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2025 HARLAN SUMMER SWIM TEAM REGISTRATION!
Meet the Coach: Ben Schmitz
Meet the Coach: Ben Schmitz
April 17, 2025
🔴⚫️⚪️🤝
Meet Assistant Coach Ben Schmitz!
Years Involved in Swim Team: 9
Why do you enjoy swim team?
Why do you enjoy swim team?
My favorite thing about being on the Harlan Summer Swim Team is seeing personal progress by improving my times. It’s motivating to track how much faster I’ve become through consistent effort, and it makes each meet feel like a chance to set a new goal. Having friends on the team makes the experience even better—we support each other, stay competitive in a positive way, and enjoy practice more together. I also look forward to coming to practice because I know it’s helping me stay healthy and strong, both physically and mentally.
Being on the team has taught me how to be a leader. Whether it’s setting a good example in practice, helping teammates stay focused, or offering encouragement during tough sets, I’ve learned how to take initiative and be someone others can count on.
Swimming Skills & Improvement:
Swimming Skills & Improvement:
When I first joined swim team at eight years old, swimming across the pool was difficult. Now, after nearly a decade, swimming is relaxing and enjoyable. Swim team has helped me build valuable skills that I can use throughout my life. As I’ve progressed, breaststroke has become my favorite, and it is what I swim the most of. I enjoy breaststroke because of the technical requirements and potential for refinement. Through breaststroke, I have reached goals like placing well at conference, but I have also achieved personal times that I am very happy with.
Team & Friendship:
Team & Friendship:
As a swimmer, I can confidently say that being part of our swim team makes the sport much more enjoyable. It provides great competition and many opportunities to make friends. I have been fortunate to swim with many of my friends since I joined the team, and I hope to continue doing so. I enjoy playing water polo at practice each year.
Fun & Activities:
Fun & Activities:
At swim meets, I like being able to watch my friends swim, mess around between events, and most importantly, competing.
Personal Growth:
Personal Growth:
In swim team, I’ve learned to appreciate the results of hard work. Moreover, it has helped me develop mental strength, patience, and a better work ethic. I look forward to being in the pool again this summer.
Meet the Coach: Emeri Smith
Meet the Coach: Emeri Smith
April 16, 2025
🔴⚫️⚪️🤝
Meet Assistant Coach Emeri Smith!
Years Involved in Swim Team: 8
Why do you enjoy swim team?
Why do you enjoy swim team?
My favorite thing about swim team is hanging out with my friends during swim meets and growing as a swimmer. What makes me excited to go to practice is having friends there. It’s definitely a lot better when you have someone to talk to. My favorite memory is winning the Conference meet during summer swim and we got to push the coaches in the pool. One thing I have learned from being on the team is how to push myself to get better and achieve the goals I set for myself.
Swimming Skills & Improvement:
Swimming Skills & Improvement:
When I first joined swim, I didn’t know the strokes that well especially breaststroke and butterfly. Now I swim 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke and hold the girls 15-18 100 butterfly record! My favorite stroke is freestyle because it’s more calming and less tiring compared to butterfly and breaststroke (the other strokes I swim) when practicing. One of my goals is qualifying in as many events for State as possible (winter swim season) and this year I qualified in 8 events this year which was very exciting!
Team & Friendship:
Team & Friendship:
The swim team is very welcoming and there is no pressure to be the best, only encouragement to grow. The other swimmers are very nice and fun to be around, it definitely makes long meets easier hanging out with other members. I have made a lot of good friends on the team. My favorite team activity is the end of year banquet when we get to fun swim with each other, eat a lot of food, and play a quizlet of that season.
Fun & Activities:
Fun & Activities:
The most fun activity i’ve done with the team is the fun relays during practice, we get to compete against each other with made up strokes. It is really funny to watch and fun to do. There are other games we play during practice that are also super fun! My favorite thing about swim meet is hanging out with friends and cheering each other on when they are swimming.
