Registration Details:

• February 1: Registration opens for past swimmers

• February 15: Registration opens for new swimmers

The Bethlehem Tides Swim Team was formed to provide a fun and safe environment where kids can swim, improve their skills, and participate at a variety of levels. The team's aims to provide a competitive swimming program for children and youth in the City of Bethlehem and surrounding areas and to advance interest and access to swimming and aquatic-related programs and activities. According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1-4 and the second leading cause for children 5-14, which underscores the importance of swimming skills and water safety.

"We are excited to launch the Bethlehem Tides Swim Team for the second year this summer and to offer more opportunities for children in our community to participate in competitive swimming," said Sara Collins, President of Bethlehem Aquatic Club and coach of the Bethlehem Tides. "Our first season was fantastic—far exceeding our expectations. We had more than double the swimmers we expected, with 94 participants, and won 4 out of 8 meets. We were able to take swimmers who had never swam before and turn them into confident swimmers, helping them have the best summers of their lives at Memorial Pool."

Highlights of the Previous Season:

• Meets Won: Our swimmers secured victories in 4 out of 8 meets, showcasing their determination and teamwork.

• Championship Meet Success: Achieved a commendable 5th place with several of our swimmers in the top three performances. 

• Parent Perspective: "The Bethlehem Tides is more than just a summer swim program—it's a welcoming, inclusive community that empowers children of all skill levels to thrive in the sport of swimming. With a dedicated coaching staff that meets each athlete where they are, the program focuses on developing each swimmer's unique abilities. My daughter has competed for eight seasons, but under the guidance of these skilled, relationship-driven coaches, she achieved remarkable progress in her strokes, starts, and turns—growth unlike anything we had seen in previous seasons. She looked forward to every swim practice, dryland training, or swim meet. The memories she created with the Bethlehem Tides will undoubtedly stay with her for a lifetime, shaping her love for swimming and the friendships she built along the way," said Jennifer DeBalko.

• Swimmer's Experience: "The coaches make swimming FUN! My favorite memory of summer swim was in playing all the games the coaches set up for us and all the friends I made," said Amelia, a 9-10 year old swimmer.

This season, we are committed to growing our team with a focus on diversity and inclusion, ensuring that children from all backgrounds have the opportunity to participate.

Key Initiatives:

• Dedicated Dryland Training Program: Led by Samantha Miller, focusing on bodyweight exercises and running.

• Leadership Skills and Character Development

• Scholarships: Available for those in need.

• Fun and Engaging Themes: Home meet themes included Hawaiian, Olympics, Happy Birthday America, and Neon Nights. Friday Fundays featured Disney Musicals, Beach, Chutes and Ladders, and more, along with snacks and celebrity guest coaches.

The Bethlehem Tides Swim Team will be coached by Sara Collins, Jamie Bloss, and Alexa Kutch, who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the program.

"Our coaching staff is dedicated to providing a fun and safe environment for swimmers of all levels," said Jamie Bloss, one of the team's coaches. "We believe that competitive swimming is the best way to spend your summer, and we are excited to help our swimmers reach their full potential."

"We are thrilled to support the Bethlehem Tides Swim Team again this year and help them provide opportunities for children in our community to participate in this program," said Jodi Evans, Director of Recreation for the City of Bethlehem. "We believe that access to swimming provides life-saving skills and that this program will have a positive impact on the lives of all those who participate."

The Bethlehem Tides Swim Team is a program of Bethlehem Aquatic Club, which was established in 1974 by Bill and Sherry Ruth, both former Physical Education teachers in the Bethlehem Area School District. Bethlehem Aquatic Club is being re-launched this summer, 50 years after its initial beginnings. The Tides are providing the only competitive swim team in the City of Bethlehem.

For more information about the Bethlehem Tides Swim Team, please visit the Bethlehem Tides website or follow them on Instagram @tidesswimteam.

Media Assets: High-resolution images from the previous season, provided by Adam Hoff