At swim meets across northern Ontario this winter, it’s pretty tough not to notice Dax Hester.

Standing just a shade above 5’10” as he prepares to celebrate his 13th birthday next week, the representative of the Sudbury Laurentian Swim Club is an imposing physical presence just behind the starting blocks, especially relative to most of his age group competitors.

To those who really know swimming, however, there is far more to notice.

“Full of raw talent and power, Dax has worked hard in recent months to refine his technique and execute race strategies,” wrote coach Alain Delorme, asked to provide a brief bio of just one of what is a stable-full of young talent with the club this year.

“With still much room for improvement, it’s exciting to be part of Dax’ swimming development.”

And developing he is, just a year or so removed from qualifying for provincial championships for the very first time in early 2023. “I was pretty happy because it was my first time going – but I was really nervous going into that pool with all of those crazy fast swimmers,” noted the soon-to-be teen who followed his older brother in his pursuit of this sport.

And for as much as his coaches likely saw the jump that was coming last year, that was not to case for the well-spoken young man who captured individual high points (age group – 11/12) trophy at the recent Dave Kensit Championships in Sault Ste Marie, one of only two SLSC swimmers to do so (James Bertrim was the other – 15 & over).

“It was a really big surprise,” recalled Hester. “I was kind of close, like two seconds off with my races, but I didn’t think I could make it. I did eventually and now I’m making it every time.”

In fact, among his recent highlights have been taking those same high point accolades at a pair of top end southern Ontario meets, earning the honour at both the AGI (Age Group International) Meet in Etobicoke and the Murray Drudge Invitational at TPASC (Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre) in November/December.

“I have more muscle mass and more technique refinements,” said Hester.

For as much as there is an abundance of untapped potential, given his age, the young man who benefits from the Demarco family genetics on his mother’s side can wax poetic for some time about the fine-tuning of his stroke details and kicks.

“Specifically, how I enter my hands in the water and how my kick is,” he cited. “My kick was not very good and is still not the best that it can be.”

Although his disdain for the breaststroke does not take long at all to become revealed, Hester fully understands the importance of a balanced approach to his training, as well as the cross-over benefits moving from one stroke to the next.

“Doing the butterfly, the dolphin kicks help me with my underwater and my backstroke kick helps me with my free kick,” he said. “The rotation of my shoulders helps me get more flexible.”

“With the fly, my arms would never go up to my ears to pull down; I used to make it only to about a T-pose. Now, I can go all the way and can pull all the way down. That technique has made me way faster.”

Still, it’s the freestyle where he truly shines, sweeping the 50m/100m/200m/400m/800m at the AGI meet – even if he’s not 100% sure why that stroke in particular is such a good fit.

“That’s more of a coach question,” said Hester with a smile. “I’ve improved with it a lot and I like where I am going with it.”

It’s hardly shocking that another area where drastic change is noticeable is the confidence with which he now approaches each and every race, a product of his own success, if you will.

“Before, I was almost ready to pee my pants – I was so nervous behind the blocks,” he said.

“Now, I can’t wait. I’m ready to go and relaxed with it. Hopefully I can just keep going up and up and up.”

While he and his teammates continue to excel, it’s hard not to ponder the difference that the venue that was the long-standing home of the Sudbury Laurentian Swim Club might provide.

“We could have long-course practices that are not only fun, but they help us improve and help us hold our endurance so much better,” suggested Hester following his workout at the Nickel District Pool, a cute little facility, but one that simply cannot hold a candle to the currently unopened Jeno Tihanyi Olympic Gold Pool at Laurentian University.

Either way, coach Delorme sees an athlete who offers a very interesting counter-balance in terms of his core personality and his approach to the sport.

“When it comes to racing, Dax is intensively competitive,” said Delorme. “Socially, he is a happy-go-lucky kid who gets along well with everyone. Most often unphased by demands and expectations, his cool demeanour also helps to collectively lighten the mood.”

Just one more reason that Dax Hester will likely catch your eye if you decide to take in the next NEOR (Northeastern Ontario Region) meet in your neighbourhood.