Personal Growth:
Personal Growth:
Being in swim helps you with every other sport you are in and not only that but it helps keep you in shape during the in between seasons. I’m looking forward to competing new events in this upcoming swim season.
Meet the Coach: McKenna Wohlhutter
Meet the Coach: McKenna Wohlhutter
April 8, 2025
🔴⚫️⚪️🤝
Meet Assistant Coach McKenna Wohlhutter!
Years Involved in Swim Team: 7
Why do you enjoy swim team?
Why do you enjoy swim team?
My favorite thing about Harlan swim team is the community and bonds that you build with people from any age. You always find new people and get to know them so well. What makes me excited to come to practice is the way the coaches bond with the swimmers, they always make sure everyone is included! My favorite memory from being on swim team is when I got all-conference last summer, it showed how much the team cared about me! One thing that I have learned from being on swim team is that winning doesn’t matter, it’s all about the experiences that you get to enjoy with other teams, coaches, and parents.
Swimming Skills & Improvement:
Swimming Skills & Improvement:
My swimming has improved by building up my stamina every year that I get the opportunity to swim with Harlan Swim Team. My favorite stroke is butterfly because I love how I get to use my upper body so much and just being able to push myself though the water. Some goals that I have reached while being on swim team are getting new PRs, making it to state for winter swim, and being able to attend conference in the summer.
Team & Friendship:
Team & Friendship:
Being apart of the team is like another family, we all treat each other with respect and kindness that everyone feels like it’s there second home. The other swimmers on this team are supportive, kind and always friendly with not just people on our team but also with other teams. I have made multiple good friends on swim team, Josie has been apart of my life forever it feels like, she’s always so supportive and cheers me on during every event that I do. My favorite team activity is when we all get together at the end of the season and have our pot lock it brings family’s together!
Fun & Activities:
Fun & Activities:
The most fun team activity that we have done is when we do our fun relays, you get to do strange strokes while also having a friendly competition with your teammates. My favorite thing about swim meets are when we have our pep-talk before the meet starts, it gets your energy going and it gets you excited to be swimming for that day.
Personal Growth:
Personal Growth:
I have learned how to apart of a team while competing individually while also improving myself and the team. It has helped me to support everyone no matter what, it has also taught me that you don’t need to win all the time, it’s okay to not get first or second; it’s a building experience. I am most looking forward to spending time with the little swimmers and getting to know them better so I can be more powerful with cheering them on.
Meet the Coach: Lucas Paulsen
Meet the Coach: Lucas Paulsen
April 7, 2025
🔴⚫️⚪️🤝
Meet Assistant Coach Lucas Paulsen!
Years Involved in Swim Team: 5
Why do you enjoy swim team?
Why do you enjoy swim team?
My favorite thing about the Harlan Summer Swim Team is being able to do a sport that I enjoy, while still being able to have fun with my friends while competing. The coaches are also a great aspect of my admiration for swim team, as the nature of the sport allows them to give one-on-one direction when it is needed. The thing that makes me excited to show up to practice everyday is being able to stay active in the offseason, but still have a good time with my teammates. My favorite memory of swim team is being able to push our coach in the pool after we win the conference meet every year. During my time on the team, I have learned the ins and outs of swimming, advancing my swimming knowledge from near zero to a competitive level. My coaches have played a huge roll in my development, pushing me to join swim team and showing up every day to push us in practice.
Swimming Skills & Improvement:
Swimming Skills & Improvement:
When I joined swim team, the most swimming I had done was in a lifejacket, floating on the lake with my family. My skills truly advanced in my first years, getting to the point where I was able to be competitive in my age group. By far my favorite stroke is backstroke, mainly because I am able to breath during the entirety of my race, but also because it comes naturally to me. While on swim team, I have reached and exceeded many goals that I had set, winning a number of races over the years, and being able to swim faster and faster each meet.
