WSD students make Walla Walla Swim Team

WALLA WALLA - Waitsburg Elementary School students Cooper Smith (9) and sister Sydney Smith (7) took swim lessons for three years to meet their goal of becoming Walla Walla swim team members.

The Walla Walla Swim Club is a year-round competitive swim club based in Walla Walla, Wash., and is part of Inland Empire Swimming and USA Swimming.

The Smith kids made the team at tryouts this summer and have joined the club's practice four days a week at the Walla Walla YMCA with the team coach, Erika Miller.

Karen Huwe

Second grader, Sydney Smith joined her brother, Cooper at the practice at Walla Walla Y.

Coach Miller said the goal of the Walla Walla Swim Club is to provide a fun, safe, and competitive swim environment. Many of the swim club members go on to become lifeguards at local pools in their later teen years.

Cooper and Sydney have fun with other team members as they practice their freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly to compete in their first meet at the Sprint Shootout in Moses Lake. Before a home meet at Whitman College in January, the team will also travel to Pullman, LaGrande, and Spokane.

Swimming is an excellent lifelong sport and a low-impact, cardiovascular workout. Becoming a good swimmer is an essential skill that can save your life. For more information, contact Miller at coacherika@wwswim.org.