Mandell JCC Makes a Splash with Sharks Swim Team; Olympic Connections, Year-Round Recreational Teams, and High Level Competition Dreams

In just a few short years, the Mandell JCC Sharks Swim Team has become a tidal wave of powerful young swimmers, with some members even qualifying for, and competing in, various high level competitions, including the Eastern Zone Championships – the highest level meet for children in the 10 and younger age group. Practices are held at the Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT. The team is for children ages 6-17, and is lead by Head Coach, David Laudati. The Fall/Winter season will start this September, with team registration beginning Monday, September 19 and running through Wednesday, September 21. To sign up for Sharks, or for more information, contact Head Coach, David Laudati, 860-231-6320, dlaudati@mandelljcc.org, or the Member Services Center at the Mandell JCC, 860-236-4571.

The Mandell JCC Sharks Swim Team is a non-profit member of United States Swimming dedicated to the development of competitive and recreational swimmers through technique and endurance. With both a Recreational Team and a USS Team, there are plenty of opportunities for swimmers of all levels to move up into competitive swimming. The swimmers have a year round relationship with their coaches, since many of them work full-time for the Mandell JCC at Camps, or in other services.

Swimmers are given many opportunities to improve their level of ability including clinics, summer camps, and even with Olympic Swimmer, Lenny Krayzelburg. The four-time Olympic Gold Medalist has held clinics at the Mandell JCC, with more tentatively being scheduled for upcoming seasons. The Mandell JCC also partners with New Jersey Y Camps to send local swimmers to Lenny Krayzelburg’s JCC Swim Academy in New Jersey.

Proud of all the Sharks Swim Team as a whole, the Mandell JCC recognizes the immense accomplishments of Patrick Keith (10), Taylor Lemus (10), and Jordan Polun (11); as they represented the Mandell JCC earlier this summer at the U.S.S. Connecticut Age Group Championships. The meet is one of the highest levels of regional swim competitions in the state. This is the first time since the installation of the Sharks Swim Team that any members have reached this competition level.