 5 in the country is Phenomenal!!!!!!!
Each and everyone of our swimmers had an amazing season. Huge and many BPs. I am soooooooooooo proud of each and every one of you.

Some of you are so close to the Top 100. Just know that this season we are going to see your name on the list.

To the swimmers that made the Top 100………
Mia, Erin H, Abigail, Erin D, Christine, Harold, Amy, Ayden, Aidan, Ashleigh, Nicole, Clara and Roxy WELL DONE…………..Fantastic!

Our swimmers that made Top 50……Amy, Harold, Mia, Ashleigh, Erin H, Ayden, Nicole, Christine, and Aidan……….Wow!!!

To our Top 20 swimmers…..Erin H and Harold……… Absolutely AWESOME!!

Mia…………All I can say is OUTSTANDING swimming. I'm am super proud. To make 7th in the country in 2 events is fantabulous, but to make TOP 5 in an event is exceptional. Congratulations. You have such dedication and determination in someone so young. Just know this season you are going to fly…….

We have the most amazing swimmers, with such great team Spirit, commitment and dedication. This last season left me in awe of each of you. I cannot wait to see what this season brings you all.

📸 : Shanti Chantelle Aquatic Sports Photographer

Swimmers.... Some of the fittest, most powerful, most disciplined athletes that exist! Also one of the most undervalued and under appreciated athletes. Their hard work starts from the age of 8-9, where there is no mercy and no rest for them. They have to toughen up and suck anything and everything up, despite only being little children. For swim parents, it is heartbreaking at times. But true competitive swimmers are born different. Strong willed, resilient, mentally able to push way past their limits, right from their first living moments. If you know, or love, a swimmer, show them some appreciation for what they are. Not many have what these individuals have inside of them. And they are worthy of so much more recognition and praise.

Watch this reel by swimadiction on Instagram

Yesterday we had our first prize giving as Pinnacle Gryphons. Amazing achievements, growth, determination and resilience were celebrated. We are so grateful to each and every swimmer giving their very best, all the time. Our club started with 6 swimmers, the pandemic hit and the world seemed to stop, for many months. But we are now 36 swimmers strong and growing.
Congratulations to every swimmer that received an award. And to all our newcomers and to each swimmer, irrespective of you receiving some award or not, we see your hard work, your growth and your heart and we are proud to have you as one of us. Here is to many more bomb seasons, for the Gryphons 🔥

As coach Kerry always says: "Keep swimming. Drowning is bad for business!"

Keep swimming guys. Just keep swimming. You will fly.

The ...
Got to put in the hours and the sets, no matter what. Come rain, cold or dark. It is what it is.

😂

So proud of Team SA and their achievements at Mare Nostrum. Well done!

Sunday is rest day.
But see you back at training tomorrow, lads and ladies.

Happy birthday to one of our senior swimmers, Nicole. Hip hip... You're old 😁

Our gorillas... Oops, Gryphons in the mist.

Saturday morning training session in progress.
The life of a
No excuses. Dedication.

Getting ready for Winter Champs.

Happeeeeee 18th birthday to this absolute piece of sunshine. Have a really amazing time celebrating your birthday this weekend, Erin.

Character, heart and integrity... matters way more than a win.
Healthy competition and - sportsmanship means having what it takes to gracefully lose at times.

*****

What would my Mom think of that?"
In a race, (see picture), athlete Abel Mutai representing Kenya, was just a few feet from the finish line, but he was confused with the signage & stopped thinking he had completed the race. The Spanish athlete, Ivan Fernandez was right behind him & realizing what was happening, he started shouting at the Kenyan for him to continue running; but Mutai didn't know Spanish didn't understand. Then the Spanish pushed him to victory. A journalist asked Ivan, "Why did you do that?"
Ivan replied, "My dream is that someday we can have a kind of community life". The journalist insisted "But why did you let the Kenyan win?" Ivan replied, "I didn't let him win, he was going to win". The journalist insisted again, "But you could have won!" Ivan looked at him & replied, "But what would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honour of that medal?
What would my Mom think of that?"
Values are transmitted from generation to generation.
What values are we teaching our children?
Let us not teach our kids the wrong ways & means to WIN

- Birad Rajaram Yajnik

Prayer needed...
Coach trying to end us!

