Rutherford Weekly

September 08, 2022

Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC

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The Rutherford County Swim Team has been in existence since 1986 and very successful, said longtime Coach Mike Kernodle just days before this year's open house /recruitment session on September 10 at the ICC pool. The event will include a mock practice and demonstrate all the competitive strokes. The coaches will speak with visitors and their children. Interested children may "try out" for the team by demonstrating that they are water safe. Financial information will be provided for all those interested. Kernoldle said following the formal visit/ informational session there will be a brief period when the visiting children can get in the pool with swimmers for "free time." The open house begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 10 a.m. Light refreshments will be offered. Rutherford County Swim Team is a small, non- profi t, parent run; USA Swimming affi liated, year round, competitive swim team with swimmers from ages 5 to 18, Kernodle explains. There are between 20 and 50 swimmers, seasonally affected. One of the desires of coaches and parents is to insure that no child who desires to swim is excluded. "We host one swim meet per year and the proceeds along with our membership dues of $45 per month for the fi rst child in a family and $25 per month for each additional child is the extent of our income," Kernodle said. "We are grateful for the support from organizations that have seen value in our organization." The Rutherford County Swim Team has had a couple of briefl y tenured coaches, but two coaches hold the distinction of many years with the team. Coaches have been Charles "Uncle Chucky" Stockton and Michael "Coach K" Kernodle. Stockton coached the team for the better part of 20 years and Coach Kernodle has coached the team for the past 18 years. Both have dedicated themselves to the success of the team and the betterment of its swimmers. Both have been instrumental in the position and prestige the Rutherford County Swim Team maintains in western North Carolina. "Our goal is not now nor has it ever been to produce championship athletes, although we have produced numerous State Champion Swimmers over the 36 years of our existence and sent many to swim successfully for Colleges and Universities," Kernodle said. "Our goal is to produce physically fi t, emotionally confi dent and healthy young adults by engaging them in a demanding athletic activity. Our expanded focus is to involve the entire family in the activities of the swim team and have continuing dialogue regarding nutrition, exercise, academics, and appropriate ways of supporting their young swimmers. One of the tools used for this end is our Team's Facebook page which creates a sense of family among the families of swimmers." The measure of the team's success is the individual successes of the swimmers. "We record the improvements in their swimming times from competitions entered. We note their willingness to continue to confront the diffi cult every day," Kernodle added. "We observe the evolving of our swimmers as they become healthy, vibrant, confi dent young adults. These successes are not limited to the pool. Their confi dence is evident as they step out beyond their comfort zones and confront the diffi cult challenges their lives present." As a swim team the term club is often interchangeable, Kernodle said. "However, we do not actually refer to ourselves as a club but rather a "team". "We are a parent run, 501-c3 tax exempt organization with a board of directors and operate under the USA Swimming umbrella." The team practices year 'round with Long Course (50 meter lengths) competitions in the summer and Short Course (25 yard lengths) competitions in the winter. ISSUE NO. 36 • September 8, 2022 ISSUE NO. 36 • September 8, 2022 • • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 ClevelandCountyFair.com 704-487-0651 (DVW0DULRQ6WUHHW6KHOE\1& Early-Bird Tickets til September 28th VICTORIA CIRCUS VICTORIA CIRCUS AckMonster's AckMonster's Custom Chainsaw Art LLC Custom Chainsaw Art LLC Sylvia Fletcher Sylvia Fletcher "Scan QR Code and Save Now" AMAZING MIDWAY FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY SEPTEMBER 29 SEPTEMBER 29 th th - OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 9 th th 135 West Main Street, Spindale, NC 28160 828-395-2140 Hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 11am-9pm Sunday: 11am-3pm DINE IN CARRY OUT CATERING www.circlebBBQ.com www.circlebBBQ.com MENTION AD MENTION AD RECEIVE RECEIVE 10 10 % OFF OFF ©Community First Media Community First Media SUNDAY DINNER SUNDAY DINNER SPECIAL SPECIAL Meat, 2 Vegetables Rutherford County Swim Team Rutherford County Swim Team invites new members invites new members Story by Jean Gordon; photos contributed. Recruitment session Saturday, Sept. 10 Our 30 th Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers IN GOD WE TRUST! IN GOD WE TRUST! Swimmers during a recent practice at the pool at Isothermal Community College. Competitive backstroke swimmers. A few medal winners enjoying a humorous moment. Coach "K" Kernodle with two medal winners.

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