Makin’ Waves: Boys swim team fosters passion in next generation East swimmers

Then first grader Luke Sinatra sat on the bleachers in the Wiley Wright Pool after cannonballing off the diving board. He had just finished swimming at the SM East Makin’ Waves Clinic, coached by students at the school he would soon attend.

Sinatra watched with awe as the high school boys jumped from the boards to hang from the rafters and sign their names on the ceiling, a tradition for the boys team.

Eleven years later, now a varsity swimmer himself, senior Sinatra is preparing for his third and final year of teaching young swimmers at the 20th annual clinic.​

This year, the Makin’ Waves clinic will be hosted on Jan. 17 and costs $30 per child. All proceeds go towards the Boys’ Swim & Dive Booster Club, and serves as the team's only fundraiser. The clinic consists of two sessions, during which the high school swimmers will teach more than 60 boys and girls ages six and up, strokes, technique and the benefits of partaking in the lifetime sport.

The team will start their Saturday morning with a regular practice. Afterwards the boys will regroup to prepare for the kids' arrival. Once the children arrive at camp, they split into groups of four to six children, where they will receive personal coaching on different aspects of the sport, such as underwater kicks, diving and pool safety. They wrap up by playing games, jumping off the diving boards and eating snacks.​

“[We make] sure [the kids can] swim safely and make it side to side,” senior Grant Kimmel said. “Helping them with their strokes, getting them faster, giving them some tips and tricks that they don't always hear from their coaches, just because [we] can pay more attention to them.”​

Sinatra, Kimmel and varsity swimmer Sawyer Chapman are some of the seniors who will be participating in the upcoming clinic.

The boys aim to instill their passion for swimming and the importance of team bonding in the children, and to encourage them to continue their swimming careers.
“We try to show them how much fun swimming can actually be and how much of a bonding experience it can be with the team,” Sinatra said. “I think our overall goal is to not only help improve their swim technique, but also inspire them to one day want to join the swim team.”​

After placing second at state last year, the swimmers, especially the seniors, are more determined than ever to win state this current season, an attitude they want to display at the clinic and at their meets through teaching and swimming passionately with purpose.

The team hopes to bring home a state championship to boost its legacy and inspire the younger swimmers they will mentor at the swim clinic.

“I would say [being able to teach swimmers] is pretty full circle. I've had a bunch of great mentors and coaches, so being able to repay that and give back to it is really rewarding,” said Kimmel.