by Carin Kirkegaard

The past three summers have found the children of Castle Pines North (CPN) connecting with friends, getting exercise and learning swim strokes with the neighborhood swim team the Castle Crocs. As the team begins its fourth season, swimmers can expect to return to a swim program that offers strong technical swim instruction in a positive fun environment.

“From the moms and dads that meet for a bike ride after dropping the kids at the pool for practice, to those parents that stay and chat with neighbors, to home meets with a D.J. who takes requests from the swimmers, to the end of the season party, the Crocs pride themselves on bringing the community of CPN together,” said Kathleen Steffe, Castle Crocs parent representative.

This season the Crocs will welcome a new head coach along with an experienced coaching team. Coach Paul Whitaker currently is the age group coach for the Rock, a year-round competitive swim team practicing at the Castle Rock Recreation Center. His days are spent teaching fifth grade in the Douglas County School District. A life long swimmer Whitaker loves the sport and views coaching as a way to give back.

According to Whitaker swimming is an opportunity to learn focus and self motivation. “Swimming promotes intrinsic motivation. In the water, the swimmer only has his or herself to listen to. What a great way to learn self motivation. Thanks to swimming, I have learned to stay focused and motivate myself and manage the things that are in my control and perform to the best of my abilities. Through coaching, I look forward to passing this skill onto the swimmers of the Crocs,” said Whitaker.

“Coach Paul has helped me get some of my best swimming times yet,” said Abby Kochevar, a CPN resident and swimmer with both the Crocs and the Rock. Kochevar, age 10 was selected to represent the state of Colorado at the Midwest Regional All Star Meet.

Registration Information

Registration for returning families will be held on February 8, 2009 from 3 pm until 5 pm at the Forest Park clubhouse located at the corner of Forest Park Drive and Forest Ridge Circle. Whitaker will be there to meet with families and answer any questions.

Convenient and ‘green’ apparel sizing and ordering will be available. Families can save with the same suit from the past three years. Those interested in participating in the ‘green’ program, simply bring suits in good condition to hand down to others and add the needed size on a list. As suits come in, the Crocs apparel team will connect gently used suits with swimmers.

Sign up sheets for practice times and volunteer assignments will also be available. Any family not able to make registration can contact parent representative Kathleen Steffe at Contact by e-mail.

Registration for new swimmers will be held February 22, 2009 at Safe Splash Swim School from 1:30 pm until 3:30 pm located at 12240 Lioness Way, Parker CO. Swimmers should come prepared to demonstrate that he or she can swim the length of the pool in any manner without grabbing the side of the pool, or touching the bottom. The Castle Crocs will take any swimmer that lives within the City of Castle Pines North and is between the ages five to 18.

Unsure of whether a swimmer can make it across the pool? Safe Splash Swim School offers swim lessons with a variety of times. To learn more contact Safe Splash at www.safesplash.com.

To learn more about the Crocs, visit their website at www.castlecrocs.com.