Making a Splash

How the Bellevue Club Swim Team “pivoted and adapted” to the 2020 season.

Team sports look a little different this year, but the Bellevue Club Swim Team [BCST] found a way to persevere, giving roughly 300 student-athletes the opportunity to train and compete during this challenging time.

The second swim meet of the season begins today, Friday, October 23, and, per government regulations, BCST athletes will race in limited, strictly monitored groups over the span of three days. After, they will submit their times to USA Swimming to see how they fared against other teams around the country.

“These are official times and count for the kids, which is huge for us to be able to do until racing restrictions change,” says Head Coach Andrew Nguyen. In the past, BCST has sent dozens of swimmers to Olympic Trials and collegiate teams, and getting official race times helps to continue to give swimmers the same opportunities.

However, Nguyen says the benefits of keeping the program running go far beyond getting best times.

“Even just the ability to practice has given these kids a much-needed sense of normalcy,” he says. “It offers them structure; they know they can always count on coming to practice and look forward to competing.”

Nguyen says they could have not have organized the meets without the support from the BCST Boosters, who recently provided a heated outdoor tent for the athletes to train in safely within regulations.

“In mid-June, we resumed dry-land training outdoors to help keep the kids properly spaced out. When the weather started to turn, we needed a safe solution. The Boosters supported the option for a tent,” Nguyen says. “Honestly, it means a lot to me and to the team. We are very fortunate to have the backing of the Bellevue Club and the Bellevue Club Swim Team Boosters.”

Follow BCST athletes and the results of the meet on Instagram @bellevueclubswim.