[PHOTOSTORY 2: MOTION] Neighborhood summer swim teams make a splash on Thursday night

By: Grace Drawdy

Chattahoochee River Club (CRC) Stingrays hosts the Windermere Waves for their annual summer swim meet rivalry. Located in Forsyth County, the neighborhoods work together to improve children's swimming skills and build their comfort in the water through friendly competition at summer swim practices and meets.

Coaches from both teams assist the CRC "mini rays" and the Windermere "ripples" across the pool. The swim teams help promote water safety and awareness for children under six through gaining confidence in the water with assistance from older swimmers and coaches.

Swimmer Lydia Evans "dives" fearlessly in the water for her first race. However, fearlessness isn't the feeling for all children as Splash About reveals that only 16% of adults said their toddlers felt confident in the water.

Evans begins her race of the 25 freestyle. Learning to swim is a lifetime skill that can save lives. According to Swimming World Magazine, "Drowning can happen so fast even under supervision from adults and lifeguards. By taking swim lessons and joining a swim team at a young age, kids can learn water safety and proper swimming techniques to make sure they are not one of the 1000 children who die each year from drowning." 

Summer swim is not only for the younger kids. Anyone under the age of 18 can register and compete for the team. 

Happy swimmers are fast swimmers regardless of age. "I think summer swim is a great opportunity for the kids to get their energy out and meet with new friends," said CRC swimmer and assistant coach, Kai Katz.

Swimmers wait behind the blocks for their event. As the world begins to gear up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the energy in summer swimming competition has taken a shift throughout this year's season. "I think that all these younger kids watching all these older Olympians make the team is very motivating for them," said Katz.

CRC head coach, Lauren Sanders, helps make summer swim run seamlessly for the swimmers. The team competes every Thursday, and she works hard to provide swimmers with familiar events and new challenges. 

Swimmer Hayes Davis takes his mark for his event. As the swimmers set, the crowd quiets so the swimmers can hear the starting beep. 

Swimmer Kennedy gets on-deck coaching from CRC Head Coach Lauren Sanders concluding her race. Coach Sanders as well as other neighborhood coaches work closely with the athletes to teach proper stroke and turn technique throughout the summer.

Swimmers learn how to swim relay events, which is a great team building skill that promotes working together. Relays are one of the few events in the sport of swimming that are team-driven, and usually are the most fun for both participants and spectators. 

Swimmer Benton takes a beginner form of an in-water start called "ready position". Ready position is another technique younger swimmers learn for safe, in-water take offs for both individual and relay events.

Older swimmers use a traditional start off the blocks. This type of start allows swimmers to kick underwater before starting their stroke, which is the fastest part of the race.

The 11-12 girls prepare for their backstroke race. The backstroke start is the final type of start swimmers learn to perform.

Hailey Sanders uses "underwaters" to help propel herself into the winning position. Underwaters are crucial for speed at both the start and the turns of a race.

Windermere Waves head coach, Lizzie Ryan, gives her 13-14 boys relay some last tips before their race. "I tell the kids to get out fast in their races and stay solid on their relay exchanges. I also tell them to have fun because that's what the sport is all about," said Ryan.

7-8 year old CRC relay team works their relay exchange at the far end of the pool. While coaches to implement swimming technique, having fun is the most important aspect of the season.

Summer swim also gives children the opportunity to build long lasting friendships with teammates. As former swimmer and coach Benjamin Clark reflects on his summer swim days, it is the friendships that he remembers most. "[Summer swim] is so much fun. It's really where I made almost all of my friends that I have today," said Clark. 

Summer swimming is not only fun for the swimmers but also the coaches. "I just love to hang out with the kids, and coaching, and hanging out with my coaching friends," said CRC swimmer and assistant Coach Mckenna Williams. Williams has been swimming for the stingrays for over 10 years and has been coaching for the past three.

While summer swimmers don't know what their future holds in the sport of swimming. What they do know is summer swimming provides a way for them to get outside, get active, and get social. "I feel like [summer swim] gets them up, gets them active, and helps them meet new friends in the neighborhood," said Williams.