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The local club has been chosen to host the prestigious event that will bring more than 700 swimmers from across Ontario to compete in individâ€" ual figures and team events starting May 21. It wraps up on May 25 with the finals of the team competition. "It‘s by far the largest comâ€" petition in Canada with more than 700 swimmers," said Marilyn Roberts, president of the KW Synchro Club. "It will feature 30 to 40 teams from the four regions of Ontario." KW Synchro ('Iub’:fier 4 team demonstrate a plattorm HMT. Province‘s best get put to the test By Bos Vreamic ing that day. o That‘s when the KW Synâ€" chronized Swim Club hosts the Synchro Ontario‘s Tier Championships at the Waterâ€" loo Memorial Recreation Complex and Wilfrid Laurier University Pool. KW Synchro club‘s Tier 4 team demonstrate a platform lift Waterl0o. Teams from as far away as Sault Ste. Marie and Ottawa will compete in the champiâ€" onships that will be the culmiâ€" nation of 10 months of trainâ€" ing for the athletes aged six to 18. And it‘s quite intricate training as demonstrated at Cameron Heights collegiate institute last week. Both Kâ€"W Synchro‘s Tier 1 and Tier 4 teams were practicâ€" on‘t be surprised to see )a lot of walking on water next week in The Tier 1 group featured novice synchronized swimâ€" mers who were trying to match their underwater motions to the music blaring from the pool deck. The advanced Tier 4 group did more intricate maneuvering, including a platform lift that looked like one of the swimâ€" mers was walking on water. "It really has evolved since they put synchronized teams into the Olympics," said Staci Bartlett, the head coach of the KW Synchro Club. "The sport took on a new edge. "In the past five or six years the technical difficulty of the sport has gone up so much that it is really interesting to The development of the swimmers has also matched the strides made in the sport. "They‘re these little powerâ€" houses now," said Bartlett. "It‘s one of the sports that people think is pretty, but how many sports are as active as they are in the pool. "It‘s like running up a hill, underwater, while holding your breath. Your body is deprived of oxygen, yet at the same time you‘re holding your entire body out of the water." In addition to spectators, organizers are looking for volâ€" unteers to help support the meet. Anyone interested can contact the club at 620â€"3846. The facelift continues for Siskins tting a new face on the Ix‘lalerloo Siskins cantinâ€" ued Monday as the club announced that Dave Officer would be taking over the reigns of the Junior B hockey team. "I‘m really excited by the opportunity," said Officer. "We‘ll go to the rink every night expecting to win, and that‘s a message the coaches will convey daily." "We wanted a guy who was a real communicator, and a guy that had a proven track record. He gives our organizaâ€" tion instant credibility." Officer, who took a year off coaching last year, piloted the Elmira Sugar Kings to backâ€" toâ€"back berths in the Sutherâ€" land Cup starting in 2000, winning the title once in 2000â€" 2001. A guidance counsellor at Bluevale, he will also be a guiding force off and on the ice for the Siskins players. Kory Lorentz lost his arm in a farm accident in 2000 he thought his hockey playing days were over. "It‘s a major step forward for us," said Playford. "We set the bar very high and focused in on getting Dave. But his will to overcome any obstacle led to him to the first International Amputee Hockey Championships held in February of 2002 in Lake "It‘s all what‘s inside the heart," said Lorentz. "You can make a decision in life whether you want to go on or you want to sit back. Lorentz was coâ€"captain of the team that went undefeatâ€" ed, beating Russia, the U.S. and Finland to win gold. He finâ€" ished the 2002 campaign for the Canadian team with 10 goals and 11 assists. More importantly, he was recognized as a leader on and off the ice for his support of the Canadian Amputee Sports "I was lucky I chose to go on and I‘m not regretting anyâ€" fung" Six finalists for Athlete of the Year Now he‘s being honoured as SPORTS By Bos VRBANAC Chronicle Staff Officer‘s strengths are in the dressing room, building trust with the players, while getting them to buy into the tearm concept. In addition to the announcement of Officer‘s hiring, the Siskins new viceâ€" president of business operaâ€" tions, Robert Hennig, also announced a campaign to turn the club‘s fortunes around, called "Sudden Siskins‘ GM Bob Playford, new head coach Dave Officer and new board member Robert Hennig are spearheading the Sudden Change philosophy for the Junior B hockey team. a Hennig, wellâ€"known in the local community for helping the Waterloo Ravens Minor Girls Hockey Association take flight, said it‘s time the Siskins reconnect with the communiâ€" ty after struggling the past few And no time is better than the present to turn the club‘s fortunes around, as the team celebrates its 70th anniversary Lorentz said he‘s honoured to be considered for an award won by the likes of Scott Stevens and Lennox Lewis in the past. "A nornination like www.vwwaterloo.com CLICK HERE Yolkswagen New & Certified Preâ€"owned Cars Volkswagen Waterloo "Here‘s an opportunity to turn around something that has been here for 70 years," said Hennig, who officially joined the club. "It‘s definitety a local icon that‘s waiting to get dusted off." Hennig, who grew up on the same street in Waterloo as Siskins general manager Playâ€" ford, said he wanted to be a part of the club‘s turnaround. On Monday he unveiled somme of the new pillars in that project. The club also wants to turn its financial fortunes around after a tough year at the gate. Part of that is tied in with a new entertainment package that will make sure people attending the game get value for their dollar. "I believe in giving value for the $7 that people will be paying to get through those doors," said Hennig. "They‘ve Continued on page 24 It started with the reorgaâ€" nization of the Siskins with the hiring of Playford and Officer, and the naming of Harvey Huber as president. Continued on page 23