Team & Friendship:
Team & Friendship:
Being a part of the swim team is like being a part of a big family, everyone collaborating and learning from each other, with room for improvement at all age groups. The returning swimmers are very inviting and nice, helping the younger swimmers develop a love for the sport. Older swimmers are always willing to help the younger kids, and all you have to do is ask. Through the swim team, I have met many friends that I would not have otherwise. Although some of my long time friends pushed me to be on the team, they also introduced me to the swimming community, growing my connections and friends in the sport.
Fun & Activities:
Fun & Activities:
On the last practice of each season, the swim team holds a pot luck and allows us to swim at the public pool later that evening. While this is an annual event, every day at practice is different and assorted swimming games and activities are put on by the coaches to keep the swimmers entertained. My favorite thing about swim meets is the laid-back mentality at the meets, and being able to be around my friends although I am still at a competitive event.
Personal Growth:
Personal Growth:
Over the duration of my time on the swim team, I have pushed my physical and mental limits farther than I ever thought I could, and learned to be applicable to all strokes if need be. As for other areas of my life, just this last year, I was one of the two recipients of the annual scholarship given out by the winter team. I am grateful for this and look forward to watching more people receive the same. This up coming season, I am most looking forward to showing up to the first day of practice, and seeing all of the new swimmers that the team has brought out this season!
Meet the Coach: AINSLEY MAGES
Meet the Coach: AINSLEY MAGES
April 5, 2025
🔴⚫️⚪️🤝
Meet Assistant Coach Ainsley Mages!
Years Involved in Swim Team: 10
Why do you enjoy swim team?
Why do you enjoy swim team?
Summer swim is a great way to stay busy and have fun with my friends. It has given me so many opportunities to compete for my team, and I’ve been very successful with the help of the other coaches. My favorite memory of swim team was when Coach Logan Maxwell would let us push him in the pool after winning a meet, and after his last conference meet with us, he wore a tuxedo for us to push him in the water with. One of the best things I’ve learned from swim team is that I can push myself to things I never would have thought I could do.
Swimming Skills & Improvement:
Swimming Skills & Improvement:
Since joining swim a whole decade ago, I have gone from just knowing how to tread water to becoming a top three state ranked athlete. My favorite stroke is backstroke because it is fun and not something that many people enjoy. My biggest achievement in swim so far has been reaching my goal of winning an event at state, and I got that last winter.
Team & Friendship:
Team & Friendship:
Being a part of this team is so uplifting because you can tell how much your friends care about your success. The other swimmers are always so supportive, and I don’t just see it in my own friends. Coaching has given me a new perspective and I’ve been able to see new friendships and encouragement from everyone, friends or not. I have made many friends both on my team and on others, and some of them I am still very close with. My favorite team activity is our fun relays because we get to try something new with people we don’t always practice with.
Fun & Activities:
Fun & Activities:
Swim meets are so fun for me because I love to compete. I am typically pushed by lots of other athletes ranging from all ages, and girls and boys.
Personal Growth:
Personal Growth:
Since joining I have realized how much it pays off to try my best to reach my goals. This season I am looking forward to improving all of my races, and maybe even trying to break a record or two.
Choose Your Own Individual Events
Choose Your Own Individual Events
April 4, 2025
During summer swim team, we are changing things up a bit! Instead of the coaches deciding what you swim, you get to choose the 3 individual events you want to swim at the regular season meets.
Our goal is to have 2 swimmers in each event at the conference meet and you must have a result in those events to swim them at conference, so coaches may have to make small adjustments to events throughout the season. However, we want swimmers to choose their events whenever possible!
2025 Assistant Coaches
2025 Assistant Coaches
April 3, 2025
🔴 Introducing the Assistant Coaches for Harlan Swim Team in 2025 ⚫️
Emeri Smith
Ben Schmitz
Ainsley Mages
Lucas Paulsen
McKenna Wohlhutter
These coaches will also be swimmers on the team this summer and help coach the 10 and Under swimmers at practice, in addition to helping out the older swimmers during the 11 and Up practices and meets!
