Lemont Dolphins Swim Club Wins Conference Championship

The Lemont Dolphins Swim Club is only in its second full winter season, but the team has already made a big splash.

The  youth swim club took home the championship trophy Saturday at the South Suburban Swim Conference competition in Oak Lawn. The Dolphins dominated the meet, earning the top spot with a 250-point lead over the next team.

“The Dolphins took the lead after the second event and never let go by winning six of the first nine relays,” said Erik Enslen, head coach of the Lemont Park District swimming program.

Leading the Dolphins with two individual wins each wwere Sylvia Kobylak and Victoria Freitakas in the 9-10 age group, and Sarah Decesare in the 11–12 age group. Other leading point scorers included Colin Treanor (8 and under); Ella Perczyniski, Matt Kroll and Colton Gobouer (9-10); Owen Ganzer (11-12); and Mallory Douglass (13-14)—all of whom scored more than 40 points between individual events and relays.

Ganzer and Kobylak's, performances earned them spots at the Illinois Swimming Regional Championship, which will be held Feb. 24-26 at Lincoln-Way East High School.

“The swimmers exceeded every one of my expectations," Enslen said. "I am very proud of how we have come together as a team."

The Dolphins Swim Club has seen significant growth under the direction of Enslen, who joined the program in late 2010. Over the past two years, the Lemont Park District has seen a more than 50-percent increase in participation, growing from 73 swimmers last winter to 113 in 2012.

Recently, a group of high school students—Erin Bendle, Erika Kubowitsch, Lynn Stanwyck, Natalie Boyle, Anne Callahan, Abby Valek, Emily Polaczek and Lauren Decesare—worked together to establish a new team, Dolphin Senior Girl Swimmers.

“This has been an unbelievable second season for the Dolphins, all of our swimmers are working hard at achieving their individual goals as well as team goals,” Enslen said.

"Coach Erik," an Oak Lawn resident, came to Lemont with 20 years of coaching experience. He is a certified "Level 3" coach by the American Swimming Coaches Association, meaning he is among the top 15 percent of swimming coaches in the country.

The Lemont Dolphins is open to boys and girls ages 6 to 17. They currently practice five days a week at the CORE Fitness and Aquatic Complex, 16050 W. 127th St. For more information, visit www.lemontparks.org.

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