SSC embraces more pool time

Saipan Swim Club members after practice in the Saipan lagoon in this file photo. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Unlike Sixers great and Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Allen Iverson, members of the Saipan Swim Club apparently don’t abhor practice. 

That’s why SSC coach Richard Sikkel embraces the increase in pool time afforded by Pacific Islands Club Saipan and Green Flash Dive Shop.

“It is a privilege to be able to offer swim lessons to as many swimmers as we do. Saipan Swim Club managed to increase its pool time and space at Pacific Island Club in addition to our four-day commitment at Green Flash Dive Shop to allow for as many swimmers as possible to enjoy our swimming lessons.”

He said with more pool time, it opened the opportunity for SSC to further develop its grassroots program.

Saipan Swim Club coach Richard Sikkel said the lack of pool space continues to be the biggest challenge for the sport of swimming in the CNMI. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“Our grassroots program has really taken off and we have a long waiting list of swimmers waiting to enter the program. These little ones are the swimmers of the future and we want to make sure we invest just as much time and effort in their development as we do in our elite swimmers.”

Last year also saw SSC welcome two new coaches—Christian Villacrusis and David Roberto—who used to swim for SSC. 

“We also attracted two former SSC swimmers to help with the coaching which allows all of us to focus more effectively on providing the specific support our swimmers need. We have assembled a great coaching team and I think we will start seeing it start to pay dividends,” he said.

After finally returning to the pool consistently in May, Sikkel said their competitive swimmers have been showing steady improvement already and he expects even bigger strides in their future. 

“A nice cherry on top of the cake of course is having some of our swimmers be able to attend the World Aquatics World Championships in Budapest and Lima. There are several big events coming up in 2023 and SSC and NMI swimming will be represented well,” he said.

As far as challenges, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, Sikkel said the sport’s biggest challenge continues to be the lack of pool space since the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool closed down in Marpi a couple of years back. 

“We currently accommodate around 70 swimmers, but the demand for lessons is through the roof. I get calls almost daily from parents wanting to enroll their kids, but due to the pool size and space we cannot accommodate them.”

He added that if SSC had a full-sized pool that is available during regular day time hours, they would be able to accommodate many more swimmers. 

“That said, we make due and we are very grateful to Green Flash and PIC for allowing us to use their facilities, their staff is super helpful and we love working with them.”

As for events in 2023, Sikkel said SSC will be staging the following: the Meek and Mighty Swim, Escape from Managha, and Pau Pau to Tanapag as well as help swimmers qualify for the FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, the Micronesia Games in the Marshall Islands, and the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. 

Sikkel also thanked the SSC board, the swimmers’ parents, and the Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation for their continued support. 

“We have tremendous support from our parents who bring their kids to swimming on time, come out for time trials to cheer, etc. The SCC board is ever supportive of our coaching staff and of improving the level of swimming, promoting the club, and the sport of swimming. Last but not least SSC receives a lot of support from NMISF and its programs. Together we aim to raise the level of professionalism of swimming in the NMI. Hopefully we will see more swimmers continue swimming in college and increase the CNMI footprint in the world of swimming.”