Behind the scenes work means smooth sailing for swimmers
For those who have never been, there is more than just ready, set, go in putting on a swim meet.
The Hillsboro swim team, in its 20th year, will host two swim meets this season. The Mid-Kansas League includes Abilene, Council Grove, Herington, Hesston, Hillsboro, Lindsborg, Marion, Moundridge, Newton, and Solomon. The league hosts five meets and a league meet during the June through July season.
According to swim team coaches Mary Kay Humber and Matt Vogt, Cathy McMillen of Hillsboro is the mastermind in orchestrating home meets.
McMillen, in her second year of helping with swim team, is in charge of getting workers for home meets, registering swimmers for all meets, ordering suits, and getting results to newspapers and participants.
"I started on the recreation commission," McMillen said. "The coaches needed someone to relieve them of some of their responsibilities. I volunteered."
McMillen, who says she is a good list maker and a good delegator, took on the role to help the swim team and coaches.
"We have a great network of parents," she said. "All I have to do is be able to delegate jobs. The parents are always willing to help and always come through."
McMillen said Hillsboro has great swim team coaches who have enough to do without organizing meets and keeping records.
Head coach Matt Vogt, who swam competitively in both Hillsboro and McPherson, echoed McMillen's praise of the parents.
"Parent involvement really helps," he said. "The more parents who are involved the easier it is for the team and the coaches."
Vogt, who also manages Hillsboro City Pool, gave kudos to McMillen.
"Cathy does all the good stuff. She is a huge help," said Vogt.
Hillsboro swim team has 54 participants. The cost is $35 for one child and $30 each per additional children in a family. Team members also may purchase suits which are $45 for girls and $27 for boys. The swim team organizers keep the same suits for at least two years, and participants are not required to buy a suit.
Swim team coaches are paid by the recreation commission, but all other helpers are volunteers.
"The swim team program is wonderful," said city recreation director Matt Dalke. "Parents sign-up to help, and most parents are willing to help. The program runs efficiently because of the many volunteers."
Swim meets are typically quads with eight events and 10 divisions in each event. The divisions range from ages eight-and-under through 15-to-18-year-olds in both boys' and girls' events.
Swimmers ages 15 through 18 can swim in every race. Swimmers eight through 14 can enter four individual events and two relays. A team is limited to three members in each event.
"I'm happy with the effort the kids have put in this season," said Vogt. "They come to practice and work hard. If I could change one thing, I would like to see more young people involved."
To run a successful swim meet, organizers need 10 timers, three or four concession stand workers, three people at the scorers' table, two runners, and one each of heat setter, starter, announcer, clerk, life guard, and line-up person.
Parents help set up home meets on Friday night and stick around on Saturday to clean up. Meets usually begin at 9 a.m. and can last until 1 or 1:30 p.m.
"In the past, we have used the concession stand as a fund- raiser," said McMillen. "Parents volunteer to work and to bring food."
The next home meet is at 9 a.m. Saturday. The behind-the-scenes work to prepare for the swim meet began long before that.
