By Ken Severson
The Carmel Swim Club already has an impressive track record, but with three of its athletes competing in the Paris Olympics this summer, interest in the organization continues to grow.
For this reason, the CSC has implemented additional swimming assessments and invited aspiring swimmers to swim in a supportive and competitive environment.
“We’re seeing a significant increase, with over 100 children signing up for screenings on July 22,” said Maggie Mestrich, CSC’s director of business development, noting that CSC added a second screening session this month. “We’ve never had this many signups before.”
Mestrich, a Carmel resident and former competitive swimmer, has also noticed an increase in interest in her own family. She said her 9-year-old son Leo, whose primary sport is soccer, was inspired to focus more on swimming after watching CSC athlete and Carmel High School graduate Aaron Shackell make the Olympic team at the swimming meets at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Mestrich, who also has experience as a CSC coach, said the club offers benefits to the community beyond the opportunity to swim.
“It’s really important to us as an organization to make sure as many of our community members are safe in the water as possible,” Mestrich said. “Swimming is the only sport that can save lives. Taking a formal swim lesson can reduce a child’s risk of drowning by 88 percent. Our goal is twofold: first, we want to develop swimmers who are safe in the water, and second, if a child enjoys the swim lesson, we want to provide a place where they can continue the sport and compete.”
The club offers programs for all ages and abilities. For more information visit www.carmelswimacademy.org.
