The hot 大象APPsummer is around the corner and that means swim team is, too.
Kids ages 5 to 18 can join one of Pima County Parks and Recreation鈥檚 nine swim teams with starting at 6 a.m. April 29 and closing at midnight on May 30. The cost is $25 per child.
Swimmers dive into the pool at the Ajo Swim Meet last season.
Anissa Ramirez, Pima County Parks and Recreation鈥檚 community engagement coordinator, said the county expects the teams to 鈥渇ill up quickly, so we encourage swimmers to register as soon as possible to secure their spot.鈥
Participating teams include:
鈥 Ajo Desert Sharks in the town of Ajo in the far southwestern corner of Pima County
鈥 Catalina Rattlers, who swim out of the northwest side town of Catalina
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鈥 Flowing Wells Dolphins, swimming at Flowing Wells Jr. High School
鈥 Kino Tsunamis, based at Kino Sports Complex
鈥 Los Ni帽os Piranhas, from the Los Ni帽os neighborhood park near Drexel Road
鈥 Manzanita Torpedoes, from the west side Manzanita Pool in the Drexel Heights neighborhood
鈥 Marana Marlins, which will move to the new Marana Aquatic & Recreation Center from their longtime home at Ora Mae Harn Park
鈥 Thad Terry Stingrays, swimming at the Northwest YMCA
鈥 Wade Mclean Tiger Sharks, based out of Marana High School
Each team has a limited number of spots and registration is open so swimmers don鈥檛 have to live near the pool where they register.
鈥淥nce that capacity is reached, registration for that team will close,鈥 Ramirez said, adding that the county does not maintain a waitlist.
The swim team is open to any child in Pima County who can meet the requirements, including being able to fully submerge in the water; tread water for one minute; and swim 50 yards (two laps) unassisted with any stroke.
A young swimmer competes in the backstroke at Kino pool.
Ramirez said each swimmer should attend a practice in the first week to have their swim test conducted. If the swimmer struggles with the swim test, the final decision is given to the pool supervisor or aquatic supervisor.
Teams practice is at least an hour a day, Monday through Thursday from June 2-July 24; meets are held on Saturdays beginning June 13.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
Cienega HS swimmer with a partial lung thrives inside and outside the pool
