Lakeside Sharks Pawling Recreation

The Lakeside Sharks racked up nearly 300 points in the 298-246 victory last Saturday morning at Tymor Park, showing the remarkable growth in this young but very promising program.

Although this was the first win of the season for the Sharks, the quality of the team is demonstrated in the fact that they have posted well over 200 points in all but one meet this summer.

Pawling lost to Millbrook 315-258, Redwing Park 314-236, and Freedom Park 430-189. Freedom park brought over 100 swimmers to the meet at Lakeside Park last week, and they merely showed Pawling the goal of where the Sharks would like to be in a couple of years.

But these pioneers that have founded the team with coach Suzanne Mayette are growing tremendoulsy with each season, and Mayette is very proud of them.

"The kids are having a great time, a lot of fun, but they are also reaching for more from the program each summer," Mayette said. "They have won some meets now. They are understanding what it takes to improve as individual swimmers and as a team, and they really want to do the work it takes to get there. They want better and better results now, in addition to having fun together. The parents continue to give us wonderful support, and we are building up the program year by year."

2007 Lakeside Sharks Roster

Age 8 and under girls: Chloe Jackson, Jessie LaRue, Jayne Sipal
Age 8 and under boys: Matt LaBarbera
Age10 and under girls: Brandi Alexander, Karen Garcia, Grace McGrath, Melanie Mold, Cara Nash, Devin Meany, Natalie Grillo, Vanessa Notoro, Charlotte Sipal.
Age10 and under boys: Paul LaRue, Ethan Nagasing and Parrish Whitlow.
Age 12 and under girls: Sarah Cage, Emily Ketchum, Maddie McGrath, Jessica Sanders, Julia Whitworth, Morgan Meany, Isabella Grillo,and Gaby Stenton.
Age12 and under boys: Zach Barthen, Joey Hochrein, Justin Mayette, Peter Sanders, Chris Gagliardo.
Age 14 and under girls: Tessa Dickinson, Zoe Nagasing, and Mahaney Sipal.
Age 14 and under boys: Robert Pagliaro, Tyler Ingram, Brandon Romagnoli, Oliver Mold.
Age 18 and under girls and boys: Becky Covey, Winona Mold, David Mayette, Andrew Nash, Ryan Walsh and Frank LaBarbera.

The Lakeside Sharks are sponsored by the Town of Pawling and the Pawling Recreation Department.

Mayette and assistant coach Kevin Walsh and their swimmers are ready to continue the success the Sharks began to enjoy in the summer of 2006.

Pawling managed their first victories during that season, defeating Redwing by 311-223, Millbrook by 334-231, and Tymor by the lopsided score of 366-129. The two losses last year were to Freedom Park by 403-213 and to Beekman by 324-291.

In defeating three teams, the Sharks moved into the upper division of competition, and have set their sights on catching Beekman this season, and challenging Freedom Park for the league championship.

It is so clear, watching the kids swim, how they have become more confident and more disciplined and technically sound in the water. Their growing mastery of the four strokes, freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke, is evident at every age level.

Mayette makes certain that every child on the team swims in at least three races in each meet.

Pawling has had one home meet on the schedule this summer, and has meets at Freedom Park, Millbrook, Redwing Park, Tymor Park, Stamford and Beekman Park, with the championships to be held this year on August 2 at Beekman Park.

The Town Board and the Recreation Department established the venue three years ago, and installed the 14 flip-turn boards for seven lanes.

Mayette thanked Supervisor Beth Coursen, the Town Councilmen, and Recreation Director Melissa Smith and assistant Robyn Woolley when she said, “We really want to thank Melissa Smith and Robyn Woolley at Pawling Recreation. They do such a great job of organizing and arranging the water time for all the people who want it. And we also want to thank Supervisor Beth Coursen and the Town Board for their support. We are very grateful to all of them for making us part of the Lakeside program, and allowing us to swim.”

With money the kids and their parents raised at their own fundraisers, the team began last summer with all-new uniforms and lane ropes. Parent Dave Stenton designed the logo that is featured on all the suits and caps.

The swimmers have all developed in their technique, conditioning and stamina, all through the lively practices and the work of Mayette and assistant coach Kevin Walsh.

Mayette says the parents of these youngsters have been critical to the success of the program, encouraging their children, organizing and supporting the fundraisers that have provided funds for the team uniforms and the colorful lane ropes, working as timers and scorekeepers and everything else needed at home meets, and generally supporting all the efforts of the kids and coaches.

With coach Mayette leading the way, the Sharks have truly developed into a close-knit community, supporting one another in the practices and competition, and working together as families to build up this program.

For information, call the Pawling Recreation Department at 855-1131.