The Hill and Orangeville Otters Partner for Swim Program

Caledon, ON - June 22, 2026 - The Hill Academy, Canada’s leader in independent education and elite sport development, proudly announces a strategic partnership with the Orangeville Otters Swim Club to launch a high-performance swimming program. This exciting program expansion comes in The Hill's 20th year of operation and extends the commitment to holistic student-athlete growth, bringing a world-class aquatic pathway to the local Dufferin, Peel, York, Wellington and Halton regions.

Designed for dedicated student-athletes, the new program will seamlessly pair a rigorous independent school education with a comprehensive, individualized swim training curriculum. The program will offer student-athletes access to elite coaching and individualized athletic development during the school day.

True to The Hill Academy’s foundational philosophy that "sport is a laboratory for life," the swimming program will focus on long-term athletic development, technical proficiency, character development and academic balance. Student-athletes will benefit from the school's integrated ecosystem, which features individualized physical education, custom strength and conditioning at the Hill Performance gym facilities, and flexible academic scheduling designed to support regional, provincial, and national competitive demands.

"The launch of our swimming program is an evolutionary step in our mission to help student-athletes reach their next highest level of achievement," said Drazen Glisic, Director of Athlete Performance at The Hill Academy. “Swimming in Canada is having a massive moment right now, and the opportunities for kids to earn spots in the NCAA and U Sports are greater than they’ve ever been. Combining our track record at The Hill with the coaching expertise of the Otters, we see an opportunity for even greater success." 

The Orangeville Otters, a staple of competitive excellence in the local sports community, will spearhead the technical swim training and pool-side coaching metrics. By bridging club-level technical expertise with The Hill’s renowned academic and administrative framework, the partnership ensures student-athletes do not have to compromise their post-secondary academic ambitions to pursue elite athletic goals.

"Developing a partnership with The Hill Academy has a positive impact on both organizations and the broader community. Together, The Hill and the Otters can support student-athletes while expanding opportunities for students to grow, compete, and develop through sport. We are excited for Hill athletes to experience one of Canada’s most recognized sports firsthand. Swimming challenges athletes both physically and mentally, helping them build resilience, discipline, confidence, and skills that last well beyond their time in the pool.” added Sam Kuntz, Head Coach, Orangeville Otters.

The swimming program will be integrated across multiple age cohorts, offering development paths for junior school students establishing fundamental physical literacy, as well as high-school aged student-athletes building toward recruitment pathways in the NCAA, U Sports, and international echelons.

Consistent with The Hill’s approach across its soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and golf programs, the swim studies curriculum will look to elevate an athlete's physical capacity regardless of outside club affiliation, fostering a local hub for aquatic excellence right in the Dufferin-Peel corridor.

The Hill Swimming joins newly minted Soccer and Volleyball programs as well as the multi-sport based Foundations of Sport, Golf, Lacrosse and Hockey programs which The Hill is known for. Families interested in learning more about schedules, training structures, and enrollment for the upcoming academic year are encouraged to reach out to the admissions branch at admissions@thehillacademy.com to arrange a campus tour.  

-30-

About The Hill Academy

The Hill Academy was founded in 2006 in order to provide optimal academic and athletic programming for dedicated student-athletes. Located in Caledon, ON, just 45 minutes north of the GTA, the Hill campus sits on 134 acres of beautifully forested land. The campus offers students bright classrooms, daily outdoor education, a state-of-the-art athletic training experience, Hill Performance gym facilities, running and hiking trails, a turf field, and an expansive boarding complex. Graduates from The Hill have been placed in some of the most prestigious academic and athletic institutions in the world. The Hill Academy is an institution for students who are committed to striving academically, and who would like an opportunity to take an in-depth exploration into their respective sport.  

About the Orangeville Otters Swim Club

The Orangeville Otters Swim Club is a not-for-profit community based organization. Our goal is to promote swimming as part of a healthy lifestyle as well as a sport for life. We aim to support our members in their social, mental, and physical development as they endeavor to achieve success in swimming.

A Board of Directors administers the club and works closely with the coaching staff.

The Orangeville Otters Swim Club is a registered member of Swim Ontario which is the non-profit sports governing body responsible for the organization of amateur swimming in Ontario.