Grant County's swim team, Silver Swordfish, is heading to a meet this Saturday, June 27, in Show Low, Arizona.
With the most registered swimmers than ever in the team's roughly 50-year history, Silver Swordfish is open to athletes as young as seven and thrives with swimmers through age 17. Practices are held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday at the Town of Silver City's public pool. "We are so appreciative that the town continues to support our youth in this capacity," Head Coach Megan Ruehmann says of the Town's flexibility around practices and trust in the coaches.
The team is not quite halfway into its eight-week season, but at least 15 of the 42 Silver Swordfish participants will compete Saturday. Usually, each swimmer enters up to three events with the options being a 50-yard race in each stroke, a 100-meter individual medley, and a 100-yard freestyle race. "If there is time, there's a fun relay," says Mattie Eagle, who coaches the advanced group of athletes.
The newest of the three coaches, Eagle is in her fourth season. She joins Ruehmann, who works primarily with the intermediate group of 9- to 11-year-olds, and Randi White, a past swim team member and coach of the beginners. Each is a certified lifeguard and a registered coach with USA Swimming. They are required to keep up with annual progressive training in coaching safety and techniques.
"Being on a swim team is one of my favorite childhood memories," says Ruehmann, who started coaching in 2019. "After reconnecting with the sport as an adult, I wanted to help create and pass on those experiences to our youth.
Knowing how to swim can save lives, Eagle says, making it a crucial life skill. It's also a sport that can help people stay strong and healthy throughout their lives. "Swimming is a sport where kids who don't gravitate toward the ball sports can really gain confidence in their abilities, enjoy competition, and excel," Eagle says.
White, who joined what was known as the Silver Sharks at age 12, says the team has cycled through a couple different leaders and coaches over the years. She ran the team starting in in 2017, coaching on her own for a year, then with the late Alex Olsen for a while. She took a break to substitute and help with meets only. She returned in 2022 and has been coaching again since. "But I've heard of the Sharks for a looong time," says the coach with nine seasons under her belt, noting the team's history might date as far back as the public pool since it was built in the 70s.
Being on a team teaches so much more beyond swimming, Ruehmann says. Youth practice working together, treating each other with respect, and offering encouragement to teammates. They also set and achieve personal goals. "It is so exciting to see kids challenge themselves in this self-directed way," Ruehmann says.
With many returning swimmers this summer, Eagle says the Silver Swordfish picked up where they left off last summer and are continuing to improve each swimmer's technique. "I love seeing the confidence build as the summer progresses," she says.
White says the start to this season has been really special because last year's advanced members of the swim team taught swim lessons in August, prepping novice swimmers to have a strong foundation for this summer.
"Our little team gets more skilled and has more fun every year," Ruehmann concludes.
