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SSC gives way to developmental swimmers
Saipan Swim Club senior members help developmental swimmers warm up for the “Minnie Me” meet last Saturday at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool. (Contributed Photo)
SSC head coach Jacoby Winkfield, in an email to Saipan Tribune, said the 25 swimmers who joined last Saturday’s event took lessons from the club the past few months. They swam in 10m, 15m, 25m, and 50m freestyle and backstroke events and 15m and 25m kick board.
“It is a fun way to reward them for their hard work and after months of lessons the swimmers were eager to show us what they could do,” Winkfield said.
“The ‘Minnie Me’ meet was a hit for the swimmers, parents, and coaches. The event gave the developmental swimmers a chance to show what they had learned in a semi-competitive environment and a taste of swimming longer distances. Our older swimmers participate in regular swim meets and we wanted to give the swimmers taking lessons a similar experience,” the SSC head coach added.
Winkfield helped out in the meet along with SSC’s pool of coaches that includes Gary De Guzman, Emma and Pete Perez, Victoria Gusa, and MaKenzie Hampel.
“As a coach it is always great to see your swimmers reach milestones and applying what they have learned to become better swimmers. Thanks to the efforts of coaches Gary, Emma and Pete, and new coaches Victoria Gusa and MaKenzie Hampel, and the parent organization of the Saipan Swim Club, we are able to provide our swimmers the opportunity to experience the joys of swimming,” Winkfield said.
“SSC is always looking to provide opportunities for the youth in our community for them to learn and develop life skills through swimming and it is fitting that this developmental group kicks off our 2014-2015 swim season,” the mentor added.
With the “Minnie Me” meet done, the club has four local events left before the year ends and 15 more for the entire season. For next month, the club will be participating in the Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation’s season-opening meet, which is set for Oct. 4. Then on Nov. 8, SSC will be hosting the All Schools Swim Championships. For the last two local events for 2014, SSC will join the NMISF midseason tournament on Dec. 6 and host the Jingle Bell Fun Run scheduled for Dec. 17.
