Memorial Pool Hosts Swim Championships

The competition continued Saturday morning at Westfield Memorial Pool, where the 10-and-under 2009 Union County Outdoor Swim League Championships were held. Swimmers from six pool clubs competed for individual trophies to close out the season. 

There were no relay events held on this day to determine a team winner. Local pool clubs that fielded swimmers included: the Manor Park Dolphins, Westfield Marlins and the Nomahegan Braves (all of Westfield), as well as the Willow Grove Baracudas and Highland Sharks of Scotch Plains, and finally, the Cranford Swim Club.

The parking lot overflowed into local streets starting at 8 a.m. as parents, friends and swim enthusiasts turned out with folding chairs, banners and stop watches to support their local squads compete in the individual medley, freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly. The 11-and-over swim league championships, which drew a comparable size crowd, were completed the day before also at Westfield Memorial Pool.

Again this year, swim teams were challenged to bring the most non-perishable food items to the meet as part of Swim for Food. The fundraiser, which was launched in 2006 by Westfield native Anne Clewell, set a goal of donating 10,000 pounds of canned and boxed food items to Holy Trinity Church of Westfield—who disperses it to needy families throughout the region. Last year, Swim for Food raised 7,757 pounds among swim clubs participating from the North Jersey, Union County and Town & Country swim leagues. The winners of the non-water related competition at Saturday’s Championships were Manor Park and Highland, who donated 550 pounds of food combined.

“It’s for a great cause, and the swimmer and their families really take it just as seriously as the races themselves,” said Clewell. “Without the generosity and commitment of this swimming community, many more people would go hungry.”

While trophies were given to winners, the goal for this age group is to inspire kids to continue to improve their stroke and keep swimming throughout the year.