An "Olympic Level" Season for Euclid Panthers Summer Swim Team
The Euclid Panther’s Summer Swim team wrapped up another successful season at the beginning of August. Proving it was another great year to swim in Euclid.
However, due to some much needed maintenance at Euclid’s Memorial Pool that delayed its opening, we were a bit “slow off the blocks” this season. But thanks to the creativity of the Euclid Recreation Department, the flexibility and inclusivity of the University Swim Club http://www.universityswimclub.com/, and the eagerness of our swimmers to get to work, we didn’t lose anytime in the water and began the 2016 swim season indoor at Euclid High School making our way outside once Memorial was ready for swimmers.
An “Olympic Summer” is always an inspirational one but this one was even more so for our swimmers with two of our former swim team members qualifying for the Olympic trials held June 26-July 3 in Omaha, Nebraska!! Euclid Panther graduates Sam Lisy and Derek Hren swam the 400 IM and 100 Breast respectively. Sam went 4:51.85 and took 33 out of 119 finishers while Derek Hren swam the 100 Breast and went 1:02.66 and took 45 out of 135 finishers! Not one, but TWO Euclidian’s at the Olympic Trials-Wow! This was certainly a huge accomplishment for both swimmers and a big source of “Panther Pride” or the team.
While the evidence above proves the Euclid swim program is home to great swimmers, it is also known for having a lot of “Panther Spirit”. Over the last 10 years we have won the “Spirit Award” more often then not at the end of the season championship Suburban Swim League Championship and we did it again by winning the trophy at the Swim Championships hosted by the Willowick Wildcats and Highland Heights Hurricanes August 6 & 7 2016. “Ooh, Ahh Euclid!” “Ooh, Ahh Euclid!”
The following are a few things some of our parents of swimmers have to say about the Euclid Summer Swim Team and why they love swimming in Euclid:
“The Euclid Panthers swim team is a great way for the kids to meet and make friends with other kids throughout the city. My son Alex Pesek (9 years) loves swimming in the summer. He doesn't see the majority of the kids any other time of the year but they continue to build a friendship every summer. The summer swim team to me is like a big family stew. The kids are one big family from the youngest swimmer to the oldest swimmer. On any given day I might find my son playing with a new five year old swimmer or goofing around with a 14 year old swimmer. Swimming is a great team sport but it is also much more that that. Swimming is about making yourself better, an improved swim stroke or a better faster time. I know we have a excellent swim team in this city from the awesome coaches to the parents and of course the kids. What confirms this feeling is the fact that my son wants to get up in the summer to be "pool side" for 8am practice, the funny thing is...so do I!”
~Pam Pesek, Swim Parent
“Our 3 daughters have participated in the Euclid panthers summer swim team for the past 8 summers. They have learned the value of consistent hard work to become better swimmers both as a team member and as individuals. The coaches are dedicated and make the season fun a challenging for the kids. Swimming keeps kids physically active in the summer and in a healthy routine. We love the Euclid panther swim team!
~Mary Delaney, Swim Parent
We are very fortunate to have the support of the city, parents, coaches, local sponsors and of course, the “spirit” of the swimmers who make our team thrive and grow. Thank you to everyone who made 2016 another great year to swim in Euclid!
To find out more about our program and for up to date information on the team please visit our website at www.eucilidpanthersssl.webs.com.
Euclid Panthers Summer Swim Team http://www.euclidpanthersssl.webs.com/ is a City of Euclid Recreation Department Program and a member of the Suburban Swim League http://www.swimssl.com/., with a volunteer parent board that works closely with the city and coordinates many aspects of the program such as league meets, swim parties, fundraising, etc.
Summer swim team operates out of Memorial pool with the practices starting the second week of June. Practices are held daily from 8:00-10:00am with evening practices held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00-7:30 PM. Swimmers will practice together as a team for the week and on Saturday mornings we compete against neighboring teams with the first meet at the end of June and culminates with a Suburban Swim League Championship weekend the first week in August.
Kris Fondran, Euclid Summer Swim Team Parent
Kristine Fondran
Nearly a life long Euclid resident, Kris is a part-time lecturer at Cleveland State University, a skating and yoga instructor and serves as Co-President of the Euclid Summer Swim Team Parent Board.