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36 | August 16, 2018 | The Mokena Messenger sports
mokenamessenger.com
Youth Sports
Lincoln-Way Swim Association to hold tryouts for 19th season next week
Amanda Stoll, Assistant Editor
Whether it is freestyle,
breaststroke, backstroke or
butterfly, the Gators swim
club does it all.
With more than a dozen
people on the coaching staff,
they are able coach children
from the age of 5 through
high school. Many of their
swimmers go on to swim
for their respective school’s
swim teams during the high
school season and continue
on with the Gators in the off
season.
Along with direction
from the board, coach Ryan
Counihan takes the reins in
the pool, while admin coach
Mark Hoffer covers much
of the “dry” workings of the
team.
Each year, nearly 300
swimmers join the team, and
from there they are divided
up into their age groups and
paired up with a lead coach.
“I think it’s amazing how
every swimmer looks up to
their coach,” Counihan said.
In addition to the lead
coaches, he said some of
the high school swimmers
act as helpers during swim
practices — especially for
the Alpha groups made up
of beginner swimmers.
Those high-school-aged
Gators swim for all three
of the Lincoln-Way High
Schools. As such, they compete
against each other during
the season and alongside
each other during the off
season which Counihan uses
to create a friendly rivalry
amongst the swimmers and
families.
No matter the age, Counihan
said the team’s goals are
not all about trophies and
titles — although they have
quite a few of those in the
trophy case — but also helping
each swimmer meet his
or her own goals, no matter
Lincoln-Way Swim
Association
Tryouts: 6 and 7 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 20 and
Tuesday, Aug. 21
Lincoln-Way Central
Aquatic Center, 1801 E.
Lincoln Highway, New
Lenox
Website: www.
lwsagators.org
Visit the Gators website
for more information and
tryout forms.
how big or small.
Whether they want to
complete a butterfly event
without being disqualified
or win an event at the state
meet, Counihan said they
have helped children and
parents with goal setting and
how to reach those goals.
“We try to work with
our fastest kids to make
sure that they are getting
to that national level, and
we’re working on the kids
[who] want to get there, and
we’re working on the kids
who just want to be here to
make friends and have fun,”
Counihan said.
The three biggest rules?
Make friends, have fun and
work hard.
Counihan said those rules
are something he likes to
discuss with parents from
the beginning and said he
believes the three go handin-hand.
“This team wouldn’t be
here without the board and
without the coaches [whom]
I have and without the parents,”
Counihan said.
In addition to the work
done in the pool, he said he
and the other coaches are
serious about promoting
safe sports, which includes
talking about bullying and
responsible social media
use.
The Lincoln-Way Swim Association’s trophy case at the Lincoln-Way Central Aquatic Center boasts numerous
championships and trophies for the Gators swim club. Amanda Stoll/22nd Century Media
Tryouts for the upcoming
winter season are scheduled
to be held on Monday, Aug.
20 and Tuesday, Aug. 21 at
the Lincoln-Way Central
Aquatic Center. Children
8 years and younger are
scheduled for tryouts at 6
p.m., while children 9 years
and older will try out at 7
p.m.
Any children not accepted
onto the team after
tryouts will be referred to
Chicago Swim School to
help improve their skills in
the water.
RIGHT: Gators swimmers
celebrate in the pool with
coach Ryan Counihan
and the trophy after a
conference win. Photo
Submitted