Swimming

Because of the wide array of swimming events offered, aquatics is appropriate for a range of ages and ability levels. Swimming competition events are based on a variety of strokes. Swim lessons are also available for athletes unable to swim the length of the pool.

The season runs from September through December.

contact the swimming coach, Carol Ann Mullin at mullincj@gmail.com.

 

Greetings WSO Swimmers, Parents, and Guardians,

I would like to welcome you all to what promises to be the best WSO swimming season to date!  I am very excited at the number of athletes who have shown interest in swimming, and I can't wait to get things started in September.  

For anyone that I have not had the opportunity to meet, let me quickly introduce myself.  My name is Carol-Ann Mullin.  This will be my second year as head coach for the Westerville Special Olympics Swim Team.  In the 1990's, I swam locally for the Westerville Aquatic Club and Westerville North High School.  I spent 4 years on the varsity swim team at The University of Waterloo in Ontario Canada, and after graduation I spent a year as the coach for a Chicago-area high school swimming and diving team.  After working for several years in the pharmaceutical industry, I returned 'home' in 2007 to puruse a PhD in Biological Engineering at The Ohio State University (Go Bucks!).  I now teach full time at the University, live in Westerville with my fiancee Tom and our puppy Shea, and I spend my spare time riding a bicycle!  I will be participating in the upcoming Pelotonia (although my legs are definitely not ready for the hills of southern Ohio!).  I look forward to meeting each of you, and I welcome your comments and questions regarding the WSO Swimming program.  E.mail is the best way to reach me, but cell phone works as well!

When is the first practice?

Our first practice will be at the Oakstone Academy Swimming Pool (formerly the Westerville Athletic Club), on Sunday September 20th.   As we did last year, we will seperate the athletes into two groups; the Team swimmers will practice from 2:30-3:30PM, and the Skills swimmers will practice from 3:30-4 PM.  For the first practice, the parent/guardian should make a decision as to the level of your athlete's swimming skills.  The coaches will assess each athletes swimming skills during the first practice, and will re-assign athletes as needed.  The distinction between in the "Skills" group or the "Team" group is intended to allow the coaches to create small groups of athletes who have similar skill levels, providing the best possible coaching to every single athlete.  If you are concerned about your athletes placement, please talk with me directly.

What is the difference between the "Team" group and the "Skills" group?

The "Team" group will focus on advancing their skills and building endurance.  Each athlete will be expected to be comfortable in deep water (with assistance if needed), and will be capable of swimming at least 12.5 yards on their front/back without assistance.  Each athlete in the "Team" group will set personal goals to focus on during the swimming season.

The "Skills" group will focus on developping comfort in the water and learning basic swimming and water safety skills.  This session will be run similar to a swimming lesson program.  There will be skill level goals, with small rewards for moving from one skill level to the next.  Details on the skill levels will be distributed on the first day of practice.

What about competitions?

All athlete will have the opportunity to participate in a competition.  In order to qualify to participate in one of the 'away' meets, an athlete must be able to swim at least 25 yards unassisted (including deep water unassisted).  Athletes who have not had the opportunity to compete in an 'away' meet, will be invited to participate in a 'home' meet that has events tailored to our athletes swimming abilities.  There will be a limit to the number of athletes that can represent Westerville Special Olympics at the State Championships in December.  State Meet qualifiers will be determined based on qualifying times, participation in swim meets, participation in practice, and overall team spirit.  

The dates/times for the competitions will be announced as soon as possible.

Who are the coaches?

We are extremely fortunate to have an highly qualified team of coaches to work with our special athletes.  All of the coaches are volunteers, and most are high school students who swim competitively for the Westerville Aquatic Club.   On Sundays, prior to our Special Olympics session, most of these athletes have endured a gruelling 3 hour work out and a couple of hours of teaching swimming lessons.  These coaches consistently show enthusiasm and energy that make this program possible, the success of our athletes is a direct result of the highly skilled coaches that we have.  I would speculate that we have the most qualified coaching staff in the entire state.  I would ask that you thank the coaches as often as you possibly can, and be sympathetic if occasionally they seem a little cold or tired after six or seven hours in the water.  

I think that is all of the important details for now.   I am really looking forward to meeting all of you and having a wonderful swimming season!  As I mentionned before, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks again, see you at the POOL!

Carol-Ann J. Mullin

cell- 614-286-8448

mullincj@gmail.com