Splish, splash, get your goggles on and ready to go: the Grown-Up Swimming League is about to kick off its third season in the County.
The league started during the summer of 2023 with 186 swimmers participating. Last year that number grew to 384. And the league expanded its footprint into northern Virginia.
League Continues to Expand
Lauren Eldridge, the DMV League Director tells MCM registration for this summer already outpaces last year. The league has grown so much; it will hold meets at two different locations on the same day this summer. The County season starts this Sunday, June 8 at two Potomac Clubs, Inverness Recreation and Tallyho Swim & Tennis. The meets begin at 9 a.m., with warmups at 8 a.m.
The County has 12 teams so far and northern Virginia has 5. Grown-Up Swimming is open to adults 18 and older. Swimmers compete in their age groups. Participants range in age between 18 and 80 plus. There is no maximum or minimum team size. Neighbors or friends form teams. Swimmers not affiliated with a team can still join the league as a “free agent”.
Not Too Late to Join
It is still not too late to form a team. People can sign up by going to the ‘Form a Team’ page on the Grown-Up Swimming DMV website. Registration costs $75 per person which covers all meets for the season. Active U.S. Masters Swimming members can receive a $5 discount when they register.
The league has swimmers of all ability levels – people have never swum competitively before and even people who have not swum in a pool in more than 40 years.
“Grown-Up Swimming is all about having a good time and getting back into the fun side of swimming. While we do race and keep score, the goal is for everyone to enjoy themselves,” Eldridge said.
“Swimming is a great sport for both cardio and strength that can be practiced at all ages. It’s also low impact which allows those who can’t participate in high impact sports or activities to keep exercising,” Eldridge added.
Meet Schedule
After the season begins this Sunday, there will be 4 other contests including the championship meet on July 20. Eldridge told MCM while the league keeps track of scores for each meet; there are no standings during the season. When the championship meet is held, teams start from scratch. Any team participating can win it.
“The top 3 teams at the championship will receive a trophy. The first place team also receives championship towels for every swimmer,” Eldridge said.
Here is a list of the upcoming swim meets:
- Meet 1-June 8: Inverness Recreation Club, Potomac
Tallyho Swim & Tennis Club, Potomac
- Meet 2-June 15: Stratford Knolls Pool, Germantown
Rockshire Pool, Rockville
- Meet 3-June 29: Stratford Knolls Pool, Germantown
Tanterra Pool, Brookeville
- Meet 4-July 13: Rockshire Pool, Rockville
Somerset Pool, Bethesda
- Meet 5, Championship-July 20: Rockville Swim & Fitness Center, Rockville
Further Expansion
As for the future, Eldridge said Grown-Up Swimming may expand again and add a league in Baltimore. However, she said, if a Baltimore league forms, it would be fully separate from the DMV league and run by a different league director.
