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08/09/2021 12:00 AMThe Valley Shore YMCA Marlins swim program recently finished its long course season. As one of the few opportunities for swimmers to get in the pool and compete, the Marlins have been a boon for athletes looking to keep in shape and hone their strokes in the water.
Several athletes took part in the Long Course Regional Championships for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world. Head Coach Teddy Weeks felt great to see his swimmers competing again after a long layoff.
"The YMCA tried really hard to re-open as soon as they got the update for what they were allowed to do. They tried to get the Y open for members. We were always in constant communication for swimming and pool capacity rules. We were allowed two kids in a lane, then four, then it came back down to two," Weeks said. "We turned into a monthly swim team because we didn't know if we were going to be able to have a full season. At the time, there weren't a lot of indoor sports open for kids. We were one of the first sports approved by the state. It was hard, but good to have the kids back in the water."
The COVID-19 pandemic cause problems for different sports endeavors all over the world, but during its first and second waves, indoor activities like those available at the Valley Shore YMCA were disrupted more than others. Coach Weeks recalled the uncertainty during those trying times.
"In March 2020 the season was just cut off. All the championships were canceled. I had a swimmer named Abby Vitola make YMCA National Championship for the first time, and she couldn't go because it was canceled," said Weeks. "She still hasn't gone yet, but we hope she can get there eventually."
The way the Marlins practice, trained, and competed totally changed this year do to the safety precautions necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID.
"Normally, there are meets over the weekends where kids can sign up for all three days or just one day. At the end of the regular season, it's championship season, and there are qualifying meets. September through February is the regular short course season and March is the short course postseason, and April through early July is the long course season, with the postseason in late July," Weeks said. "This year, we had to run virtual swim meets with no spectators. Kids wore masks and stayed six feet apart while on the swim deck. We stayed under the occupancy numbers to be safe. They would take the masks off in the pool."
Outside of competing, practice also became challenging due to limitations on the number of swimmers per lane. Swimmers who often swam every day had to pare back their amount of time in the pool in order to accommodate everyone.
"When we were down to one kid per lane, that was tough because we had 47 kids because we didn't have enough time for all the kids to get through. We had kids that would normally swim five days a week that had to go to down one day a week so everyone got a chance to swim," said Weeks. "We had to eliminate all the equipment that we used. The kids were six feet apart with designated spots to put their stuff, and when they leave we shut the Y down to clean the pool. It made instruction hard because they couldn't group up so we could talk about what we were doing. We were screaming across the pool."
Vitola was disappointed that she wasn't able to compete in nationals. It's been difficult for Vitola, who lives in Clinton, to find a rhythm with all the changes to her normal routine, but she's still happy that swimming competition returned.
"I'm really excited to have it back. It was hard not swimming because it was something I did every day. I go to practice during the week, and the weekends were the meets. It took a big part of my life away. I had to pick up other things and other hobbies. It was a really big change. Even though I didn't like it, I think overall it had a positive impact on me. I picked up other hobbies, exercises, and things like that," said Vitola, who is a rising senior at The Morgan School. "It's been pretty difficult getting back to where I was. It's frustrating, but it's given me he opportunity to work on technique. I know that overall that will really help me."
Lucca Giordano, who lives in Essex, had a tough time during the Marlins' hiatus. Giordano uses swimming to stay focused on other activities out of the pool, and it's always nice to see his teammates.
"Swimming is my favorite physical activity. When I get to swim, I feel focused, healthy, and I sleep better. After swim practice, I feel tired, but in a good way, because I know it is good for my body and mind," said Giordano. "When the Valley Shore YMCA pool closed, I felt upset. I was worried that the pool would be closed for a long time, and I wouldn't be able to swim again.
" To keep in shape, I went for hikes and bike rides with my family, and exercised at home," he continued. "When the pool reopened, I was excited because I could swim again and see my teammates, even though it was from a long distance because of safety concerns."
Emma Scherber, who lives in Chester, recently began swimming with the Marlins after her parents temporarily moved her from another program. After spending some time with the team, Scherber decided she wanted to stick with Coach Weeks and the Marlins.
"We moved last summer because of COVID. When I found out I could swim, I was really excited. I was a little bit nervous, but I was fine after I met Coach Teddy. He's really nice and he keeps us all safe. He made me feel really welcome," said Scheber. "I've made a lot of new friends and swimming makes me really happy. Coach Teddy makes it even more exciting. He makes lots of jokes and he tells us funny stories about stuff he does with his kids."
Coach Weeks and the Marlins have had to make several adjustments, but the approach at practice remained the same.
"In swimming, you're really not competing against other people. You're only trying to defeat yourself. You're trying to beat your previous best time. After you swim you have to reflect and figure out what things you could have done better so you can work on them at practice and reach your goal," Weeks said. "Winning isn't everything. This team is mostly about friendship and fun. As far as setting goals, the kids set the ones they want to reach, and we work on specific things based on that. That's the rewarding part of the sport, sticking with it and finding way to tweak the technique,and get a little bit faster every time."
The Marlins swim at the Valley Shore YMCA in Westbrook and welcome athletes aged 6 to 18 for competitive swimming. The program features athletes from Westbrook, Old Saybrook, Clinton, Essex, Chester, Deep River, Madison, Old Lyme, and more. Tryouts for the short course season will be held Wednesday, Sept. 1 at
5 p.m.