Swim training through the pandemic
To condense and clarify, some editing was done to the interview with Carol and Charlie of Sept. 15.
As I was hanging out at Dolphins/ UHS practice a few weeks ago at the entrance to the gated beautiful swimming pool at Ukiah High School, one faithful parent engaged me as her kid was doing laps up and down the 25 meter pool: “the kids just love Charlie.”!! Wow, what an endorsement! What about that, Charlie?
Charlie Barrett, head coach replied: “I guess you could fool some people, but yes, the connection is tangible; don’t know how I could articulate that. My primary mentor growing up was Lee Pantaja, the swimming coach for 40 years of the Dolphins and UHS. He’s really the reason I wanted to coach. He had an impact on my life. I wanted to be like him.” Barrett graduated from Ukiah High in 2016.
Barrett continues: “Pantaja was always echoing the message of working hard, and putting a lot into swimming and to see the results of all your hard work; the fruits of your labor, etc. And that carries over to all aspects of life, not just the sport of swimming. I just want to impart that to as many people as I can through swimming, the best that I can. I also had a coach-jill McCormick, who I swam for at Santa Rosa Community College. She had a different approach. She was very detailed in her planning and I really dug that, and now try to incorporate that into my coaching style as well. The assistants at Santa Rosa were strong too: Tyler Denize and Nolan Stimple. I just have a collection of great experiences that made me want to continue this in my life.” SRCC has a total of 7 coaches in swimming; two in strength and conditioning. By the way, the Dolphins just hired an assistant coach to attend to the new surge of bodies entering as the county relaxes its rules on the pandemic. Her name is Christine Gonzales.
So, what’s the draw to swimming? It’s hard to explain why the Dolphins have 43 young kids on it’s roster with a waiting list; and 13 Ukiah Wildcats as well. President of the Dolphins’ Board, Carol Larson explained the numbers: “Dolphins acts as a feeder program to UHS aquatic sports. This isn’t normal right now; we’re capped as to the number of kids that we can handle and be in the pool at one time, because of the County Health Department restrictions. We’re limited to a small number of sessions with a maximum number of swimmers.” Larson has been President since 2016 with her kids in the program for the last 6-7 years.
Charlie adds, “We were dry-docked from MarchJune, the early stage of
‘ the new normal’ and began with zoom “dry-land stuff” which didn’t last long. You can’t really replace what’s done in the pool. In talking with one parent, the change of mood has been amazing since we started workouts! She couldn’t believe the uptick in her son’s attitude. The social aspect is there, and your mental health is enhanced through swimming. I believe it’s the best medicine for mental health maintenance. Nobody is in a bad mood after a swimming workout!” And where else can a parent take their rambunctious little angel? Well, there is the Ukiah Lions conditioning program and Amanda Brown’s volleyball sessions at Vinewood Park; and a little baseball is being played over on the UHS diamonds.
If you’re an ex-swimmer/water sport enthusiast a parent will want their child to experience the same joy(s) he/she had growing up. It happens in so many ways: your friend in 4th grade invited you to swim practice, or you swim in a lake daily in the mountain lake, or you had the hellish summer heat in the desert-you found any little oasis around town; or your daddy always had a surfboard on his Volkswagen bus’s rooftop; or you were lifting weights and wanted to display that fine young physique or you chased fashion of sorts and couldn’t wait to wiggle into those speedos; or you weren’t exactly a people-person, but wanted to “play a sport.”
Here’s how Charlie Barrett got involved in Ukiah swimming. “My own story of interest in swimming began when I was in 2nd grade; I just followed my older brother into the program. But, I stuck it out a lot longer than he did. I didn’t really commit to the sport until I was in the 1112 year old age bracket. I achieved a certain standard that was really a big deal at the time, and it motivated me to commit and get better, like tossing fuel on a fire; then I swam the next 10 years through UHS and SRCC. I don’t compete anymore, but it is still a part of my everyday life. I’m standing on the deck; then in the pool on my own time, so I’m all in.” Carol reminded Charlie that he still holds some records for Dolphins: the 15-16 year old grouping in the 200 meter backstroke. A little known anecdote about Charlie: When he was an early teen, his family won a trip to the Bahamas. He didn’t want to go because he would miss swim practice. He pouted in the hotel room the first half of the trip.
I asked President Larson about enrolling her children in Dolphins. Carol responded, “Well, the team had a fine reputation and it seemed that the families involved were great people. Coach Charlie has had such a positive impact on both of my swimmers. They both say that Charlie’s favorite saying is, ‘pain is just weakness leaving the body.’ We are so thankful for Charlie’s dedication to the team and all of the swimmers on Ukiah Dolphins.”
Modifications due to Covid-19. Carol explains: “We’ll be able to add a few more swimmers to the group soon, as health orders are relaxed. But we only had one practice in September because of air quality. The limit is 150 on the ‘purple air scale.’ We stay away from “unhealthy air for sensitive groups” Some of our kids have asthma. We also had to comply with Ukiah Unified strict rules for pool and locker room use.”
“We had to make huge modifications: a. Only one kid per lane (whereas we can put up to 4 kids normally, but siblings can swim in the same lane, b. Swimmers must come in their swimsuits and leave in their swimsuits (no changing there in the locker rooms). If someone needs to use the restroom, a parent volunteer on standby will clean the restroom after use. Coach Charlie takes everybody’s temperature when they arrive and asks them the Covid protocol questions. We’re following the rules precisely so as not to lose this opportunity for our kids. It’s really up to us.”
What’s Next: Virtual competitions are now on the table. Charlie explains: ”USA swimming has some guidelines for virtual meets. Humboldt is looking at a dual meet, and we’re moving on that as soon as the health department order allows for more kids. We’ve already had a duel meet with Willits’ Otters and the Sea Dragons came to use the pool (they only have an indoor facility) for a few weeks during the summer. We’re so thankful for getting back in the pool. This year, our last meet before everything shut down was the Vallejo Meet with 50 MPH winds. We suffered some body blows early on and then the pandemic was the know-out punch.” Barrett took on the coaches’ position in November, 2019.
Ms. Larson continued: “The kids are all doing great, times are improving, and Charlie has helped clarify what each kid’s goals are and connected deeply with all the younger kids. HE’S COACHING THEM. That makes a difference getting that personal attention. They’re getting stronger and faster and the parents are all thrilled. We are working with Charlie while he is going to school at Sonoma State University. We have our own symbiotic relationship. The Dolphin’s organization supports Charlie with his pursuits, and he helps the parents and kids continue in swimming. It’s just part of what happens when you’re in a small town; kind of figure out what works, and it may not be conventional but we’re moving forward.”
Charlie mentions that he’s studying communications with the intent to be a journalist, but “I’m definitely considering teaching, since many coaches combine that with the classroom.”
For swimming, make no mistake about what drives you in the Ukiah Valley: it’s the Dolphin Swim Club; oh, and the driver of youth swimming in Ft. Bragg are the Sea Dragons; and let us not leave out the mighty Otters Swim organization in Willits. They are listening for your shout- out!
Inquiries about Dolphins or UHS swim team should be addressed to Charlie or Carol; web-site UKIAH Dolphins….google and FB private messages too. To participate, children should be 5 years old-18; but involvement is really skill based. You must be able to propel yourself from one end of the pool to the other. The fee is $100 per month, but scholarships are available for deserving families. They just received a grant from Pacific Swimming to assist kids with swim fins and buoys. This is water polo season for UHS but all swimmers are encouraged to come to this year-round program.
C’mon Charlie; match Lee’s 40!!
Address comments to youngrey@comcast.net.