Stapleton Stingrays Impressive Achievement
Stapleton’s swim team – The Stapleton Stingrays
I’m a swim parent and I love it! Ugh, the early morning says you. No worries, you get used to it. Aren’t the meets boring? Isn’t each race basically the same every time? Nope, not when you know the goals and times your swimmer is striving to make. It’s an absolute blast to participate in such a time of growth for your swimmer. Here in the Stapleton Neighborhood we have a terrific swim program, Stapleton Stingrays, managed by the Stapleton MCA. This summer the kids and coaches had their best competition season yet!
My kids joined Stapleton Stingray about 9 years ago. When we first joined, the team had about 40 kids under 10 and we were a purple and black swarm. Competing at nearby rec centers we were an overwhelming presence, but initially didn’t have very many older swimmers, so we didn’t win team events. It was still a fun time; the kids held swim-a-thons to help raise money for starting blocks for Aviator Pool and created important traditions including movie night, a day at Water World and a Team Banquet.
About 5 years ago, the Stingrays were invited to join the Denver Metro League competing with Virginia Vale, Crestmoor, Skyline, Eastmoor and CAC-Monaco. We have a dual meet with each club during the summer. The season ends with Championships Meets. The Metro League holds a B meet for all swimmers and the A meet for those swimming “A” times. Finally, summer club teams across the Front Range hold a Summer Club Championship Meet or “State” and only those swimming “State” times can compete.
Starting with just one pool with no starting blocks to having swim, dive and synchronized swimming at 3 pools – Jetstream, Aviator and Runway 35.
Just as Stapleton can see its growth by adding new shopping areas like Stanley Marketplace and Eastbridge Town Center, so can we see our maturation with the success of the Stapleton Stingrays. Starting with just one pool with no starting blocks to having swim, dive and synchronized swimming at 3 pools – Jetstream, Aviator and Runway 35.
The Stapleton Stingrays Metro League team swims and competes at the Runway 35 Pool in Northfield. Built three years ago, this pool was designed for competition with 8 lanes and it has timing equipment, visual displays to view race times and coming next year, a record board. This year 177 swimmers competed.
Now to the extra good news! The Stapleton Stingrays had a 1-4 record their inaugural year in the Metro League and then showing consistent growth, won one more meet each year. This summer, for the first time the swimmers beat the power house of Virgina Vale for a 5-0 record. Virginia Vale responded and won the A Meet Championship with the Stingrays in second. At the Summer Club Championships at the end of July, Stapleton Stingrays had the most swimmers ever compete with most swimmers beating their best times and the most top 12 finishes. The outcome – an outstanding second place finish in the 2017 Colorado State Summer Club Championships! Wow! Congrats from this very proud swim parent!
*Any mistakes made in this story are the fault of this parent’s poor memory.