Manitoba's first all-male synchronized swimming team has been making waves in Winnipeg with their upstream idea.

The Manitoba Aquatica Mens Synchronized Swimming Team, coached by Holly Hjartarson of Aquatica Synchro Club, is mainly composed of dads looking to spend a little extra quality time with their daughters.

"You watch your daughter, week after week . . . it would be really nice to get close with your daughter and actually spend time with them and actually talk to them about things we can have in common," said Trevor Wilcox, who is a member of the team.

That thought resonated with a lot of dads whose daughters participated in synchronized swimming together. The next natural step, it seemed, was to bridge that gap.

"It's a bunch of dads and we get into the water and we do our best."

And their best is getting better every week, according to synchronized swimming coach Holly Hjartarson.

"There's a lot of improvement," Hjartarson laughed. "I think on day one we weren't really sure what to expect and just getting upside down was a challenge. It's getting better every week though, lots of improvement."

Improvement has come with a lot of hard work, including practices that last about an hour and a half each week. "It's pretty long for us," said Wilcox.

Though both men and women can compete and participate in synchronized swimming, the sport has traditionally remained female-dominated. In 2015, in an effort to entice more men to the sport, the International Organization of Synchronized Swimming (FINA) first introduced mixed duets.

According to Hjartarson, few men or boys have taken part in the sport and no males participated in Aquatica Synchro's programming last year. Hjartarson hopes that the all-male synchronized team will have a positive effect on attracting men to the sport.

Wilcox says that though there have been many adjustments and trial-and-error experiences, the process has been worthwhile, though some things like pointing his toes and swimming upside down still have Wilcox a bit tangled up.

"When you go upside-down and you come back up, you're not always facing the way you should be," Wilcox chuckled.

Another issue the men have had while getting their feet wet with synchro?

"The first practice the guys' nose clips wouldn't stay on their faces," Hjartarson said. In fact, the team had to special order nose clips because the largest ones available, made to fit female adults, didn't fit the men's noses.

"I didn't realize men's noses were so much bigger," the coach chuckled.

Reaction to the dad's swim team has been positive, especially from their daughters, who Wilcox described as reacting "with amusement."

While the sight may sometimes be humorous, Wilcox says that he has gained a vast opportunity to interact with his daughter, only partially due to the entertainment of him attempting the moves his daughter performs regularly and based much more on his growing appreciation for the hard work she puts into her craft.

"It's kind of difficult," Wilcox laughed.

Hjartarson, Wilcox says, has been extremely understanding as a coach throughout the experience.

"She's pretty patient with us, which we really appreciate."

In celebration of 10 years of aquatic performances, the Manitoba Aquatica Mens Synchronized Swimming Team will be performing at Aquatica Synchra's celebratory water show at Pan Am Pool on May 25, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Aquatica Synchro Club offers opportunities to try synchronized swimming for anyone from the age of five.