Summer swim teams wrap-up
Castle Crocs swim team had a full roster with 200 swimmers hitting the pool early each morning for practice and on Saturdays in June and early July for meets.
Stingrays junior coaches Sarah, Avery, Sam, Brandon, Abigail, Julian and Maddie show team spirit during a Saturday meet.
Both swim teams serving residents of the City of Castle Pines and The Village at Castle Pines had successful and fun summer seasons. And for several families, the swim teams permitted participation in a team-sport setting for the first time.
The Village Stingrays ended the regular season with a 3-2 record, under the leadership of a new head coach. The roster of 114 swimmers boasted more than half of the team under the age of 11. The Stingrays had an average of 55 swimmers participate in each meet this season.
Parent representative Mamie Back said, “We were able to send about 20 swimmers to the league’s all-star meet which is fabulous for our team.”
Girls from the Crocs encourage each other as they swim a relay. Reagan, Allyssa and Alice cheer on Ella (not pictured) in their 9-10 girls relay race.
Castle Crocs swim team hit maximum capacity at 200 swimmers. “We had 35 swimmers qualify for all-star times,” said parent Camille Pocock. The team practiced in area pools and is “very grateful for the support from the Castle Pines HOAs,” she concluded.
Summer swim teams give an opportunity to meet neighbors and make friends. It’s also an all-inclusive sport.
As younger swimmers, Ava and Evie represent the majority of the Stingrays team with more than half of this years’ roster under 11 years old.
Sarah Neumann’s children swam for the Crocs. Her son Charlie is autistic and Neumann explained that the summer swim team was an amazing experience for her family.
“Several families on our team, including my own, have children who have never participated in a team sport before,” Neumann said. She added that many of these kids have never had a coach, been on a team, worn a uniform or done a team cheer. “The opportunity to experience all of these things at our own neighborhood pool has been invaluable.”
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Mamie Black and Natalie Vickers
