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Hurricanes not just about winning streak
Undefeated for seven years in a row and league champions for six years, the Fort Scott Hurricanes, part of the Southeast Kansas Swim League, have much to be proud about, Hurricanes Head Coach Tim Free said.
About 70 swimmers who range in age from four to 18 years of age spend two months every summer practicing each morning with Free and fellow coach Jared Leek.
Even though sometimes the water may be cold, the swimmers brave the temperatures in an effort to become the best swimmers in the area, local resident and parent of three swim team members Karen Reinbolt said.
The diligent efforts of the swimmers should be acknowledged, Free said.
"These kids have worked hard. It's time the swim team was recognized," he said.
One swim team member not only practices through the summer months but also throughout the year. Thirteen-year-old Bryce Hinde has great potential. Her dedication has enabled her to evolve into an accomplished swimmer, Free said.
"She has serious command of the water. A swimmer must know what to do with the water, not just splash through it," he said.
Even though the city does not sponsor the swim team, it does allow the team to practice at the Fort Scott Municipal Swimming Pool free of charge. Along with the early morning practices, the team participates in swim meets from 6 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday throughout the months of June and July. An average swim meet lasts about two and a half to three hours, Free and Leek said.
The Southeast Kansas Swim League includes seven teams from seven different towns. Along with Fort Scott, the towns of Humbolt, Iola, Chanute, Coffeyville, Independence and Erie have teams that compete in the league. The meets that take place on Wednesday nights are called dual meets. A dual meet involves only two teams from the league. At the end of the season, the swim teams compete in a league meet. A league meet encompasses all seven cities in the league. This year's league meet took place in Coffeyville.
The Hurricanes hosted three meets in Fort Scott. They were supposed to host four, but due to rain, the fourth meet was canceled.
Free, an accomplished swimmer while in high school, was offered a swimming scholarship to attend the University of Kansas. In the early 1990s, he coached a summer league for one season. He also coached a high school team for two years in Florida. He decided to move away from the big city and relocated to Fort Scott. About a year later, Free was offered the job of coaching the Hurricanes, he said.
His acceptance of the position has been a blessing to the swimmers in the area, Reinbolt said.
"We are lucky to have him," she said.
Leek said he has been involved with the swim team for 12 years. For 11 of those years, he was a swimmer on the team. During his time as a swimmer, Leek's swimming ability surpassed the abilities of most of his competitors, Free said.
"He was a stud when he swam. He rarely lost a race," Free said.
For four of his competing years, Leek assisted Free with the beginner group. This is Leek's first year as a full-time coach, he said.
Being on the swim team teaches children hard work, self-accomplishment and good sportsmanship. Providing children with self-confidence is not stressed enough now days, and participating in the swim team helps stress this, Free said.
Any child between 4 and 18 years of age is welcome on the swim team. The only major requirement for the child is to be able to swim across the pool's width unassisted.
Since the swim team is not sponsored by any certain group, parents must pay an entry fee for each swimmer on the team. It is also the parents' responsibility to provide each swimmer with a Hurricane swim suit and goggles. All together, the fees a swimmer must pay average $100. It is possible that assistance could be found should a swimmer's parents not be able to cover all of the fees, Free and Leek said.
The fees are necessary for the program to function. Competing as a swim team is expensive. All money used to run the program must be earned by the swimmers and their parents. The team gladly accepts donations, Free said.
At present, the team is in dire need of eight new starting blocks. The blocks that they used this past season are 15 years old and are falling apart. The new starting blocks will cost about $1,500 a piece. Though that may seem like a lot of money, the blocks will be removable. They can be moved to a different pool should the need arise, Leek said.
"When, and I mean 'when' not 'if', we get a new pool, we can take them with us," he said.
An indoor pool would greatly benefit kids in the community, Free said. If the city had an indoor pool, a year-round swimming program could be started. Without a year-round program, swimmers such as Hinde would not have much of a chance at making it to the Olympics or even earning a college scholarship for their swimming skills, he said.
Hinde's parents are currently driving her to Kansas City at times to ensure her swimming skills stay fresh. Also, if the city had an indoor pool, Free would make an effort to start a high school swim team. This would open the door for more teens to earn a scholarship to help with college fees, Free said.
The swim team can have a great impact on families since the meets require many volunteers to serve as time keepers, stroke judges and many others. Parents can be standing right next to their children while the kids are competing, Free said.
"Parents can get a front row seat to what their child is doing," he said.
The swim team is an asset to kids, helping to form character and possibly making an impact on their future, Free and Leek said.
For more information about the Hurricanes or to make a donation, contact Hurricanes Swim Team President Deb Halsey at (620) 223-3830.