Mountain Club News For 2021/2022 Season

Mountain Club swimmer Sonya Parkin, daughter of Scott Pakin and Anna Matsekh. Courtesy/Mountain Club

By COACH ANNA
Mountain Club

Hello everyone, we are finally back to the pool after a long wait!

First, I would like to take a moment to appreciate everyone, our wonderful parents and dear swimmers, for your support and commitment to OUR Mountain Club, especially during the difficult covid period. As a swim coach, it is my pleasure to contribute my share to keep our swimmers healthy mentally and physically.

Our swimmers have worked hard and made a huge progress with your support during the last year.

Beginning swimmers learned how to float and move in the water, and started to swim with more formal strokes without fins; intermediate swimmers were able to swim all strokes with turns and diving; advanced swimmers polished their skills and got faster. We successfully held two open houses during the COVID period, and enjoyed watching them swimming!

Although I am very proud of each of our swimmers in the club with their individual achievement last year, I need to specifically mention the following swimmers:

  • Gabe: Swimming was not easy for Gabe. I started teaching most of our club swimmers in water first, and Gabe was a special one. He loved water but feared to be independent in the water. He struggled in the water with his breaths and was frustrated if he lost my hands. Thanks to his parents, Erik and Ellaine, who have supported him all the way: Erik sent him to every lesson, put his cap and goggles on him carefully, and gave him encouragement with a few words. Ellaine picked him up with her smiling face and told Gabe how wonderful he was during the lesson. With their positive guidance, Gabe was able to overcome his fear and swam independently. Without any doubt, he will be a fabulous swimmer like his sister and brother, Olivia and Jimmy.
  • Leia: No one works harder than Leia in our club. She follows all the rules, listens to the instructions, and challenges herself during the practice without any special attention and noise. Being positive and working hard are her characters which impressed me the most. 
  • Shilo: Shilo will be one of our team captains this season. She has demonstrated her superior leadership during our practice. Shilo is not the fastest swimmer in our lanes, but she keeps pushing herself to be the best she could. She has set a good example for other swimmers in the club.
  • Toma, Sonya and Emilie: They represented our club in the 2021 NM State Championship Meet at Las Cruces in July. They did fabulously at the meet:
  • Toma, as a 11year old boy, swam seven maxmin events to compete within 11-12 boys groups. He made 4th @200IM, 4th @100Breast, 5th @100Fly, 2nd @200Breast, 3rd @ 400IM, 4th @50Breast, 2nd @200Fly. He also achieved A times in most of his events during this meet. Incredible races! 
  • Emilie, as a 10 year old girl, competed in the 10 and under girls group. She made 4th @200IM, 4th @50Free, 4th @100Breast, 3rd @50Fly, 8th @100Back, 6th @100IM, and 2nd @100Fly. Well done with 7 medals!
  • Sonya, the same as Emilie, Sonya raced in the 10 and under girls group, and was awarded a  plate for her 3rd place highpoints finish. She made 5th @50Back, 2nd @200IM, 3rd @100Breast, 2nd @50Fly, 3rd @100Back, 4th @50Breast, and 1st @100Fly. Simply unbelievable performance for her first state meet! 

Looking forward to 2021-2022 season, we will have many opportunities and adventure for our swimmers:

  • First, congratulations to the swimmers who moved from Group B to Group A. 
  • Second, welcome the swimmers who just joined and came back to our club. 
  • With Toma and Emilie continuing to move up in the same age group, a group of swimmers will try their state qualifying times.
  • This year, we will have powerful 9 -10 groups for girls and boys, and our 8 & under groups are well positioned to take challenges in the pools.
  • We definitely need to focus on our baby group, they are our future,  

As a coach, my first priority is to focus on our swimmers’ safety and health. With this foundation secured, I will work on our swim skills while teaching them how to follow the rules and respect others. Through the swim practice and meets, I hope our swimmers will learn discipline, hard work, and persistence.

In order to make our swimmers and club successful, we need to continue to work together and support each other! 

Thank you again!!!

To join our Mountain Club for all ages, please email to mountainswimming@gmail.com for more information.

Our hours are: 

  • for age group swimmers: 3:30–6:30 p.m. during weekdays, no Wednesdays;
  • for adult swimmers: 6:15–7:15 a.m. Tue & Thu.

To schedule Spotlight Swim Lessons (private lessons) for all ages, please email to spotlightswim@gmail.com for more information.

Our hours are:

  • 12 – 6 p.m. Wednesdays
  • 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (pending due to limited pool hours) Saturdays
  • 1 – 5 p.m. (pending due to limited pool hours) Sunday

Mountain Club swimmer Shilo Bartram, daughter of Rachel and David Bartram. Courtesy/Mountain Club

Mountain Club swimmer Leia Lin, daughter of Shizeng Lin and Yang Xi. Courtesy/Mountain Club

Mountain Club swimmer Gabe Haroz, son of Erik and Ellaine Haroz. Courtesy/Mountain Club

Mountain Club swimmers Toma and Emillie Daligault, son and daughter of Jerome and Hajnalka Daligault. Courtesy/Mountain Club

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