In May 2023, a dream of Terry Sweeney and his daughter Sierra, came to life. Their passion for track and field, combined with years of experience, led them to open a club in Porters Lake, a location they believed was the perfect fit for their vision: GRIT Athletics. Their dedication to sharing their knowledge with the next generation is inspiring.
The club’s journey from five kids in its first summer to a thriving community of 45 kids aged four to 18 this past summer is a testament to its growth. With this expansion, the club now runs three age group programs simultaneously and has even added a throws program, demonstrating commitment to providing diverse opportunities for its members.
“We currently offer hurdles, jumps, throws, sprints, and distance,” said Terry Sweeney, Head Coach at GRIT Athletics. “We offer programs throughout the summer, fall, and winter for U8 and U12 and above, focusing on running mechanics, plyometrics, and agility.”
Starting a club is no small feat; support from Athletics Nova Scotia and the community has played an integral role in promoting the club throughout communities, contributing to fast growth. Sport Nova Scotia has provided funding assistance to purchase equipment such as hurdles, medicine balls, mini wickets, turbo javelins, and other age-appropriate equipment.
The club makes a point to focus on nutrition, recovery, mental training, and physical training to ensure that athletes have as many tools as possible to be successful, all while addressing gaps in community sport. Recently partnering with Nicole Kuzmich, a certified mental performance consultant, an overall preparation roadmap will be provided to each of the club’s young athletes. This can continue to be a resource as they transition into a more competitive environment.
As the club looks to the future, it is filled with exciting possibilities. While securing facility time remains a challenge, especially during the winter season, the club is determined to overcome this. The dream of obtaining a facility in Porters Lake is something in the club’s long-term plan, and paired with its efforts to secure additional coaches, promises more accessible programming.
“This summer, we successfully hosted two Friday Night Flights meets, which were a great success in bringing together some of the Atlantic province’s top jumpers,” said Sweeney. “The club also saw 15 of our kids participate in the Atlantic Track and Field Championships, which was a huge moment for us.”
To learn more about the club’s programs, visit their website. To stay current on events and initiatives, head to their Facebook, or their Instagram page.
The GRIT Athletics growth was made possible with the assistance of Sport Nova Scotia’s Sport Fund. Check out our Sport Fund eligibility for more information about how Sport Nova Scotia can help support your community sport initiative.
