Windsor Essex Swim Team

History of the Windsor Essex Swim Team 

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The Windsor Essex Swim Team was founded in 2002 by Andrei Semenov. The Windsor Essex Swim Team started from ground zero as it was a brand new team. WEST started out swimming at locations such as St. Clair College, St. Dennis Centre (University of Windsor), Adie Knox, and Herman Highschool in the begining. In the inaugural season, Windsor Essex Swim Team had already accomplished some very high goals. In the season of 2002-2003, WEST Swimmer Jimmy Lee broke two 11-12 year old boys National Records in both the short course and long course 100 m Backstroke and four Ontario records in both the 100m and 200m Backstroke short course and long course. WEST Swimmer Michaela Sceli in the inaugural season made it to a 200 m Breastroke Long Course Finals at the Canadian Trials for the World Championships. WEST was off to a great start. As WEST continued to build off its successful first year, noteable swimmers of the Windsor Essex Swim Team were being developed with the development program. WEST has developed some great leaders who have helped lead the way for WEST, most of which have joined and accepted leadership positions at University Swimming Programs. Exceptional leadership from WEST include: Matt Laschuk, Jimmy Lee, Vasya Semenov, Kylie Masse, Amanda Reason, Aaron Rode, Cody Lavoie, Andrew Binder, Nicolas Dalla Bona, Julia Marcuzzi, Bailey Humber, and Victoria Sexsmith. 

In 2007-2008 season, WEST Swimmer Amanda Reason had an amazing season as she broke two 13-14 year old national records in the 50m Freestyle long course and 50m Breaststroke long course, 4 Ontario records include both the 50 m Freestyle short course and long course, 50 m Breastroke long course, and 15 and over 50 m Freestyle short course. On July 8, 2009, WEST developed Amanda Reason, breaks the World Record in the 50 Breastroke long course and is the first Canadian Female to break a world record in a long course pool since 1988!

In 2016-2017 season, noteable WEST developed swimmer Kylie Masse had a season to remember. Kylie Masse had done what no other Female swimmer has accomplished in swimming. She broke six National Records, including one World Record in the 100m Backstroke long course. While representing Team Canada at the 2017 World Aquatic Championships in Budapest, Kylie broke a world record that had stood for eight years while becoming the first Canadian woman to become a world champion. In 2019, she would become the first Canadian swimmer to defend a world title. Kylie Masse has competed in two Olympic Games and is a four time Olympic medalist (Rio 2016) and (Tokyo 2021) winning bronze in the 100m Backstroke (Rio) and Silver in the 100m and 200m Backstroke and Bronze in the 4x 100 m Medley (Tokyo). 

Since 2002-2021, Windsor Essex Swim Team has developed 2 world record holders, 10 National Record Holders, 24 Provincial Records, and 241 Provincial Champions. 

After returning from global shutdowns, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Windsor Essex Swim Team is back for the 2021-2022 season and is eager to continue the success on the road to excellence, under new Owner and Head Coach Jimmy Lee. Head Coach Jimmy Lee has been with the Windsor Essex Swim Team since the inaugural season in 2002, after representing Wayne State University Swim Team on Full Athletic Scholarship from 2008- 2012, Jimmy Lee returned to WEST as a coach and has coached every group in WEST from Future Stars - Barracuda. Coach Jimmy Lee is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach and Level 3 NCCP Coach, and is one of a few coaches if not the only coach in Canada that is both the Head Swimming Coach and Certified Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. "I am excited, happy, and honored to represent the Windsor Essex Swim Team as the New Head Coach. I look forward to what the future holds for the Windsor Essex Swim Team. Go WEST!" - Jimmy Lee