The other silver lining is that we all have a stronger appreciation for our sport. Our team made the most of it and we shared those connections during group zoom meetings. This past year was going to be a flurry of training, traveling and competing, and the quarantine allowed for a lot of quality family connection that would have been missed. Once we realized the fate of Trials and the obvious need to shut everything down, several silver linings have come to light – coaches and swimmers were able to spend quality time with their families. Just like many others, we had planned out every day, every competition and practically every minute of the spring and summer.
With a good-sized group of athletes qualified for Trials, including a few that had big things in mind, COVID-19 hit us hard. In what ways has COVID-19 affected your team? What did you have your swimmers do during the shutdown, and what are you and your swimmers doing now as far as training and meets? Here’s a closer look at the team and how they’ve overcome the many challenges of 2020, from head coach Ken Heis.ġ. We’re serious about swimming, but we don’t forget that what keeps our swimmers wanting to put in all the time and effort is the fun, and we are conscious about keeping it fun, too.Like pretty much every swim team around the country, the Mason Manta Rays have had to deal with the ups and downs of COVID-19 this year and the pool closures, practice and meet cancellations and constantly shifting schedules that have resulted.ĭespite these challenges, the team is looking stronger than ever after claiming the fifth spot in the 2021 Club Excellence program rankings and a Podium Club honor with four straight years as a gold team, and they are eager to bring a large group to the US Olympic Trials in June. We always look for the fun - in working hard, in getting better, in making lifelong relationships, in seeing yourself look good, or silly, in an underwater video. It also provides a different element of fun for our athletes.ĥ. Our kids are not only strong and fit, but the dryland program has “bullet proofed” our athletes from injury. A few years ago we brought in dryland consultant Vern Gambetta to help us develop a comprehensive and progressive “8 to 18” dryland program. Dryland training is an integral part of the program. Our older swimmers have begun to mentor our younger swimmers, providing a top to bottom connection within the program.Ĥ. We have a culture of showing up early for practice, warming up to swim before practice, being excited about working hard, encouraging teammates and being proud to wear our cap in individual events and especially relays. Several years ago the positive culture of our highest group began to spread like wildfire. The city and local school district also collaborate well to support all of the different programs using the pool.ģ. The City of Mason supports and empowers their coaches to make decisions in the best interest of the program.
We are a City of Mason Parks and Recreation program that operates out of a competition pool we share with the local high school. They provide the longevity, stability and enthusiasm to bring all swimmers along on the path to excellence. Our long-standing staff is the heart of the team. All of them have embraced our team-wide goal, which is the constant pursuit of excellence, not only in the development of fast swimmers, but also good people. While our program is only 14 years old, each of the lead coaches of our 13 different practice groups has been with the Manta Rays for over 10 years. With a supportive culture and community, a revamped dryland program and focus on fun, the team is better than ever, as Heis explains in this week’s Club Excellence spotlight.ġ. The Manta Rays also finished seventh among the Silver Medal clubs in USA Swimming’s Club Excellence program for 2017. Led by head coach Ken Heis, who has been with the team since it’s inception, the team has been piling up accolades recently, including a nomination to the 2017 FINA World Junior Championships Team by Carson Foster, a win at the 2017 NASA Cup by the Manta Rays women’s team, and a 2015 FINA World Junior team qualification by Ashley Volpenhein. The Mason Manta Rays in Mason, Ohio are a relatively new program at just 14 years old, but they’ve certainly found a recipe for success in a short time.
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