We are excited to have these young leaders in our swim program!
Our Swim Team Experience: The Augustine Family
Our Swim Team Experience: The Augustine Family
April 1, 2025
Parent: Adriana Augustine
Years Involved in Swim Team: 1 year
Benefits for Children:
Benefits for Children:
My daughter became a much stronger swimmer last summer. The competition with other kids in the team and at the meets pushed her abilities. Swim is a fun way to stay active and strong in the summer sunshine!
Team & Community:
Team & Community:
The summer team is the right balance of competition and fun. It’s serious, but not as serious as the year round programs. There is room for new swimmers and swimmers of all abilities at all ages.
Overall Experience:
Overall Experience:
The meets are fun! We are not from Harlan school district so it’s been fun for my daughter to make new friends.
Value:
Value:
Swimming every day plus meets for $60 is a steal.
Our Swim Team Experience: The Wohlhutter Family
Our Swim Team Experience: The Wohlhutter Family
March 31, 2025
Parent: Danielle Wohlhutter
Years Involved in Swim Team: 7 years
Benefits for Children:
Benefits for Children:
McKenna has grown in many areas but mostly in her leadership skills. She encourages all teammates knows how to ask for help when needed and improves on her form each year.
Team & Community:
Team & Community:
Swim team is a great sport for parents to be involved in with their kids through volunteering and meeting new families in the community. It really is like a family.
Communication and Organization:
Communication and Organization:
We are really well informed through our social media page, online and through text.
Overall Experience:
Overall Experience:
My favorite part of swim is being a part of the swimming community and interacting with other teams. We signed up for swim because being active in the summer was important to us as a family. For new swimmers I would say being a part of swim is about improving yourself, not anyone else!
Value:
Value:
Swim team is special because of the support not only the swimmers give to each other but the parents give to not only their swimmer but all swimmers from the bigs to the littles!
Our Swim Team Experience: The Petersen Family
Our Swim Team Experience: The Petersen Family
March 28, 2025
Parent: Ashley Petersen
Years Involved in Swim Team: 2 years
Benefits for Children:
Benefits for Children:
My son especially was lacking confidence immensely when he first started. Crowds terrified him and he never wanted anyone to look at him. Swim team has helped ease those fears and when he is swimming, you can see his confidence beaming through! It’s amazing to see. He was a decent swimmer to begin with but has improved so much in just two years. Socially he would struggle at times to make friends. Swim team has given him a community of people to have fun with but to also work harder with. My daughter is nervous in the water, and she too has improved so much. Amber is the most patient coach ever but also has a way of pushing the kids to their true potentials. I couldn’t be more appreciative of what being a part of swim team has brought out in my kids!
Team & Community:
Team & Community:
Their patience. They don’t scream and yell at the kids. They have a way of getting kids to push themselves, improve their technique and try harder without screaming at them. The swim team community is very welcoming and always cheering on everyone’s kids. I would 10/10 recommend Harlan Swim Team to all families to not only improve the potentially life saving skill of swimming but also to help teach their kids life long skills of socialization, confidence, hard work, and being part of a team.
Communication and Organization:
Communication and Organization:
If in doubt, try it out! Kids can be timid about it at first, but usually love it! Amber is a great person and coach, we are very lucky.
Overall Experience:
Overall Experience:
Not only does swim team teach you how to improve swimming, but many other life skills as mentioned before. Of course they value hard work and winning but their top priority is always helping the kids to be the best they can be individually as well as together as a team.
Our swim team Experience: The taylor family
Our swim team Experience: The taylor family
March 27, 2025
Parent: Allison Taylor
Years Involved in Swim Team: 3 years
Benefits for Children:
Benefits for Children:
Swim team is a great way for my kids to stay in shape during the summer. They love being and to see their friends. They were always strong swimmers but have so much more confidence in the water now.
Team & Community:
Team & Community:
You can see how much the coaches truly care and want to be there to help the kids get better. It is such a great team atmosphere with everyone cheering each other on.
