Olympics inspire kids to join swim teams

JESSICA JOHNSON
The Post and Courier

Preston Parrish directs a swim team at the Jones Center last week. Mount Pleasant has seen a 100 percent increase in participation this fall in part because of the Olympics.

JESSICA JOHNSON
The Post and Courier

Doug Fetchen is one of three swimming coaches in the Mount Pleasant program at the R.L. Jones Center.

All around the nation, competitive swim teams expect an increase in members after the Olympic summer games. But after swimmer Michael Phelps took eight medals, USA Swimming, the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States, expects even more people to take a dive into competitive swimming.

The Mount Pleasant Recreation Department's swimming club and classes have seen a 100 percent increase in participants this month, according to swim coach Doug Fetchen.

USA Swimming said past summer Olympic Games have sparked a 5 percent-10 percent increase in membership.

And after Phelps won six gold medals in 2004, USA Swimming saw a 7 percent increase in year-round membership, the single highest gain in 10 years.

About 80 new swimmers stood in line to be evaluated for the Mount Pleasant Swimming Club recently.

Though no new swimmers mentioned Phelps directly, his record-breaking 2008 Olympic performance had an impact, said coach Preston Parrish.

"Everyone watching wanted to put on a swimsuit and goggles and be like him," he said.

At a recent practice, Parrish used former Olympians to inspire swimmers, asking them to do an Alexander Popov drill, named for a Russian swimmer who won gold medals in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

Chelsea Savage, 9, a new member of Mount Pleasant Swim Club's Manatees, said she's been inspired by the Olympics and by her father, Stephen Savage, who swam at college.

"Now that she watched the Olympics, she wants to be an Olympic swimmer," said Chelsea's mother, Tamara Savage.

Fetchen said the increase in swimmers is mostly among younger kids like Chelsea.

Teenagers might be shy of joining, especially when they would have to compete with Mount Pleasant Swim Club's Zach Lierly, 13, the No. 1-ranked swimmer in his age group based on scores documented on the USA Swimming's Web site, Fetchen said.

Stable and winning coaches are credited with helping to build the Mount Pleasant program.

Head coach Liz Campbell has been with the department for four years. Fetchen has been there for five.

"I give her all the credit," Fetchen said of Campbell.

Campbell said the numbers of children on teams and taking lessons have increased every year, but her team couldn't be so popular that it would account for a doubling in numbers.

"The only thing I could attribute it to would be the Olympics," she said.

Campbell said she's heard parents say, "We are not trying to be the next Phelps, but we're here to check out the swim team."

Reach Jessica Johnson at 937-5921 or jjohnson@ postandcourier.com.