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Tradition of Excellence

The Sarasota YMCA Sharks swim team is approaching its 50th year, having been in existence since 1961. Since the beginning, a tradition of excellence was created which is known not only on the state level, but also on the national and international levels.

This tradition began in the mid-1970's with Coach Tim Hill, and continued through the late 1970's and early 1980's with Coaches Tim Blood and Rob Allen. From 1984-1989, the team was led by Coach Ira Klein. In 1990, Coach Chuck Warner took over winning the Y-National title in 1991. In 1993, another change was made when Sherwood Watts moved up to the Head Coaching position. In January of 2000, Mike Stewart became the Head Coach to start off the new Millennium and in six YMCA National Championships coached the Shark women's team to four Top 8 finishes and the men to one Top 10 finish. In February 2004, the reins were turned over to new Head Coach Larry Shofe to continue and build upon the Shark tradition of excellence. And that he did, as the Shark girls won the 2005 and 2006 YMCA Short Course National Championships, with 2nd place finishes for the combined team, and in 2007 the Sharks swept all three Y-Nat titles (girls, boys, and combined) for the first time since 1982. In 2008, the Sharks again swept all three titles in winning the YMCA Short Course Championship in convincing fashion.

During the late 1970's, Kim Linehan, aspiring Olympic hopeful, was making her way through the world of swimming. A Shark swimmer since age 12, Kim qualified for the 1980 Olympic Games, but that was the year that the United States boycotted the Games, which were held in Moscow. At that time, Kim was the world record holder in both the 400 and 800 meter freestyle events. She kept swimming, and made the Olympic team once again in 1984. Kim held the YMCA National record in the 500 freestyle for 28 years, until the Sharks own Corinne Showalter broke it in 2007 with her winning time of 4:41.91.

In 1988 another Shark swimmer, Tripp Schwenk, headed to the Olympic Trials. Although barely missing the U.S. Olympic team in 1988, Tripp made the Team in 1992, and then again in 1996. During the '96 Games in Atlanta, Tripp won the silver medal in the 200 meter backstroke, with his time of 1:58.99. He then went on to win a gold medal as part of the winning U.S. 400 medley-relay team.

The tradition continued in 2000 and 2004 when Shark swimmer Annie Babicz qualified to swim at the Olympic Trials. She joined three former Shark swimmers, Tim Champney, Laura Sullivan, and Bambi Bowman, as Olympic Trial qualifiers. At the 2008 Trials, Annie and new Shark qualifiers Corinne Showalter, Ashley Largo, Ryan Crete, Austin Detra, Ashlee Linn, and McKayla Lightbourn will be competing for a place on the US Olympic Team. The Shark tradition of fast swimming and dedication to the sport continues.

At the age group level, the SYS team won the YMCA Florida State title for 18 straight years from the 1980's thru 2002; the Sharks started a new streak in 2005 and continued it by winning the title again in 2006, 2007, and 2008. The Sharks have also won the Florida Swimming Junior Olympic title thirteen times, with a current streak of five in a row (Spring 2006, Summer 2006, Spring 2007, Summer 2007, Spring 2008).

In 2006, the Sharks added a Masters swim team to their line-up, coached by veteran Rick Walker. The Masters team has over 100 swimmers from 19 to 80+ years of age, ranging from novice swimmers to national and world champions. The Shark Masters also were champions in 2007, winning the YMCA National Masters combined and men's titles in April.

All these titles aside, the Sarasota YMCA Sharks team takes great pride in all of our athletes. It is expected that all team members realize the importance of this tradition and do their part in continuing and enhancing it. Represent the Sharks with pride and class, and with the determination that you are the reason why the Sharks are who we are! The Sharks look forward to the future with the knowledge that we have the finest facility, coaches, parents and swimmers in the history of the team.

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			8301 Potter Park Dr. Sarasota, FL 34238 (941) 922-9622 Web site founder: T.J. Lathrop Web site editor: Bob Clark