Coeur d'Alene Area Swim Team from a bird's-eye view
CAST swimmers who participated in the Seasonal Summer Swim Team Program join. Coach Alicia Thornton, second row, left, assistant coaches and volunteers for a group picture.
North Idaho is a land of great outdoors and beautiful lakes. Swimming is a summer staple that locals and out-of-town visitors enjoy.
Learning how to swim and how to be safe around water has always been important for families with young children. The KROC Center in Coeur d'Alene offers swim lessons and is also the home of CAST, a year-round competitive swim team that has kids swimming at different levels.
CAST wrapped up its first Seasonal Summer Swim Team program July 22 with a Splash and Dash Swim Meet where 34 kids ages 6 to 15 competed. These kids trained for six weeks with high hopes of joining the team, currently made up of 123 CAST swimmers.
Parents and families sat in the bleachers, cheering for all the kids competing. Everyone could feel a sense of accomplishment from the swimmers, volunteers and coaches, led by Alicia Thornton, CAST head coach.
Whispers of contentment from parents were heard. As Mrs. Ingrid Olaru, a parent of 6-year-old swimmer Mica, said, "I am not sure if my daughter will make it to the team, but if she doesn't, I will for sure sign her up for the next Seasonal Swim Program at CAST."
The team welcomed Thornton as the head coach at the start of the school year. Coach Alicia and the board of directors' vision for CAST is taking shape and is proving to be beneficial for all of the team's swimmers.
Coach Alicia's background as a competitive swimmer and prior experience as a head coach allow her to relate to the swimmers at a personal level. In addition, her bachelor's degree in health promotion and disease prevention and a master's degree in public health give her a unique perspective in promoting a safe environment for the swimmers while helping them reach their goals.
In Coach Alicia's own words, "Together, our coaching staff will help positively shape and influence our youth to help build their physical, mental, and emotional health, and well-being."
CAST is a swim team, but it feels like a family. It is a community effort. The board of directors, coaches and parent volunteers contribute a great deal of time and energy in supporting the swimmers.
One of the team's sponsors, Independent Electrical Services LLC, owned by Mr. Jason Shoemaker, has been very supportive throughout the entire year. The team is inviting families and kids who are interested in swimming to experience what it's like to be a part of CAST. The team offers seasonal programs or kids can try out for the year round swim team.
Swimming is not just a sport. It teaches kids patience, teamwork and that hard work pays off. See you at the pool for a lap or two!
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Serena Grace is a fourth-grade CAST swimmer