Making Waves: Harlan Community Summer Swim Team Builds Athletes and Character

A decades-long tradition helping local youth find their stride in the water

When Matt Schmitz's sons joined the Harlan Community Summer Swim Team in 2017, little did he know that he'd soon be deeply immersed in the program himself. Now serving as board president, Schmitz is passionate about continuing the team's long tradition of excellence while expanding its reach to more local families.

"Swimming can be hard work, but it's a lot of fun and rewarding. I think it's a really great experience for kids to learn how to persevere, to learn to get stronger in water," Schmitz explains. "I was told once that there's three things you can do your whole life: swimming, running, and golfing. It's a great lifetime sport to learn."

From Pool to Community: A Legacy of Excellence

The Harlan Community Summer Swim Team has been a fixture in the community since at least the 1980s, though its exact founding date predates many current members' involvement. Schmitz's wife, Amber, who now serves as head coach, swam with the team in her youth before swimming for Harlan High School until 1999, when the school closed its pool.

After a period away, the Schmitzes returned to the program when their sons, then 10 and 8, joined in 2017. The team was experiencing a resurgence in popularity at that time, building to over 100 participants by 2018-2019 under a charismatic coach who has since moved on to become a principal in Ankeny.

Following the disruption of COVID-19, the team has worked to rebuild its numbers and is targeting 80 participants for the upcoming 2025 season, up from 55 last year.

Creating Opportunities for All Ages

The Harlan Community Summer Swim Team, part of the Western Iowa Swim League, welcomes swimmers from age 4 through high school seniors. The six-week summer program runs from early June through mid-July, with daily practices at the Norman D. Stamp Aquatic Center.

Swimmers are grouped by age brackets: 8 and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-18. They compete in four swimming strokes—freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly—with events structured to match swimmers against others in their age group.

"All the kids in swim team get to participate," Schmitz emphasizes. "We try to get everyone involved and have just a good experience for kids to learn more about their strengths."

The team's only requirement is that participants can swim across the pool. From there, coaches help children develop proper technique and build endurance throughout the season.

More Than Just Medals: Building Life Skills

While swimming is often viewed as an individual sport, the Harlan team emphasizes both personal growth and team spirit. Swimmers primarily compete against their own previous times, striving for "PRs" (personal records) with each meet.

"Our goal is always to tell them that they're competing against themselves," Schmitz says. "If you PR, which is basically improve your time from the last time, then you did well."

The team aspect comes alive through relay events and the camaraderie that develops across age groups. "We've had conference meets where we have our 15 to 18 age group competing, and we have every kid at the end of the lane down there cheering on their teammates," Schmitz recalls.

This supportive environment has fostered remarkable success. Since 2001, Harlan has won all but one conference championship in their league.

Finding Their Element

For many children, swimming offers a unique opportunity to excel in ways they haven't in other sports.

"We have a lot of kids that maybe just don't have another activity where they fit in in the past, and they try swim team and they do well at it and can really improve and make friends that way," Schmitz observes.

The team has welcomed children who later became college athletes, doctors, and productive citizens in numerous fields. "We hope we're part of that for a lot of kids, and I hope that we can offer a good experience they can kind of carry those lessons with them throughout life," says Schmitz.

He notes that swimming often attracts families looking for practical benefits as well: "We have a lot of kids whose grandma and grandpa have a lake house. Mom and dad feel more comfortable with them having done swim team because they're a stronger swimmer."

A Family Affair

One of the most appealing aspects of the program is its ability to accommodate multiple children from the same family.

"It's a really great family sport," Schmitz emphasizes. "You can have a kid who's 5, 11, and 14, and all three of them can participate in the same activity, so you're not running different places and doing different things."

The multi-age environment creates unique mentoring opportunities as well. "It's really cool to see that dynamic and how those kids interact with each other, and how much the younger kids look up to the swimmers we've had that are older, and that relationship they can build there," says Schmitz.

Community Support Makes It Possible

Behind every successful swim meet is a dedicated team of volunteers. The program's board oversees planning and organization, while parents serve as timers, stroke judges, computer operators, awards coordinators, and more.

"If we don't have volunteers to run meets, it doesn't happen," Schmitz explains. The team requires each family to volunteer three times per season to ensure everything runs smoothly.

For the 2025 season, the team hopes to secure local sponsors to provide team shirts, both for the participants and to increase visibility in the community. They're also planning a "Back to Swim Night" at the wellness center before the pool opens for the season, where prospective swimmers can meet coaches, complete a swim test, and learn more about the program.

Building Confidence One Stroke at a Time

In a world of instant gratification, swimming stands apart as a sport that rewards persistence and dedication. The Harlan Community Summer Swim Team provides more than just physical activity—it offers children a space to develop confidence, discipline, and a sense of accomplishment.

"I think a lot of kids jump in thinking that they're not good enough to compete," Schmitz notes. "It's not the Olympics... It's meant just to be fun and to learn."

Whether a child is naturally athletic or finding their footing in sports for the first time, the pool becomes an equalizer—a place where improvement is measured in personal growth rather than just winning or losing. For many local youth, the lessons learned during those summer weeks ripple far beyond the water's edge, helping shape character traits that serve them throughout their lives.

As the team prepares for another season, they continue a tradition that's been woven into the fabric of the Harlan community for generations, creating not just better swimmers, but stronger, more confident young people.

Ready to dive in? Registration is now open for the Harlan Community Summer Swim Team's 2025 season, which runs June 2-July 12. Season fees are $60 per swimmer with a $5 discount for additional family members. Visit www.harlanswimteam.com to register online, or follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, or X for updates on the upcoming Back to Swim Night event and season details.