🤪

Team SA is doing extremely well at Mare Nostrim in Monaco. This truly is exciting times in the swimming world of South Africa, where our team consists of a number of swimmers under the age of 20. Truly a great thing to witness!

The kind of Fly that makes coach Kerry a very happy girl.
Ester is on fire!!!! A real little pocket rocket, this girl.



📸: Shanti Chantelle Aquatic Sports Photographer

Our brainy swimneacs....
Well done you two on these academic achievements. Proud of you, julle mense.

Meet our swimmers...

Zack Hinteregger
13 years old
Loves dogs, especially Pit Bulls
Loves playing Cricket
Family guy, who enjoys just being with his family
Adores his little sister, Mila
Will not train with a cap
Drives his mom crazy with his hair over his swim goggles :-)

Congratulations to our swimmers attending Hans Moore, for being in the overall Top 30 Achievers in their school.

Juanise van der Walt - 94%
Zani van Rensburg - 92%
Yana van Schoor - 88%
Clara van Rooyen - 85%

Ons is baie trots op julle girls.

A shout out to our Pinnacle Rynfield College swimmers for achieving on the academic front. Being a part of the Top Achievers in their school, in their respective grades.

Erin Haslehurst - 70%
Ashleigh Witney - 78%
Aidan Mills - 70%
Abigail Hains - 72%
Ayden Look - 77%
Oratilwe Mooko - 77%

Well done guys and girls! We are super proud of you.

for of and it is in our team colours ✊🏼

Yes, don't 😂

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cdd8VFWjtX5/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Watch this reel by arenawaterinstinct on Instagram arenawaterinstinct • Original Audio

reality: Yes, your body has to become a machine. But your mind is what will get you there.

LOADING.... Winter Champs.

Look, it sucks to train and swim in Winter. But we do what we've got to do. Training hard 💪, as various Winter galas are coming up in only a few weeks. Our squad has just over three weeks of grinding left, before we hit the cold days races in June and July.

Every swimmer ever: "I hate training in Winter. Actually, I hate training."
Others: "Well then don't."
Every swimmer ever: "No I can't. I really enjoy training. Even in Winter. It's complicated."

If you have a lane, you have a chance. Let's do this cold training thing and then go do the cold racing thing, Gryphons ✊

Winter is here. But thanks to an amazing heated pool and an option for an indoor pool, should it be really cold or windy outside, our little learn to swim kids are still swimming and they are enjoying it a lot. Our pool temperature currently sits at 29-30 degrees and on a sunny winter's day, it is a really comfortable, nice swim.

Teachers Dominique and Nicole doing and excellent job with these little ones.



📸: Shanti Chantelle Aquatic Sports Photographer

Beauty and the weirdos.
Boys will be boys.
Ginger and spice and all things nice. And then tornadoes.

These young ones train hard and they are already determined and set on achieving major goals. But they are still only kids. Little humans who enjoy life and who are little clowns. Well the flower between the thorns there is not a little clown. She's just a little lady. Typical kids, but with massive determination and insane goals! They are little achievers, not only in the pool, but on various levels in life. One thing about a swimmer: They are just a different kind of human. If they want something, they will break themselves to achieve it. And they are born this way. Super strong willed people, from the start.

Matheo, Nathan, Jay, Mike and our little Chelsea.

Kitted out in their new team hoodies...
They are supper chuffed with it. Really. But coach Kerry half killed them in the pool before this photo was taken and some of our Gryphons do not like being photographed. It makes them feel awkward, they say 🙄

A very big thank you to Zanogen for sponsoring our team hoodies and shirts for us. It is absolutely stunning!
Zanogen is based in Benoni. They are an engineering company, occupying their days by producing all kinds of steel blades, knives and other steel tools. If you are in need of any such products, contact Zanogen.

but 😂

Happy Birthday to one of our youngsters.
A full 9 years old today, Matheo 🍩 🎉

Ja nê...
🤷‍♀️😂

Such a beautiful swimmer she is, Erin H.