By Grant Playter
SEA BRIGHT – On July 9, the Surfrider swim team kicked off its season in the North Shore Swim League by hosting Ship Ahoy. The two teams share quite a bit of history, which all began at the start of Surfrider’s impressive seven-year winning streak.
“When I first joined the team we had no streak at all. We were grasping for straws,” said Jack Dawson, 17, who’s swimming his final season with the team. “I remember seven years ago we just showed up to a meet and went all out. We broke that streak that Ship Ahoy had.”
But if you ask any of the staff, swimmers and parents about the wins, the streak or the inherently competitive nature of the meets, they shrug it off. Surfrider ultimately won the meet, although no one casually watching the 52-event series would know by exactly how much as they don’t publish the official scores.
As a result of their nonchalant attitude toward the competition, the general atmosphere surrounding the meet is fairly relaxed. The competition comes second to everyone having fun, especially for the kids competing in the events.
“(The meets) are so much fun,” said Clancy McCann, 15. “It’s so exciting. It’s almost like a pep rally when you’re standing behind the blocks cheering everyone on.”
And perhaps it is this “fun first” pursuit that has been the secret to the team’s continued success.
According to Sherrie Cole, head coach for Surfrider, the team has a huge retention rate. The size of the team backs this statement up, as Surfrider is the largest swim team in the North Shore League, boasting over 200 swimmers.
Cole credits consistency with coaching as the reason swimmers return.
“They just get better every summer,” said Cole.
And these kids stick around for a long time. Carl Lagrassa, 17, has been with the league for half of his life and relishes his role as a mentor supporting his younger teammates.
“I love to see the little kids,” said Lagrossa. “Their faces blow up when they win a race. Even if they don’t win, you see their heart and soul poured out and that’s really all that matters in the end.”
Lagrossa isn’t just paying lip service to this idea either. He, along with many of the older kids on the team, devote additional time to help organize, teach and motivate the younger kids on the team. It’s almost a necessity with a team as large as Surfrider, but the kids take to the task with gusto.
“I like teaching the kids how to swim because obviously, it’s something I love,” said Ryan Elderhorst, 16. “To help others start out (is) really fun.”
Lagrossa vividly recalls “screaming his heart out” for a little girl who was swimming alone to finish her race. And the crowd erupted when little Joey Lagrotteria, who is just 4 years old, finished his course in the 6-and-under category.
“When someone swims, it matters,” said Dawson. “The coaches have really emphasized how much every person matters. Every kid knows that and every kid knows that all they need to do is swim as fast as they can and just leave their heart in the pool.”
The Surfrider swim team is one that places fun before wins, but this attitude doesn’t prevent them from having quite a bit of both. If anything, it provides an atmosphere that keeps kids around to continue swimming and continue developing their passion.
“Everyone’s happy, everyone’s having a good time, everyone’s enjoying it,” said Ben Hewson, 17. “Just knowing that I’ve been doing this for 11, 12 years now, and now being a ‘big kid’ and seeing all of it, it’s really beautiful honestly, and I’m so happy.”
The senior kids developed a love for the sport in their team in the club and are in large part planning to continue their swimming careers in college. But in spite of moving on to bigger and more competitive stages, they all seem to regard their time swimming with Surfrider and mentoring the next generation as a uniquely special experience.
“I’m really upset this is my last year because I’m gonna miss this so much,” said Lagrossa. “I love these kids to death and I don’t know what I’m gonna do without them.”
