Holmdel is doing its part to encourage kids’ participation in sports. One of the best types of exercise is swimming, and the children on the Holmdel Hurricane team are having fun getting in shape.
The Holmdel Swim Team began its 2004 season in mid-June. The Holmdel Swim team practices and holds their meets at the Holmdel Swim and Tennis Center on Holmdel Road, which was completely redone three years ago and, has pools for every age.
More than 160 kids joined the team. Holmdel welcomes any swimmer between the ages of 5 and 18 that is able to swim the length of Holmdel’s Olympic-size pool. The children are given the opportunity to improve on all levels. The beginning swimmer learns new strokes, and the advanced swimmers perfect their strokes under the guidance of head coach Janet Gillespie. Also helping to coach are Dana Patterson, Cara DelliPaoli and Jamie Naha.
The races include the 50-meter fly, the 100-meter free style, the 25-meter back, the 25-meter breast, the 100-meter medley (all the strokes) and a 200-meter relay.
Holmdel’s first meet was against Middletown, at Holmdel, on June 23. Other meets so far this summer include Candlewood in Howell, Strathmore in Aberdeen and the YMCA in Freehold.
The following children raced official and finished in the top three positions in their individual races in the various meets: Annemarie Arcidiacono, Lois MarieBrooks, Michael Brooks, Sarah Conway, Michael Creamer, Roxanne Dehnad, Tina Di Modica, Sean Dunn, Alina Granville, Ryan Keenan, Lexie Mariolis, Emmanual Martinez, Luis Martinez, Katie McKay, Bryce Miller, Stephanie Miller, Lindsay Mills, Jackie Nelson, Bridget Nucum, Caroline O’Neill, Dana Patterson, Lauren Snyder, Chloe Stevenson, Danielle Terrese, Caroline Timko, Brendan Tschaen, Brittany Tschaen, Chris Tucker, Jackie Watkins, Andrew Weber and Sara Weber.
A total of 520 personal best time ribbons were awarded to swimmers for beating their prior best time.