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â€"NPORTS The summer is about to get a lot busier for two Waterloo swimmers Laura Nicholls and Jennifer Button are off to the Pan Amerâ€" ican games in Winnipeg this week, before Aying to Australia for two weeks of training for the Pan Pacific Games in Sydâ€" ney next month. With recent firstâ€"place finâ€" ishes from Eastern Cup compeâ€" tition fresh in their minds, the women will join Team Canada to compete against swimmers from across North and South America "I‘d hike to go in and swim my best times." said Nicholls. a recent nomunee for Kâ€"W and Both swimmers, members of Region of Waterloo Swim Club, have high expectations. Charles Kuepfer Special to the Chronicle Waterloo swim stars set to take on the world Jennifer Button area Athlete of the Year. "I‘d like to get to the medal podium or at least somewhere close to the podium." Nicholls will be competing in the individual 50â€" and 100â€" metre freestyle events and in at least two relay events. I wellâ€"travelled Nicholls She has already made her mark in the swimming world, competing at events like the Commonwealth Games in Malaysta last September and qualifying for the Olympic Games in Atlanta in ©96. Nicholls is once again trying to secure a spot in the Olympics, which are set for Sydney next For Nicholls, competitive swimming isn‘t something new year. She‘s been competing since she was four years old. And with the amount of time that she devotes to swimming, Nicholls said it has to be enjoyâ€" able "Ill compete as long as I‘m having fun," said Nicholls She has been training reliâ€" grously for the upcoming games, hitting the pool nine times a weck at Wilfrd Lauâ€" After much speculation, the rumours came true last week when Senior Intercounty Baseâ€" ball came back to Waterloo He made coming out to junior games an event, as much as it was another night at the ballpark. That excitement peaked in the last year of his threeâ€"year plan when the Junior Tigers beat their archâ€"enemy, the Kitchener Dodgers, for the Junior ttle last year. After a 12â€"year absence, the senior Tigers will be prowling the fields of Bechtel Park next vear. And a lot of the credit goes to the Waterloo Junior Tigers‘ genâ€" eral manager, Robert Divell Divell has been a big booster of baseball in Waterloo, and the chief architect of the resurgent junior baseball program at the top of the chain. Divell came in with a threeâ€" year plan to restore the credibilâ€" ity of the junior program with a mix of promotion and oldâ€"fashâ€" ioned appreciation of the game. With that type of credibility, he was the only man for the job Button, who has been a member of the Canadian National Team for the past three years, is excited that the Pan American Games are being held in her home country. She also hopes to do well. Bution said the games are a rare opportunity to compete against South American counâ€" tmies, as well as top swimmers from across Canada and the US riers national swim centre "My ultimate goal is to get on the medal podium, (but)} my first goal is to get the best times L can," said Button. The relay teams will be decided the day of the event She will be competing in the 100â€" and 200â€"metre butterfly events and said she also has an outside shot at making a relay team Catching a tiger by the tail Button is exaited to he a part "If it wasn‘t for Robert the executive would never have supported the idea," said Pelâ€" letier. "He was the man to run the senior program." to start up the senior program, said Waterloo Minor Baseball President Ray Pelletier Laura Nicholis of the large group of Canadians at the games. "We‘re looking forward to putting on a good show," said Button Button has been training in Waterloo for the past 12 years Along with Nicholls, she is coached by Dean Boles, who will also he in attendance at the Pan American Games. She said herâ€" training, which has included a lot of technique Robert Divell 181 King St. S., Waterioo Pelleuer said Divells marketâ€" ing of the jumior program made it an easy sell when he pitched a senior program "It was a real professional presentation," said Pelleuer, who couldn‘t hide his exciteâ€" ment about the return of the program He wasn‘t the only one excited about the opportunity Many former jumior players were hanging around the ballâ€" park last week, equally excited about the new program, as well as their chance to play ball again "I thought Jason Adair was going to kiss me," laughed Pelâ€" letier. But Adair said he was just happy that Waterloo got its shot. "I would only play for Waterloo." he said. It was a testament to the loyâ€" alty that Divell has built over the past three years. And Divell promises that that excitement will continue next year. "It‘s just in my nature to look at a program and say, ‘Well, that‘s a new challenge Lets take it on," he said. "I‘d like to get in the top eight at the Australia Games," said Button. The possibility of preâ€" qualifying for the Olympic Games will also be in the back of her mind Next year Button has decided to take a break after recently completing three years of uniâ€" versity training, has been going very well. "I‘m in very good shape, said Button. Next month, Button is also heading to Austraha for the Pan Pacific Games. She said the standards will be tough, with stiff competition from the American and Ausâ€" trahans, but she hopes to finish among the best. But for now, Button will conâ€" centrate on finishing near the top in her next two majar comâ€" petiuons EVERY SUNDAY Including Hohdays Monâ€"Fn 10â€"8 116