Summer is filled with activity options for kids. Youth sports, day camps, overnight camps, swim lesson and family vacation. For a group of over 60 youth ages 5-20 their choice was clear, they were going to spend their summer swimming on the Richardson Rapids swim team. Each morning these athletes were in the pool perfecting their strokes before a majority of kids on summer break were even out of bed.
“Swim team is more than just swimming back stroke or butterfly,” stated Luke Plese, Richardson Rapids Board President. “It instills discipline and commitment to a team. Our swimmers not only improve their strokes, but they challenge themselves in a fun environment.”
As they say, hard work pays off. This year the Richardson YMCA Rapids strike again, Summer League State Champions four years running at the YMCA Lone Star Texas State Meet! “Lone Star” consisted of 745 athletes from 33 YMCAs. Teams traveled from all over Texas including Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, Corsicana and Palestine to Frisco where the four-day meet was held.
“Our team is like family,” Head Coach Elena Christiansen said after accepting the 1st place trophy, “the parents volunteer for anything we need for the team and season to be successful. Everyone cheers for each other and encourages all the kids to improve themselves.”
This is the fourth consecutive year the Rapids have been State Champs for the summer division of Lone Star. “Winning is nice, but character development is our ultimate goal,” said Plese. “This year was fun, and we know next year will be even better.”