Swimming in Katy, Texas

Katy Texas Swim Teams & Resources

© Katy Magazine - Katy, Texas 2006
June 01, 2006

By Peggy Loch
 

What can be more refreshing than jumping into a cool pool when the weather is hot and humid? As temperatures soar, swimming is a popular activity for many Katy residents and there are a number of swim programs and activities available around our area. From the beginning swimmer to the most advanced, from infants to senior adults, don’t miss these ways to beat the Katy heat and stay cool this summer.

Swim Teams in Katy, Texas
Chances are you’ve driven past a Katy neighborhood pool that was bursting at the seams with families cheering on children at a swim meet. In fact, most swim teams are well into their season by June. The Katy area boasts several active swim leagues. teams competing in the 14 and under age group. Long course state championships will be held at The Woodlands in July and Junior and Senior Nationals will be in Irvine, CA this August.
Sign up registration dates for Katy Aquatics are posted online and details about all club programs are kept current on their website. A Learn to Swim program is also offered through the club.

WHALE League
P.O. Box 333
Katy, TX 77492
The West Houston Aquatic League (WHALE) that began in 1985 with just
a handful of teams has grown to its current size of 21 teams and four divisions. Signups for the neighborhood-based WHALE league started in March and teams began practice at the beginning of May.

With team sizes as large as 150-180 swimmers, the WHALE league operates
smoothly thanks to a huge number of parent volunteers. Kim Gustafson, a
Cinco Ranch resident and current registrar for the Cinco Ranch swim teams in the league, comments that “swim team is a family commitment, not just a commitment of the swimmer’s time to come to practice.” As mom of swimmers Hannah and Joshua on the North Lake Sea Monkeys team, Gustafson notes, “It is a fun, exciting sport and we like it. Everybody walks away with a ribbon at the end of their race.”

Swim meets for the WHALE league are scheduled on evenings or Saturday mornings when the pools are closed so as not to inconvenience the community. The season finishes with an All-Star weekend at the end of June when the best performers from each team will swim against each other at Taylor and Katy High Schools.

Spring Oaks Swim Conference
Another neighborhood-based team in the Katy area is the Spring Oaks Swim Conference which has been in existence over 30 years. Swimmers from Green Trails, Willow Fork, Nottingham Country, Williamsburg Settlement, Williamsburg Colony, Cimarron and Sherwood Oaks comprise this two-division league which was recently reorganized and has plans to expand and add new Katy teams in the future. Pam Roberson, President of the Nottingham Country swim team, looks forward to the years ahead. “We’re pretty excited about it because there is so much new growth in Katy. As new subdivisions get settled they’ll want to join a swim team.” Because swim teams include a wide age range of children from ages 6 and under through the 15-18 age group, Roberson agrees that swim team is a family sport. “This is one thing that all the children in one family can be on at the same time. Every age group cheers for each other.”

This year is no exception for the Roberson family as their four children, including son Jason as co-coach, are back at the pool again this season. In addition, both Pam and her husband Les have active roles on the Spring Oaks Board and as parent volunteers for the Nottingham Country team. The Spring Oaks swim conference began practices in May and after six swim meets will culminate their season on the final weekend of June at the Meet of Champions to be held at the Spring Oaks Natatorium.

RECREATIONAL AND FAMILY SWIM

HEALTH, FITNESS AND REHABILITATION
Mary Jo Peckham Park
5597 Gardenia
Katy, TX 77493
281-391-4482

Unique to Katy is the indoor swimming facility at Mary Jo Peckham Park which has been in operation year-round since 1991. The park and its facilities are run by Harris County Precinct 3 and are under the direction of Commissioner Steve Radack.

Karen Jones, Director of Peckham Park, explains that the purpose of the pool, while not completely a recreational facility, is to serve the public. “We are not here to take over the role of a health club. We serve a purpose for people primarily during the day and we’re really here for health, fitness and rehabilitation.”

The park was named for Mary Jo Peckham, a woman who was known for her willingness for helping others as best she could. In this regard, the pool is equipped for the enjoyment of children and older people with limited physical abilities and offers classes such as Arthritis Foundation Aquatics, Special Needs Parent & Child, Water Aerobics, and Deep Water Exercise.

The American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program is also taught by certified instructors. Recreational swimming is available by reservation and on a limited basis.

Program consistency is important at Peckham Park and the classes offered rarely change with the seasons. Priority for class enrollment is given to Harris County residents, though residents of other counties are welcome if space is available.

While the facility does charge fees for the American Red Cross programs it offers, the programs put on by Harris County are free. Also, by reservation and on a limited basis, the park allows scout troops to use the facility to earn their merit badges. While the pool is just one part of this 32 acre park, Jones comments that “none of us would be here without the oversight of Commissioner Radack. He does a phenomenal job of letting us offer the classes that will help the public.”

Peggy Loch has lived in Katy for 8 years. She enjoys summertime and eating M&M’s by the pool with her family.

Submit your Katy news to editor@katymagazine.com.