Over Fourth of July weekend, members of the Cortez Leopard Sharks Swim Team proved that fantastic things can be accomplished in 24 hours.
Participating in the team’s second annual 24-hour relay, team members collected sponsorships and then swam through the night to raise money for both their team and The Bridge Homeless Shelter.
Far more than just a fundraising event, the 24-hour relay brought teammates together, contributed money to a good cause, gave back to the Cortez community and created memories that will last a lifetime.
Kicking off the 24-hour relay at 6 p.m. July 5, head coach Kevin Ketterer, assistant coach Gayle Earley and senior swimmer Steve Heath entered the water. Although the coaches demonstrated solid technique, they were unable to escape the critical eyes of the swimmers that they work so hard to train.
“Swimming in front of the team was a fun experience,” said a visibly excited Ketterer. “The kids were yelling at me, giving me pointers and cheering. They certainly turned the table on me a bit.”
After the coaches and senior swimmer, younger Leopard Sharks swimmers entered the water. For the next 23-plus hours, teammates swam in shifts with at least two swimmers remaining in the pool at all times. For many of the swimmers, night swimming proved to be the most enjoyable aspect of the relay.
“Swimming in the dark was fun,” said 10-year-old swimmer Trenton Bagge. “My goggles were dark, so it was hard to see, but when I did backstroke I could see the stars.”
“I like swimming in the dark,” echoed 10-year-old swimmer Gavin Quinlan. “The underwater lights were on, and that was really cool.”
While some team members found the swimming to be the most enjoyable aspect of the event, others cherished the opportunity to spend time with teammates.
“Even at three in the morning, the pool was going crazy,” said 15-year-old Bailey Duran. “Music was playing and everyone was cheering each other on. It was great.”
“The (relay) turned out to be a great team-building experience,” said Ketterer. “Swimmers were at the pool all night. They loved the lights, the music, they had their tents and they had their friends. The event really brought our team together.”
In addition to serving as a fun team-building experience, the 24-hour relay raised valuable money for a good cause. After swimmers attending early-morning practices noticed individuals sleeping in the park, the team agreed that ten percent of the proceeds from the 24-hour relay should be donated to The Bridge Emergency Shelter.
“Every morning, our swimmers see homeless people in the park,” explained Ketterer. “Donating to The Bridge was our way of getting the kids to realize that they can do something to help.”
In so many ways, the 24-hour relay was the Leopard Sharks way of giving back to a Cortez community that has supported the team for more than 20 years. Without the contributions made by the city, local businesses and residents, the Leopard Sharks swim team would not exist.
“(The 24-hour relay) was our way of giving back to the community,” said Ketterer. “We are planning to use the funds that we raised to get a new lane roller and a permanently mounted pace clock at the outdoor pool. Hopefully, lap swimmers will benefit from those improvements to the pool.”
In the end, the 24-hour relay turned out to be a great success that swimmers and coaches will likely remember for the rest of their lives. “I know that everyone is going to remember this forever,” said Ketterer. “It really was an outstanding event.”