Welcome to the MACR SharksCompetitive swimming at the Cedar Rapids YMCA began in the late 1940's. Since then the team has had a number of evolutions. The current team known as the MACR Sharks was born during the 1990's. In the late 1960's the YMCA team provided the basis for what would later become known as the CRAA swimming club. In 1970 and 1971 the Cedar Rapids YMCA won National Championships at the YMCA National Swimming Meet. During this era of dominance in competitive swimming, the Cedar Rapids YMCA team became the driving reason for the Iowa YMCA State Alliance to adopt the current practice of not scoring any YMCA swimming meets. More recently, the MACR Sharks again underwent an evolution and the Stoney Point Stingrays were created in 2005. Currently, between the two programs, the YMCA has close to 230 swimmers representing the metropolitan area in our winter programs. Both teams also compete in the Cedar Rapids Recreation Department's summer swimming league with close to 150 swimmers participating. The MACR Sharks won the Cedar Rapids City Championship in both 2005 and 2006. The MACR Sharks swim team, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, represents the Cedar Rapids Metro YMCA and the Marion YMCA in the Iowa YMCA Competitive Swimming Association. 2007-2008 SeasonHead Coach Paul Brown leads a dynamic team of assistant coaches and instructors that focuses on improving the technique and racing skills of all Shark's swimmers. The coaching staff consists of various coaches geared for all levels of swimmers within the team. We are excited for another great season of swimming and look forward to working with each swimmer. This season we will have eight dual/triangular swimming meets against various YMCA teams from around the state. Those meets will lead to our Sectional Championship meet in February. The State Championship meet will be held on March 1st and 2nd at the Marshalltown YMCA. Our final meet will the Midwest Regional Swim Meet scheduled for March 29th and 30th at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Our Coach's PhilosophyTo improve and develop the swimming technique of all participants in an atmosphere of fun. To serve as a stepping stone from 'learn to swim' programs into club and high school swimming, maintaining swimmers' interest and fostering quality technique and lifelong participation in the sport. |
From Coach Paul BrownSummer Swim Team registration is Monday, May 5. It is an in person registration only at the Helen G. Nassif YMCA which opens at 5 AM and that is when registration will begin. I will limit the size of the team to 100 total swimmers and will try to evenly spread the numbers throughout the age groups and genders. All practices for the MACR Sharks summer team will be held at the Helen G. Nassif YMCA according to the schedule below. Practices begin Monday, June 2.
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