VERNON KOKANEE SWIM CLUB (VKSC)

The 2025-2026 season is currently underway! If you are interested in joining the club, use the 'Contact Us' button (above). Please email your child's info and we'll be in touch. Note that some of our programs are currently full with a waitlist.  

60 years: Kokanees make a splash at Vernon pool before big move

Jack Savage

Published 2:30 pm Thursday, November 6, 2025 By Roger Knox, The Morning Star

Read More at: https://vernonmorningstar.com/2025/11/06/60-years-kokanees-make-a-splash-at-vernon-pool-before-big-move/

 

Oh the memories.  From the original building with a viewing balcony, to the banners hanging today, recognizing the likes of Olympic, Commonwealth, and World Championship participants.  It’s been a glorious time at the Vernon Recreation Complex’s aquatics centre for the Vernon Kokanee Swim Club.

The 2025-26 season will be the last for the Kokanee as it prepares to move to its new home next year at the Active Living Centre, being built on the former Kin Race Track site.  “Since 1966 the pool has served as the home of the Vernon Kokanee swim club, and these six decades have seen countless youth partake in competitive swimming and develop a love of water and passion for the sport,” said Kokanee head coach Cole Bergen.  “This passion has translated into world-class swimming with some of Vernon’s very own going on to represent Canada at the Olympics, Paralympics and many other world games.”

With the Active Living Center set to open in the fall of 2026, the Kokanee will be transitioning to a new home and looking to expand in size and performance as the new 50-meter facility will bring more opportunity to help kids get in the water and experience the sport of competitive swimming.  Promoting swimming at all levels and continuing a legacy that has played a crucial role in the community.  The Kokanee will host one of its final events at the rec centre pool, the Nolan’s Pharmasave Fall Invitational, Friday to Sunday, Nov. 7 to 9.

Swimming begins Friday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m. There are two sessions Saturday, at 8:40 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and on final day Sunday, one session starts at 8:40 a.m., and there will be a fun jamboree in the afternoon.  The swim club warmed up for its home meet by heading to Penticton this past weekend to begin the 2025-26 competitive swim season with the KISU Triple Pentathlon, the traditional season starter event.  “It has a format where swimmers compete in all stroke 50s (metres), 100s, and 200s along with the 100-, 200-, and 400-m IM Individual Medley) over the course of three days,” said Bergen. “The swimmers are then ranked on their cumulative time.  “For many Kokanee athletes this was their first-ever pentathlon, and for others, it was an opportunity to place top-three overall in their respective age group.”  Vernon Kokanee podium finishers, based on total time add-up of all 15 events, included: 

• 1st Place – Kaeden Uesson (Boys 12-13); 

• 2nd Place – Alex Puchkov (Boys 12-13); 

• 3rd Place – Gwen Goldie (Girls 10-11); Kubrick Reed (Boys 16+).