Tag Archive | "SWIM TEAM"

Tags: , ,

Dolphins win 11th consecutive swim title

Posted on 12 September 2012 by LeslieM

By Gary Curreri

While the Deerfield Beach Dolphins swim coaches spend each day of the South Florida Recreational Swim League Summer Championships dressing up in costumes for fun, it is serious business when it comes to the meet.

The Deerfield Beach Dolphins Swim Team won its 11th consecutive championship and 14th overall as it racked up 1,454 combined points to take the Large Division title South Florida Recreational Swim League Summer Championships recently at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

Deerfield Beach swim coach Rafael DaSilva, who brought a league-high 124 swimmers to the championships, understandably was pleased with the performance.

“We did a great job with the returning swimmers on our team,” said DaSilva, who is in his seventh year with the program. “We didn’t set any records this year, but we also lost some key swimmers on our relays. We had some close swims among our own swimmers and went 1-2 or 1-2-3. Our main motto is to have fun whatever we do.”

There are 150 swimmers in program and DaSilva said they were hit by the economy and were down a number of swimmers compared to a few years back.

“We had a number of kids that we brought up from the noncompetitive and pre-competitive groups who are now on the fully competitiveteams,” DaSilvasaid. “They are really coming out of their shell and, with the work they are doing, are really improvingtheirtimes… theirstrokes.

We have a lot of new surprises.” DaSilva and his coaches dressed as zombies the first day, Ninja Turtles the second and “Where’s Waldo” characters on the final day.

“Some of the kids were questioning it,” DaSilva said with a laugh. “They thought we were Santa Claus. I want them to have fun, and, if we put a smile on their face, that is all we want to do.” Deerfield Beach Dolphins’ Tayme Thomas won the Boys 50-yard butterfly event and was on two winning relays. He said it was important because it was likely his last meet in the league. His family is moving to Titusville in October or November, he said.

“It is something you have to put the work into,” said Thomas, 13, an 8th grader at Boca Middle School. He’s been swimming since he was 7. “In other sports you can be good and get away with it, but in swimming, you have to put in all of the work. It just makes it better when you win. This meet is a big deal because it is the last one of the year and everybody is here.”

There are three seasons in the South Florida Recreational Swim League – Summer (May to Aug.); Winter (Sept. to Dec.) and Spring (Jan. to April). There is a three-week break between each season; the league is in its 25th year.

SFRSL chairman Chris Hoch said there were 19 teams that featured 1,000 swimmersthis summer. He believes the numbers will grow with it being an Olympic year.

Comments Off on Dolphins win 11th consecutive swim title

Advertise Here
Advertise Here