If you are looking for your kids to be part of a positive community and team atmosphere, swim team is the sport for your kids!
Communication and Organization:
Communication and Organization:
I have always been impressed with the communication from coaches. I love that we get the schedule well in advance.
Overall Experience:
Overall Experience:
I love the team atmosphere and the friendships our whole family has built. My advice would be to just join!!! Give it a try!
Meet the Coach: Amber Schmitz
Meet the Coach: Amber Schmitz
March 26, 2025
🤝 Meet the coach! 🔴⚫️⚪️
Head coach: Amber Schmitz
Years Involved in Swim Team: Several!
Amber's Philosophy:
Benefits for Children:
Benefits for Children:
Once your child does swim team, you'll feel so much better about having them around water. It is also a great workout and a way for kids to get some of that excess energy out! Swim team really teaches students to get the feel for the water and swim efficiently.
Team & Community:
Team & Community:
Swim team is a really unique in that students from kindergarten to seniors in high school are on the same team and competing at the same meets. This creates a fun dynamic and opportunity for older students to support and mentor other swimmers. Harlan Summer Swim Team is just fun, competitive, and supportive!
Communication and Organization:
Communication and Organization:
The team is well-organized, and it takes many volunteers to make a meet run. Thankfully, parents have been willing to help out to make the meets run smoothly.
Overall Experience:
Overall Experience:
My favorite part about swim team is getting to know the swimmers and watching them improve in their technique, strength, and swimming endurance.
Value:
Value:
For a sport that is a skill you'll use for the rest of your life, I believe swim team is a bargain and every kid should do it for a minimum of a season or two!
I'm looking forward to the upcoming season and having fun developing the swimmers we have in the Harlan area!
Amber Schmitz to Coach Harlan Swim Team in 2025
Amber Schmitz to Coach Harlan Swim Team in 2025
March, 15, 2025
We are happy to announce that Amber Schmitz will be our head coach for the 2025 Summer Swim Team season!
Amber has many years of swimming experience. She was a former Harlan Summer Swim Team swimmer as a child, swam in high school for the Harlan Community and Lewis Central swim teams, coached the Harlan Summer Swim Team for 2 years in high school and college, and has served on the Harlan Swim Team board for seven years.
Amber has been the head coach of the Harlan Swim Club winter team since its formation in 2017.
We are looking for a few assistant coaches to help with our team and join Amber on our coaching staff. We are accepting applications for assistant coaches through March 31st. Apply here.
6/7 Meet Canceled
6/7 Meet Canceled
June 7, 2023
NO MEET TONIGHT: Due to a mechanical problem at our pool, the pool is closed today we have to cancel our meet tonight. Coach will follow up with reschedule details and an update on practice plans for the rest of the week!
First meet is June 7th! Sign your swimmer up!
First meet is June 7th! Sign your swimmer up!
June 2, 2023
Hello!
Great job today at time trials! Results are posted here. Keep in mind time trials are solely a starting point for coaches to know where swimmers are at and a baseline for swimmers to compare to at the end of the season. We look forward to everyone working hard and improving over the season.
The first meet is at home on Wednesday, June 7th vs. Missouri Valley. Coaches will need to know if your swimmer is attending or not. You will need to let coaches know by the end of the day on Monday! Here's how you do that:
Go to www.harlanswimteam.com
Click on Swim Portal
Login with the same information you registered your child with
Click View Meets
Mark if attending or not. Make sure you save your selection. (if you need help, email the coaches at harlaniaswimteam@gmail.com or text coach Aurora at 712-579-6835)
If you don't mark that you are attending, we will assume that you are not going to be there!
This is the same process for EVERY MEET. It seems like a lot of work at first, but it is a very efficient way to make sure we know who is coming or not, which makes the meets run more efficiently and gets everyone home earlier on meet nights!
We will also need volunteers since this is a home meet! Please sign up using this link:
https://vmodcui.active.com/volunteer/jobs?eventGroupId=2590732
Reminder that all swimmer families must volunteer 3 times to fulfill your volunteer requirement!
