The Bachman Stingrays sent four swimmers to the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF) Winter Games swim meet in Pearland, Texas. Swimmers from all over Texas earlier this month traveled to the winter meet to compete against some of the best youth amateurs.
The four Stingrays competed in a total of 11 events that included the butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke. Although the Stingrays had only one swimmer place in the top ten of an event, head coach Carrie Allen says that this meet helped the team get some of “their nerves out of the way.”
“Our swimmers were very nervous at first,” Allen said. “This was one of the biggest meets they had ever competed in. As the meet went on, they slowly realized that they could hold their own against other competitors and that their hard work this past season had paid off. It was also an opportunity for them to support and encourage each other as a team as they were trying this new experience.”
Allen believes swim meets and programs like hers are not solely about who wins or loses, but about the character lessons competitors learn regardless of their skills.
“Swim meets teach a multitude of different lessons for young competitors,” Allen says. “They teach lessons in sportsmanship and teamwork and show them the structure and flow of a professional meet. For our fastest swimmers, it teaches them lessons in humility and how to work hard even when they are the fastest in their own home pool.
Allen added, “For our beginners, the meets build their confidence and show them how their hard work in practice pays off in competition. Our youngest swimmer even received a ribbon for 8th place in breaststroke. All in all, there are lessons to be gained for all our swimmers, no matter where they are in their competing careers.”
The Stingrays are the only year-round swim team organized by the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. The team practices weekly at Bachman Indoor Pool.
Allen encourages swimmers 17 and younger to become a Stingray. For details, call
(214) 670-6273 or visit the pool at 2750 Bachman Dr. Dallas, TX, 75220.
