Ella Sabel / Arizona Sonoran News

The hot Tucson summer is around the corner, and that means swim team season is, too.

Kids ages 5 to 18 can join one of Pima County Parks and Recreation’s nine swim teams, with online registration opening at 6 a.m. April 29 and closing at midnight May 30. The cost is $25 per child.

Anissa Ramirez, Pima County Parks and Recreation’s community engagement coordinator, said the county expects the teams to “fill up quickly, so we encourage swimmers to register as soon as possible to secure their spot.”

Participating teams include:

• Ajo Desert Sharks, in the town of Ajo in the far southwestern corner of Pima County
• Catalina Rattlers, who swim out of the northwest side town of Catalina
• Flowing Wells Dolphins, swimming at Flowing Wells Junior High School
• Kino Tsunamis, based at Kino Sports Complex
• Los Niños Piranhas, from the Los Niños neighborhood park near Drexel Road
• Manzanita Torpedoes, from the west side Manzanita Pool in the Drexel Heights neighborhood
• Marana Marlins, which will move to the new Marana Aquatic and Recreation Center from their longtime home at Ora Mae Harn Park
• Thad Terry Stingrays, swimming at the Northwest YMCA
• Wade McLean Tiger Sharks, based at Marana High School

Each team has a limited number of spots, and registration is open to all swimmers. Participants do not have to live near the pool where they register.

“Once that capacity is reached, registration for that team will close,” Ramirez said, adding that the county does not maintain a waitlist.

The swim team program is open to any child in Pima County who meets the requirements, including being able to become fully submerged in water, tread water for one minute, and swim 50 yards (two laps) unassisted with any stroke.

Ramirez said each swimmer should attend a practice in the first week to complete their swim test. If the swimmer struggles with the test, the final decision rests with the pool or aquatic supervisor.

Teams practice at least one hour per day, Monday through Thursday, from June 2 to July 24. Meets are held on Saturdays beginning June 13.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.

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