Published:
June 15, 2006 11:18 am print this story email this story
B&GC gets in the swim of things
By Teddye Snell, Press Staff Writer
Sean Sikora may someday be Tahlequah’s answer to Mark
Spitz, the seven-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming.
Sean has a way to go, though. He’s only 6.
He’s just one of approximately 65 area youth participating
in Boys & Girls Club of Tahlequah’s swim team, and
he’s already hot on the competition trail.
“Sean has been with us since the inception of the program
about a year ago,” said Coach Bob Bradshaw. “He’s
already won two ribbons and a medal at competition. He also
has tremendous parental support.”
Sean’s support network was in evidence Tuesday during
practice, with both parents and his baby sister in tow.
Bradshaw has been a USA Swimming coach for more than 40 years,
organizing teams in California, Arkansas, and now, Tahlequah.
“We moved to Tahlequah, so I thought we should have a
team here, too,” said Bradshaw. “People need more
and more education about the health benefits of swimming. I’m
here to try to educate them and help the kids.”
The swimmers currently take to the lap lanes from 4-5:30 p.m.
Monday through Thursday at the Northeastern State University
Fitness Center. For potential paddlers who otherwise occupied
at that time, Bradshaw will add an additional daily practice
from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning the last week in June, to allow
more children to participate in the program.
Bradshaw had planned to begin the split-shift practices earlier,
but ran across a scheduling conflict with NSU’s Continuing
Education swimming lessons.
There’s no cost to swim as part of B&GC, but if youth
choose to compete, they apply for membership to USA Swimming,
in which they pay dues.
“The cost to become a member of USA Swimming is $52,”
said Bradshaw. “What we normally do, if a kid is interested,
is have him come fill out B&GC registration forms and an
application for USA Swimming. Dues don’t have to be paid
up-front, which allows the child two or three days to participate
in swimming to see if he wants to continue as part of the team.
The dues cover membership in the organization and insurance
that covers the child when they’re involved in any USA
Swimming function, including practices, travel to and from all
functions, banquets and meets. It’s quite comprehensive.”
Bradshaw also invites youth who just want to swim recreationally.
“We’ll have the pool set up in the mornings to have
recreational swimming, as well as team practices and workouts,
so everyone will have an opportunity to enjoy the health benefits
of the sport,” he said.
According to Bradshaw, the high school has approached him about
having a team, but lack the facilities in which to practice
poses a problem.
“But my wife and I are on a committee to try to get something
done about that,” said Bradshaw.
B&GC sponsors the team, and this is the only swim team in
the U.S. to undertake that sort of partnership.
“We’ve had USA Swimming representatives here, and
they are aware of the partnership with B&GC,” said
Bradshaw. “They are very interested in becoming more and
more involved with B&GC across the country, to provide this
type of program for more children.”
The program began last September and is officially sanctioned
by USA Swimming.
“From what I understand, it’s the first swim team
to be formed in Oklahoma in over seven years,” said Bradshaw.
“What’s great is having the support from not only
the community, but the B&GC, Northeastern State University
and local businesses.”
One local business donated $4,000 to buy new swim lane ropes
and competition diving blocks for the team, which currently
practices in the NSU Fitness Center pool.
Stephanie Rowell, 2006 Tahlequah High School graduate, is a
lifeguard at the pool and plans to become a coach for the team.
“I could have been on the swim team last year,”
said Rowell. “But there weren’t any kids my age
going. It was mostly little kids, so I didn’t compete.
There’s not a lot of high school interest in the team
right now. But I really want to coach.”
Rowell said Bradshaw accepts any child who attends B&GC,
even the little ones.
“They have a class for little swimmers, and my mom volunteers
as coach for it,” said Rowell. “They work on their
endurance in little swimmers, and once they build it up, they
can join the team.”
Bradshaw has had three 8-year-olds on the team who have ribboned
in every event in which they’ve competed.
Rowell said many of the participants are very dedicated.
“Coach even has what he calls ‘Prize Day,’”
said Rowell. “He uses it as an incentive for those six
or seven who show up every day, without fail, for practice.”
Miranda Corbell, 11, has also been with the program since it
began.
“[Swimming] is a workout, but it’s fun,” she
said. “I’ve been to four meets this year and will
got to a lot more this summer. We have one coming up on June
19.”
Corbell competes in the butterfly, freestyle, backstroke and
breaststroke events, and relies on her coach for inspiration.
“Whenever we don’t win first place in an event,
he tells us we did the best we could,” said Corbell. “He’s
really nice and supportive.”
Bradshaw is developing the team’s talent.
“My son, Timothy, place third in the state championship
in the 9- and 10-year-old backstroke competition,” said
Bradshaw. “Kherissa Taylor swam her first long course
earlier this spring and qualified for five state championship
events.
The youth have different qualifying times for each event, which
is broken down into several divisions of difficulty: beginner,
novice and advanced.
“The staggered qualifying times help keep kids competitive,”
said Bradshaw. “But it also helps them set and reach goals
to improve.”
Get involved
To participate in Boys & Girls Club swimming or to join
the swim team, contact Coach Bob Bradshaw at (918) 633-5132,
or the B&GC office at 456-6888.
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