After reaching level four in the swim classes, Gregory joined the team, along with his brother, Sheldon and sister, Shayla. Sheldon, 16, and a student at Ponitz, now is a lifeguard during the summer, and 10-year-old Shayla, Mary Queen of Peace student, swims for both the Dolphins and Dayton Aqua Gems, a synchronized swim team.
“I wanted the kids to learn how to swim, so I took them to Lohrey Center for classes,” said their mother, Shelly Smith. “We learned about the city’s team there, but they had to get to the fourth level of classes to join. They didn’t want to stop, and now are members of the Dolphins.”
Although Gregory’s strongest event is 50-meter freestyle, he qualified to enter in seven events at the regionals and brought home seven medals.
“I’ve won medals and ribbons, and swimming makes me stronger,” he said. “I work harder to beat my own times.”
According to John Parker, program coordinator for Dayton’s Department of Recreation and Youth Services, the city of Dayton took over the Dayton Dolphins team name five years ago. There are spots available for more potential swimmers to join.
“Now, we have a club team for city kids aged 5-to-25 with 37 kids,” he says. “It’s a blended group from area high schools – mostly Ponitz, Stivers and Trotwood – and we’re getting more younger kids like Gregory.”
The team is a registered USS competitive program that competes on local, state, regional and national levels. Practices are held at Dabney Pool at Dayton’s Northwest Recreation Center.
Head swim coach Ken Kreitzer volunteers for the Dolphins and holds practice four hours a day. The team enters six to eight meets a year. Kreitzer said three of the Dolphin team members will be entering college on swim scholarships in the fall.
“It’s great to see city kids succeed in a sport that’s not traditional and will teach them lifetime skills,” he said.
For more information on the program, contact Parker at 333-1751.
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