SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Sports

Surge in youth swimmers following Olympic Games

By Bill Kipouras
staff writer
Published: November 6, 2008

First of all, the parents who bring their children to the Beverly/Sterling Center for lessons find that it's not what they think, in terms of the process of developing into a competitive swimmer.

Every YMCA in the country has a boost in membership after a summer Olympics.

"It's called an 'Olympic bump,'" John Ogden pointed out. "The numbers are consistently up after an Olympiad, especially with all the publicity Michael Phelps got."

Ogden is the Director of Aquatics, the head coach, for the YMCA of the North Shore, with nearly 600 members in six branches: Beverly-Cape Ann (combined), Salem, Marblehead, Ipswich and Haverhill. Ogden has plenty of help. He has 38 coaches.

It is, Ogden proudly reflected, the largest Y swim team in the country. The ages are 6-18. It's unique, he said.

The pre-competitive groups are included in Beverly's almost 200 members.

"A bunch of kids always show up (post Olympics). Happens every four years. But a lot of parents think their kid is going to be a swimmer in two or three months. The mother believes her child starts swimming by then and is on the way to being a Michael Phelps. That's a misconception. Mom and dad think it's easier than it is really is," Ogden said.

"They don't realize how long the process is, the practices, all the hard work. We start them slow and bring kids (ages 6-8, 8-10) along slowly. The pace increases as they advance. The trick with the Olympic bump kids is to keep them. Retaining those kids is key."

The YMCA of the North Shore doesn't need to recruit young swimmers or is not even keen about increasing its enrollment. Added growth could pose a headache.

"Space is limited with close to 600 members and there are only so many pools. There are the adult members to consider," Ogden said. "I don't know if we want to go much bigger. What we can do is get better. My goal when I came here from Glens Falls, N.Y., was to have the best team in the country."

Yes, Ogden assured, the young element on the Sharks, pre-school on up, has potential future blue-chippers coming along all the time. The current crop includes Riley LeBlanc, Aaron Athanas, Molly McSweeney of Beverly, James Black and Toireasa Rafferty-Millett of Marblehead, India Boland of Magnolia, and Langston Toxey of Salem.

All above are aware of Shark elites Teddy Millett, Kelly O'Connor, Tyler Lareau, Desi Deaveau and Tim Bouvier and surely will want to achieve their speed, stamina and skills some day.

"The sport of swimming itself as a youth sport is an attraction. After they learn, the kids can develop and flourish on their own. Think of youth soccer and Little League baseball, or most any youth sports program. If you're not a good player you're not going to get a lot of playing time and they're liable to become discouraged.

"In swimming, everybody plays because you're always going against your own personal best (time). You're not being rated against anyone. You're only swimming against your own best time," Ogden said. "It's also a lifetime sport, a very healthy sport."

It's possible that the success of the team seniors and wide media attention accorded them for their National Y accomplishments may draw interest and young members.

Ogden believes about 95 percent of Shark swimmers compete in college and often receive a swim scholarship or tuition assistance.

The latest is Manchester's Emily Needham, who is Tulane bound on scholarship.

Teddy Millett, a Marblehead senior, who is the big fish in North Shore pools, has made a verbal commitment with Ohio State, but it's not binding. He will wait until Senior Nationals in Atlanta before making a firm decision.

Millett makes it clear that he wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for the Beverly Sharks, and the training of John Ogden and Adam Miemont (distance coach).

"It's the YMCA, the coaching is very good, everybody's truly nice, and it's really a good place to grow up. A great environment," Millett said.

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