Artistic swim program looks to dive into new territory
by Dan Holland
Having just concluded its 32nd season, Blue Dolphins Artistic Swimming, based out of the Brecksville Community Center, is looking to expand its team roster beyond the Brecksville-Broadview Heights area.
“Most of our athletes are from Brecksville and Broadview Heights, but we have some from other cities as well,” explained Club President Megan Combs. “But we are trying to expand our scope, as we’re the only competitive artistic swim team in Northeast Ohio.”
Age ranges in the group, which currently consists of 19 team competitors, span from 6 – 17 years old.
“Most of the girls end up staying through high school if they have the interest and are able,” said Combs. “We have had a few swimmers who have gone on to swim at the collegiate level, including one or two at Ohio State, which is a highly-ranked program. They generally start young. As long as they can tread water in the deep end, and can make it through an hour-long practice, they’re ready to get started.”
Five team members from the advanced group traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan over the Fourth of July weekend to compete in the Junior Olympics, while members of the younger group competed in the East Zone Artistic Swimming Championships – a national-level competition – held June 19-21 in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia.
The program offers four levels: beginner (ages 7-11), novice (8-12), intermediate (11-15) and advanced (13-17). Practice lengths and frequency, in addition to routines, become more involved as swimmers move up through the different levels.
The season runs from October into June/July, with an annual Water Show, which is open to the public, performed at the community center pool in late May. The travel team participated in four meets this past season, heading to competitions in and around Columbus, Buffalo, Rochester and Philadelphia.
Routines vary on the number of teammates competing – from solo routines up to team routines involving anywhere from four to eight swimmers.
“We pick out our own music, choreograph the routine and then they design costumes that support the theme of the music,” Combs explained.
Combs noted that many current team members previously competed in dance or gymnastics. She became involved with Blue Dolphins three years ago, when her daughters, Eliza and Charlotte, expressed an interest in artistic swimming – previously known as synchronized swimming.
“For girls who are involved in dance or gymnastics, those tend to be great feeder programs for this,” said Combs. “We have so many girls who have started in those disciplines, as there are a lot of similarities with how they move, the music and the costumes.”
The club will be offering a two-week trial program in October.
“Anyone can join practices and try it out, and we’re also going to be offering a rec program option this year,” Combs explained. “It is a big commitment from October into June or July, but having a rec program where they can try it out and see if they like it, is an option, so they can decide whether they want to join the travel team the following year. We want that to be a feeder program for the larger program.”
Friendships and competition experiences top the list of likes for team members, according to Combs.
“They love their teammates, and every routine has a different theme with music,” she said. “This year was a baseball theme; they love being part of a team and the outfits. The team is very welcoming and the kids are so kind, they just form such deep friendships with their teammates.”
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For information, visit www.bluedolphins.club.
Photo caption: Sydney Boehnlein, Autumn Claridge, Kaitlyn Gelle, Lillee Kandelwahl and Anna Kreshover display the second-place awards they earned at a regional meet in Victor, New York. Photos submitted by Megan Combs.