July 1, 2015 at 1:31 p.m.
Swim lessons offered at RHS
High school swim coach hosting summer lessons
Swim lessons offered at RHS
The first session was held this past week for advanced swimmers. There will be two more sessions coming up. Session two will run from July 6 through July 17 and is geared more for beginner swimmers, while the third session runs from July 20 through July 31 and is open to anyone.
Byrka said the lessons currently being offered are group lessons but there is room for individual lessons after the group sessions.
"That's just a straight kind of six-week camp and then we've broken those into three sessions where we are offering anytime after we're done, where they're going in small groups or these are almost individual lessons, where they are able to get one-on-one instructions with my assistant coach (Megan Cihla) and myself."
The session held this past week was for swimmers who were legal in all four strokes and looking to make improvements to their technique.
"We've got training in the morning for kids that are looking to get a lot more yards and are at a certain level," Byrka said. "Mostly geared towards middle school and high school kids or any 10 and unders that are willing to make the efforts to put in state cuts, they're real close to that."
Byrka and Cihla have a list of things they want to work on with the kids in their program, but that can change based on need.
"We've got a basic outline, but if the kids are advancing past the outline we'll go and move on to new skills or if they need a little bit more time we have that flexibility with the low numbers (of participants)," Byrka explained.
Eight-year-old Zachariah King was in last week's class and said he has been working on a few different things.
"(I've been working on) technique and stuff," he said. "Today, I worked on the butterfly, a little bit of backstroke and freestyle."
King said he doesn't have any personal goals for the time spent learning because he is already legal in all four strokes, but he does hope to improve. He recently competed in the Badger State Games and did pretty well.
"I did the Badger State Games. (I finished with) one fourth (place), two thirds and a first. (My first-place finish was in) the 100 IM (individual medley). Well, I actually placed third but the first and second (finishers) got disqualified." King said, noting he was happy to accept the victory.
Although this past week was geared to advanced swimmers like King, the second session July 6-17 is for those with little or no experience, just looking to learn.
"The first two-week session is more for kids who have had prior experience at the club level or some kind of competitive swimming," Byrka said. "The next session that's coming up in two weeks will be more for kids that maybe they've been on the club, but they really don't have legal strokes in all four strokes. Those 5- or 6-year-olds that are really just basically learning the freestyle or backstroke or someone at any age that's never swam before and just wants to learn basic survival floating in an introduction to getting down the water as fast as you can."
The third session of the summer, July 20 -31, is for anyone. It doesn't matter if the person is advanced or brand new to the sport. Byrka and Cihla accommodate all levels during the offered time. The pair are currently accepting calls for lessons for the final two sessions.
"If someone wants a private (lesson) we've got time for that. If they're looking for a group to combine with, we will start to reach out to other kids and try to invite them up," Byrka said. "Based on need, you know, we're excepting calls. Anyone that comes in or calls and says, you know I want this can you offer that, we've got the time and the flexibility to."
Byrka, a former WIAA state champion, said she's expressed interest in the coaching the RHS girls' team, a position which opened up when Amber Laggis stepped down last month. Byrka was Laggis' assistant coach last fall.
"When I met with the athletic director (Brian Paulson) to talk about the summer program I asked if anyone had stepped up and he said there wasn't any interest and obviously my goal is to see Rhinelander swimming in general improve and so whatever I need to do to do that."
According to a School District of Rhinelander press release, the lessons range from $100 to $150 per two-week session. Anyone interested in more information about the lessons offered or who would like to sign up are encouraged to contact Byrka at (407) 761-8905 or Cihla at (715) 490-1427.
Lindsey Nylund may be reached at [email protected].
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