Southern Saratoga gets new swim team
CLIFTON PARK — Southern Saratoga moms and dads no longer have to drive all over the Capital Region to take their children to swim-team practice.
Thanks to the new Shenendehowa Aquatics Center, there is a new USA Swimming-affiliated team in Southern Saratoga, the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Piranhas.
“We have this wonderful brand-new facility that’s one of the top if not the top in the state,” said Shenendehowa swimming coach Chuck Dunham, who will also be the Piranhas’ coach. “So we wanted to give back to the community that supported us. It’s one of the million benefits we’re going to get out of the pool.”
Shen swim coach Chuck Dunham has a new pool for his high school teams and a new USA Swimming team for the community's young swimmers.
“It’s for everyone from the kid just starting out to senior nationals,” he said. “What we want is to help you reach your goals. If your goal is to begin competitive swimming, we can help. If your goal is to make the Olympic trials, we can help. We will help you find where you are and progress at your own rate.”
Judging on the crowd at an August informational meeting, interest is high.
“Literally, we couldn’t fit them all in the room,” Dunham said. But he said there are spots on the team for everyone who is interested
Dunham isn’t the only high school coach on the Piranhas’ staff. Mohonasen girls swimming and diving coach Scott Seligman, who is also the Knolls Swim Club coach, will be an assistant. The team’s other assistant coaches are: Alissa Kouzon, who is a Knolls assistant coach, and Cathy Brauer, who has been an assistant coach for the Southern Saratoga YMCA and the Adirondack Bluefins.
“Now we have one of those clubs right here,” Dunham said.
The Piranhas will give Dunham the chance to get to area swimmers before they are old enough to compete for his Shen teams.
The Shen boys “have been state champions the past two years without a pool,” he said. “Imagine what we can do now.”
And of the things they can do, Dunham added, is “having them mentor the younger kids” on the Piranhas. “That will be a fantastic thing.”
The club will offer $100 discount for Shen’s interscholastic athletes, and a $25 discount for additional swimmers in a family. All levels except for the Mini-Piranhas — an introductory group for younger swimmers new to competitive swimming — will practice at least four times a week.
Dunham stresses that Shen’s new pool isn’t just for swim teams. He urges all community members to take advantage of it.
“Here’s this great new facility in your backyard,” he said. “Have fun and enjoy the aquatics center.”
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