Jean Gordon
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 11:29 am
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It's summer. Look around. There are numerous activities everywhere for children and youth reminding us the warmest season is upon us.
Among the most popular is swimming as more than 120 children and young people are involved in the sport.
There was proof of the numbers involved as hundreds gathered at Callison Recreation Center in Forest City on June 11 for the first home meet of the season for the Forest City Swim Team (FCST).
It was literally standing room only for parents, grandparents and friends, attempting to catch a brief glimpse of a favorite swimmer. Spectators brought chairs, snacks and sunscreen as they sat patiently for hours to cheer the swimmers.
This weekend there will be competitive swimming in Hickory for the Rutherford County Swim (RCST) and area competition for the Forest City Swim Team (FCST).
Kendall Randolph, the president of the Board of Directors of the RCST, explained the difference between two organizations, although most of the members of the RCST also swim with FCST.
The FCST is the Recreational Team that competes in summer only and is usually the introduction to swimming. Often the Stingrays will transfer over to RCST. The program promotes stroke development, teamwork and leadership opportunities for kids 6 to 18 years old. Head coach is Renee Howard. (Enrollment is in May).
The RCST - USA Year Around Competitive Travel Swim Team - swims year round and travels across the region for events. The team practices at Isothermal Community College and travels throughout the state for competition.
Recently the team was involved in two competitions in one day - one in Shelby and the other was the annual open water swim in South Carolina.
"We have open enrollment all year long and as long as the child is water safe and can swim the length of the pool unassisted we will allow them to join," said Randolph. "Not all USA competitive teams allow brand new swimmers to join the team. We average around 40-50 swimmers registered," she said.
"All but three or four are dual enrolled," she said of those swimming for both swim teams.
"We travel all over North Carolina," she said.
As the RCST travels throughout the state, the FCST swims in Forest City, Shelby, Black Mountain and Valdese.
Randolph talked about the swim coaches and their dedication to the teams and the lessons taught outside of the pool.
Mike Kernodle, known to RCST as Coach K, is the Head Coach for RCST and has been with the team since its inception in 1986. The year round program offers competitive swimming to those 5 to 18.
"Our goal is not now nor has it ever been to produce championship athletes, although we have produced numerous State Champion Swimmers," Kernodle said in an interview in 2022.
The sport, however, is so much more than competitive swimming and receiving medals after the meets.
The RCST has sent swimmers to colleges and universities, but "Our goal is to produce physically fit, emotionally confident and healthy young adults by engaging them in a demanding athletic activity. Our expanded focus is to involve the entire family in the activities of the swim team and have continuing dialogue regarding nutrition, exercise, academics, and appropriate ways of supporting their young swimmers," he said.
"The measure of the team's success is the individual successes of the swimmers. These successes are not limited to the pool. Their confidence is evident as they step out beyond their comfort zones and confront the difficult challenges their lives present." Kernodle said.
After high school some of the swimmers leave Rutherford County to continue the sport at colleges and universities. Currently there are nine or 10 swim team members planning to continue the sport in college.
Manny Schlichtmann, who swam for Forrest City, Rutherford County and Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, now swims for Converse College, beginning his second year.
Jenna Bridges, a star swimmer at Louisiana State University began swimming with RCST and Chase High School.
Some swimmers are taking advantage of camps also on college campuses.
The next big meet for the RCST is July 5-7 in Shelby. The conference championship is July 27.
"Our RCST board works really hard to make competitive year 'round swimming affordable for RoCo families. We don't want cost to be a major obstacle for children to swim competitively," Randolph added.
For more information about the teams, call Howard at 828-289-5889 or Randolph at 864-612-3439.