visit the team prize table to spend their “cash” on toys,
candy, silly string or even the option to smash a pie in
one of the coach’s faces. “They also had a doughnut wall
on-site the week of the internal swim meet, with 100
chocolate and glazed treats from Krispy Kreme placed
on pegs.
“The kids see all the prizes … and their faces just light
up like a Christmas tree,” Soria jokes. “That’s what it’s all
about is making the kids happy.”
While the season these childen experienced was
different than it typically is, they had a great time and
learned all about self-esteem, leadership and confidence.
“Swim team was successful because we had two coaches
that came back this summer,” he adds. “Kids feel more
comfortable when they have the same coaches each year.
Coach Jonny and Coach Karly … made practice fun
with different … [activities] that included cannon ball
contests [and] relay races—we hung lollipops from flags
for the kids to get excited and more focused when they
do backstroke practices.”
“It was great seeing kids learning the new strokes
from the beginning,” Soria says, noting that they teach
them freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and breaststroke.
“My role … includes being a role model for the kids and
helping them succeed in what they are doing [while]
staying positive and making practice fun and enjoyable.”
Here’s to a wonderful 2020 season.
CAMPING ON CLOUD NINE
Martinez rang in her third year as part of the Kid’s
BAY WINDOW 31