FREESTYLE
Glen Pesola, 12 years
old, West Side YMCA Piranhas
How did you first start swimming?
My
mom enrolled my older brother in swimming and she thought that I would be good
at it too.
Did you choose to
swim freestyle or did you discover you were good at it first?
I kind of choose the stroke when I realized it was my favorite
and I swam really well at it. My older brother also liked it so that made me
like it too.
What are the
challenges of the freestyle stroke? What does it take to be good?
I think a lot of arm muscles to pull and also a lot of
kicking so that you go really fast.
How do you prepare
for a meet?
We usually do practice for diving and practicing the stroke
that you’re going to be doing and we do timing. We practice three times a week
for an hour and a-half.
Is everyone very
competitive or does the team joke around a lot?
Older kids are really competitive and they try to be fast and
better than someone else. It makes me more competitive because I want to be the
best.
What are you most
proud of with regard to your swimming accomplishments?
I placed 7th overall [in the 11 and 12-year-old category]
in the 200-yard freestyle at the YMCA New York State Swimming Championships in
March. When you win a race it feels really good that you’ve accomplished
something and that you’ve actually won.
For more information
on the West Side YMCA Piranhas, visit ymcanyc.org/west-side/youth/piranhas-swim-team.
BREASTSTROKE
Zoe Chamberlin, 11
years old, Apex Swim Club
How did you first get started swimming?
When I was little I started at a place called SwimJim and from
there I started taking more swimming lessons at the Riverdale Y and I was on
their swim team. I was always winning races in the swim meets and I was getting
a little bored and I needed something more challenging, so my parents signed me
up for Apex.
What are the
challenges of this stroke? What does it take to be good?
I think that you have to have a lot of strength in your legs
and arms because you’re pulling really hard with your arms and your legs are
moving you across the pool and you have to have a lot of force in your body.
How do you prepare
for a meet or race?
I have to eat a good breakfast with a lot of protein and
carbs to get my energy level up and I drink Vitamin Water and I eat fruit. Basically,
for me, that’s all I really need.
Why do you like
swimming with Apex?
I’m challenged a lot more and I really like my coach and my
teammates are really supportive and I’m supportive of them too.
What are you most
proud of with regard to your swimming accomplishments?
I’m most proud of making it to the Zone team because it’s
only my second year swimming competitively and to make it to the fastest people
in metro. I was really proud and I couldn’t believe that I actually did it and
finished in the top 8. I made it to the Junior Olympics too–last year and this
year, too.
Has being on the team
introduced you to a new group of friends?
At first I didn’t know anybody and I was really nervous to
meet new people because I’m usually shy around people I know. But then after a
few practices, when I got to know them, I started making new friends.
For more information
on the Apex Swim Club, visit lehman.cuny.edu/vpstud/apexathletics/uss_club/uss.html.
BACKSTROKE
Tina Rodriguez, 12
years old, LaGuardia Twisters
How did you first get started swimming?
When
I was little my dad was a swim instructor so he got me into swimming.
Did you choose to
swim backstroke or did you discover you were good at it first?
I like the stroke itself and my coaches say I’m really good
at it. I made finals at the Junior Olympics in March in backstroke.
What are the
challenges of this stroke? What does it take to be good?
I think that the hardest part is that you’re on you’re back
and you’re not as physically aware of where you are in the pool, and also that
the water gets in your face a lot.
How do you prepare for
a meet or race?
I practice four days a week. I usually like to eat fruit and
Power Bars before my race. I stretch a lot so my muscles loosen up.
Why do you like
swimming with the Twisters?
The coaches are really supportive and they make sure that
you’re comfortable in the water and the other team members are really nice.
They help you when you need it.
Do you think you’ll continue
swimming as you grow up?
Yeah, I want to get into it in college and in high school
because I feel that I’m doing a good job now so I’d want to continue it.
For more information
on the LaGuardia Twisters, visit lgactwisters.com.
BUTTERFLY
Alec Kahn, 11 years
old, 92nd St. Y Flying Dolphins
What do you enjoy
most about swimming?
I just like being in the water. It’s not about it being a
sport.
What are the
challenges of the butterfly stroke? What does it take to be good?
I think it’s one of the harder strokes. I think you need
really good endurance. But to sprint you just need to be really strong.
How do you prepare
for a meet?
The day before I swim, I always eat pasta. Right before I
swim I warm myself up by wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts and drinking a lot
of Gatorade, Vitamin Water and water. I usually don’t eat too much right before
my race.
Why do you like
swimming with 92nd
St. Y
Flying Dolphins?
I like having a team and having them cheer you on. I like
being in relays.
Is everyone very
competitive or does the team joke around a lot?
Everyone is friendly but everybody has competitors on other
teams. But they’re still friendly with those competitors.
What are you most
proud of with regard to your swimming accomplishments?
I’ve gotten second place twice, high-point award trophies.
And I’ve gotten a lot of first place medals and ribbons.
For more information
on the 92nd
St. Y
Flying Dolphins, visit 92y.org.
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Swimming In The City: Vadim Shoyket of Physique Swimming Offers Some
Advice For Parents Of Swimmers Of All Ages
At what age
should boys and girls learn how to swim?
When it comes to learning to swim, earlier is better. I
recommend beginning swimming lessons as early as 6 months. Infants can learn
the fundamentals: holding their breath, gliding, floating and kicking.
When should
children start to consider competitive swimming?
When choosing whether or not competitive swimming is the
right path for your swimmer, there are two factors to consider: endurance and
technique. A swimmer will also need to have knowledge of both freestyle and
backstroke before joining a swim team.
How do most
children balance swimming with school and other activities?
One of the benefits of joining a swim team is that it
forces children to develop excellent time management skills. The best advice I
can give a parent to help a child manage a sport and school is to work with
your child to create and maintain a schedule (and be sure to schedule in a bit
of free time).
What is your
advice for parents who are considering enrolling their child on a swim team?
Be supportive and avoid pushing your child. Children will
remember their swim team experiences for the rest of their lives, so it’s
important to make these memories good ones.
Last words: Swim teams come in all shapes and sizes. Some
require more time and are more challenging. Other teams are more relaxed.
Remember, you don’t have to pick the first team you try. You can shop around
until you find the right fit.
Swim Classes
If you’re looking to enroll your child in a swim class, here
are some trusted programs around the city.
92nd
St. Y: 92y.org
Asphalt
Green: asphaltgreen.org
Aqua
Skills: aquaskills.com
Imagine
School of Swimming:
imagineswimming.com
New
York Sports Club: mysportsclubs.com
Physique:
physiqueswimming.com
SwimJim:
swimjim.com
Take
Me To The Water: takemetothewater.com
Your
local YMCA: ymcanyc.org
