Wow is it hot! May is the month when we really start to feel the heat at Westchase. Some days it gets to over 100 degrees on the pool deck during afternoon practice! The refreshing pool looks very inviting! It’s no wonder the swim team grows from 40 swimmers to nearly 60 swimmers during the summer months!

May is also the time for Little Flippers to resume. This program is for 6-year-olds and up who have developed skills beyond the lesson program and are not yet quite ready or willing to join the swim team. Classes start May 5 and are held from 3:00-3:45 p.m. on Monday through Thursday. Swimmers may choose three days per week to participate.

The Westchase Swim Team has recently traveled to Winter Haven to compete in the first long course meet, the Rowdy Gaines Invitational. They are now preparing for a meet in Brandon. Swimmers of the Month are Cloe Goyal for the Novice Group and Jabari Ramsey for the Age Groupers. Both of these young athletes are 8-years-old. Cloe has a great desire to work hard and learn and improve, which will surely help her to excel! Jabari is a gifted, young athlete who qualified for Junior Olympics in the 10-and-under age group – quite an accomplishment. Jabari also has nearly perfect practice attendance.

I am currently working on the summer practice schedule and it looks like we will use both pools, so we can get in morning practices and avoid the afternoon storms. We are also working with other local coaches to set up the Tampa Summer Swim League for our less experienced swimmers.

Remember that if you have a talented little swimmer who might be interested in swim team, I would like to meet him/her and test his/her abilities in the water. Just call the Swim and Tennis Center at 855-0662. We can arrange a time for an evaluation of abilities to get him or her enrolled in the most suitable program.