Summers spent in the pool are meant to be fun, and Blair and Arlington coaches have made good times a priority this month.
Both youth swim teams competed Saturday morning during an early season meet at the Blair Municipal Pool. The Arlington Swim Team was making its 2021 debut, while the Blair Barracudas squad previously competed at Wayne on June 12, finishing fourth with 200.5 team points.
Both Blair and Arlington have about 30 children participating this summer.
“We're keeping it fun,” said Jen Schiemann, an Arlington coach.
Twenty-one of her squad's 30 kids were competing Saturday.
“Practices are a little hectic, but we've gotten into a routine,” she said.
With direction from adult and teenage coaches — Fremont High School Tigers Elisabeth Meyer and Kiera Spilinek help out — Arlington swimmers have been working on their starts, turns and strokes in preparation for the season.
Meanwhile, in Blair, coaches Shannen Jennings and Meghan Estes have been providing similar lessons.
“We've been mostly working really hard on technique,” Estes said, noting butterfly and backstroke work.
“Dives and flip turns have been a big thing,” Jennings added.
The end result has been progress in the pool and, of course, plenty of fun.
“I think they've been having a good season,” Jennings said of her Blair swimmers.
“They've been having a really good season,” Estes confirmed.
Results from Saturday's meet will be published in a future Enterprise Media Group newspaper.
