Sharks set to open season

SIKESTON - The sound of nearly 50 kids jumping into the YMCA pool at 7:30 a.m. can only mean one thing, the Sikeston Sharks Swim Team is back in action.

"Swimming is a really good sport because it is team driven but there are still individual roles," said Thomas Reiker, the new head coach of the Sikeston Sharks. "You don't have to win to win. If you shave time off of your swim or get second or third place that is an accomplishment."

Reiker, the former coach of the Dexter swim team and Ashley Scheeter, assistant coach and a long time member of the Sharks, will teach the basics of swimming to the swimmers and prepare them for competition. The team will compete in approximately one meet per week with the first meet beginning at 2 p.m. Monday at the Sikeston YMCA pool. Entrance is free to anybody wishing to come.

"The kids love the meets," said Marilyn Klueppel, mother of three swim team members. "It is an all day party for them."

Klueppel also explained the pride her children feel whenever they win a medal or ribbon.

A young swimmer works with a board.

A young swimmer works with a board.

"Both my older kids have bulletin boards full of their ribbons and I have told my 4-year-old once he wins a ribbon, we will get him a bulletin board to start putting the ribbons on. That is a huge thing to him," said Klueppel.

But the honor is not all the only reason these kids get up in the morning and jump in the water. Kristen Medley said that the medals don't mean very much at all to her.

"I do it for the friends," said Medley. "To be with friends and make new friends."

Medley is the oldest swimmer on the team and participated in the Junior Olympics in New Orleans last year.

"That was my favorite swimming memory," said Medley. "The competition was tough, but it was really fun."

The swim team holds a morning and evening practice every weekday to develop their skills. The old swimmers focus on distance swimming, completing plenty of laps and utilizing every type of stroke. The younger kids learn the strokes and constantly attempt to perfect their form.

Although most people think of kids sleeping in until noon during the summer, the morning session is very popular with the kids.

"The morning practice wakes you up, makes you feel better the whole day, and it gets practice out of the way so you can go out with your friends at night," said Medley.

For the parents, the advantages of swim team are easy to see.

"The kids love it," said Klueppel. "They get great exercise and make great friends. Some of their best friends are made through the swim team."

The parents also agreed that safety was also an added benefit. Not only do the kids learn to swim, they learn how to swim well, which could be very beneficial later in life, explained Klueppel and three other parents.

Although the safety and exercise is nice, the parents agreed that the best part about swim team was the positive attitude of the kids.

"Their excitement after they finish a race is the best part," said Klueppel. "The parents don't have to persuade the children to be part of the team. This is something the kids want to do and love to do."

The swim team will be competing until the end of July. The team is still taking late signups and anyone able to swim the length of the pool is invited to join the team. Those interested in joining the team or desiring more information should talk to Kathy or Missy at the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce.