By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Sherwood Shark swim team, members of the Central Arkansas Swim League, is bucking a trend that has seen swim team-member numbers drop over the last few years. Sherwood has all-time high numbers this year, with around 330 team members, making it unofficially the largest sports team in the state.
Team organizer and one of the eight coaches on the team, Mary Jo Heye, says the key to the team’s success has been the instruction.
“It’s all about providing as much opportunity for instruction that we can provide,” Heye said. “We try to have the best coaches possible and they teach the kids really well. We’re such a big team, but we keep practice sets so they’re manageable. No coach coaches more than one lane at a time, and we’re able to give lots of kids that one-on-one instruction.”
And there is lots of practice time available. The Sharks practice eight times a week, with evening practices available Mondays through Thursdays, and morning practices available Tuesdays through Fridays. But there aren’t 330 swimmers at each practice.
“We do not take attendance at practice,” Heye said. “We try to be family friendly, and really just let the parents determine when they can get their kids to practice. We have people who only show up on certain evenings, and we have morning people. Practices are open and there’s no head count.”
Unlike some of the other programs in the CASL, the Sharks do emphasize competition. Team members are required to compete in at least two meets every summer.
“That’s because part of our program is promoting competitive swimming,” Heye said. “We want them to try it because that’s part of it. We’re not just here for swim lessons. We’re part of a team, part of a community.”
The growth, coaching, plenteous practice time and emphasis on competition has led to an impressive run for the Sharks over the years.
The team is undefeated after three meets this year, keeping alive a streak of 51 straight meets without a loss; that’s eight consecutive seasons of six meets per season.
The Sharks consist of a lot of crossover athletes who compete in various other sports, and the community’s other coaches are in support of the program.
“This sport really goes hand-in-hand with a lot of other sports and the coaches are seeing that and wanting them to swim,” Heye said. “This works everything from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet; it greatly helps conditioning and it makes kids stronger. It also helps develop and strengthen the lungs and really helps cardio.”
The team is holding its firth annual silent auction on July 6 and 7. The fundraiser benefits the Sharks’ program. It will be held at the Bill Harmon Recreation Center and will include over 100 items from gift certificates to tickets to theme parks.
For more information about the swim team or the fundraiser, contact Tina Potts at 834-3130, or visit the website at thesherwoodsharks.com.