As a reminder, if you have information to communicate, please email coaches at harlaniaswimteam@gmail.com or text to 712-579-6835. Social media is not always monitored.
Thanks!
Harlan Swim Team
Time TRIALS AND PICTURES!
Time TRIALS AND PICTURES!
June 1, 2023
Hello everyone!
Yesterday and today, kids were given picture forms for tomorrow, Friday June 2nd. At 10:30am we will have pictures taken for the team and following pictures will be time trials. No one is required to get pictures, however, we would like to have all of the team present for the team photo. Of course, not everyone will be able to make it, but we need to get pictures and time trials done ASAP.
Time trials is our mini meet against ourselves. It is a way for the swimmers to have a starting time in the season. We will have each swimmer swim each stroke against their age group. The times and standings will be beneficial for the future meets to come.
It has been a fun couple of days of practice! We are excited to see how they will start the season and compare it to the end of the season!
Reach out if you have any questions!
Thank you!
Coach Aurora
Harlan Summer Swim Team Coaches Letter; Practice starts May 30th!
Harlan Summer Swim Team Coaches Letter; Practice starts May 30th!
May 22, 2023
Hello everyone!
Thank you for registering for the Harlan Summer Swim Team! We are excited to have returning families and new faces! Our season kicks off on Tuesday, May 30th. We will begin practice at 10:30 am for swimmers 11 and older, however, I would love for everyone to be there at 10:10am. I would like to show everyone how to help set up for practice and introduce our coaching staff! Swimmers 10 an Under will start at 11:45 (please arrive by 11:35).
Here are a few items I'd like to address as we get ready to start our season:
Volunteering
Volunteering
Parents are encouraged to help at swim meets because meets won’t run as smoothly without them. Volunteering includes: timing, watching camp, bringing waters, etc. Volunteering at least 3 times will allow you to receive your deposit back. More information will be sent out soon!
Swimsuits
Swimsuits
Girls will have competitive one-piece swimsuits. Boys will have competitive swim trunks (jammers). We do not have team suits, nor a special place to order from. If you have questions, please ask and I can help direct you to the right place. Swimoutlet.com and Amazon carry good suits. Sporti, TYR, Speedo are good brands to consider, among others. Goggles are great to have and if you have longer hair, you may want to consider a swim cap. The team has goggles and caps that can be purchased the first week of practice. Essentially, swimmers need a suit, but these other items will help them be more comfortable and competitive in the water!
Attendance
Attendance
Summer is time for fun and games! I completely understand that we all have a lot going on in the summer. Communication is key!! Please text me if your child will be missing from practice. The only way to get better is to show up and try hard!
Meets
Meets
Meets are not required, however, they are a great way to show off your children’s skills and to have fun! The meet schedule can be found on the website at www.harlanswimteam.com. We currently will have 8 meets this year. We will have families declare if their children are able to make it to the meet two days before the meet. Then the coaches will decide what your children will swim for that meet. The conference meet at the end of the year on July 8th is our "big" meet. To be eligible for the conference meet, swimmers must attend a minimum of TWO regular season meets and be chosen by coaches for conference. We have relay teams to fill and events for all age groups, so work hard to earn a spot at the conference meet and mark July 8th on your calendar! Harlan is the conference meet host this year!
Apparel
Apparel
We have extended our order cut-off! The deadline is now Sunday, May 28th. There is a customizable option for those who want it! No apparel is required, but it’s fun to have gear! Here is the link to the store: https://cishirts.com/shop/stores/harlan-swim-2023
Thank you again for joining the team this year! We can’t wait for the season to start! If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to text or email me!
If you have any friends looking to join the swim team, encourage them to sign up! It's not too late - we will be accepting registrations until the first week of practice.
Thank you!
Aurora Miller
(712) 579-6835
rory32m@gmail.com or harlaniaswimteam@gmail.com
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