Charlotte Middle School swim team coaches Steve Kineman and Dana Kirk look arou
nd and see opportunity everywhere. Opportunity lies within the Charlotte Aquatic Center, which they both agree is one of the finest aquatic centers in Mid-Michigan. Opportunity also lies within the 19 swimmers that make up the middle school swim team. Those 19 athletes represent the future.
This is just the second year of existence for the middle school swim team, but Kineman sees the past two years as the foundation for something bigger.
“Our goal is to have a varsity swim team next year with a girls team in the fall and a boys team in the spring,” Kineman said.
The foundation is being laid at the middle school level where the focus is learning the four disciplines — free, breast, fly and back, Kineman. At this level it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about achieving your personal best and improving.
Molly Manns, a seventh grader at Charlotte Middle School is in her second year with the team. She said she has been swimming competitively for eight and a half years.
“I’ve enjoyed swimming ever since I took lessons here,” she said. “It’s really a lot of fun and a good sport for everybody.”
Getting kids involved in swimming is one of the goals of the swim team as well as the Tiger Sharks program in Charlotte, which is basically the precursor to the competitive team.
“We have this beautiful facility that is being underutilized,” Kirk.
That, however, is changing with the introduction of competitive swimming at the middle school level. Charlotte hosted Wavery and St. Johns middle school teams on Wednesday, Jan. 15, bringing in a full crowd and more than 60 swimmers to the Aquatic Center. The team’s next home meet is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 20 when the team hosts Grand Ledge.
Kineman said the team has come a long way since the first practice.
“Our first practice there were a lot of red faces and a lot of huffing and puffing,” Kineman said. “So much of swimming is about endurance. Now having them swim 200 yards is like nothing.”
The excitement and enthusiasm of his team has Kineman eager to see the future of varsity swimming in Charlotte. Matthew Feighner, an eighth grader on the team, is one student who will make the leap to varsity swimming next season if things go according to plan. His mother, Eileen said the middle school team has been great for her son because it has provided an opportunity for him to really improve his skills.
“It’s been great because regardless of their skill level, they all encourage one another,” Eileen said. “It’s a great atmosphere.”
Kineman said new Charlotte Aquatic Center director Dan Christian has been instrumental in making competitive swimming in Charlotte a reality. So too, have all of the parents of team members.
The Charlotte Middle School swims again Grand Ledge Monday, Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Charlotte Aquatic Center.
