Goals of the Mazo Barracuda Swim Team are to:
- Offer a local summer recreational swim team for kids to improve swim techniques and provide a fun, social, and competitive sport for kids ages 5-18.
- Encourage the development of physical fitness, self-confidence, and self-discipline through team practices and competition in swim meets.
- Promote good sportsmanship and camaraderie.
- And, encourage each swimmer to always give their best effort and strive for personal improvement.
Barracuda Team History
Thirty-one Mazomanie boys and girls competed against each other in twenty-seven events at the Mazo Swim Team's very first meet held on July 18, 1970. The new pool, completed just one year earlier, was the place to be for Mazomanie kids that summer, and pool manager Doug Vance assisted by Hiya Trager and Lynn Gegan, organized the meets and coached the swimmers on a volunteer basis. Both Mt. Horeb and Cross Plains fell to the victorious Mazo team in its first season.
The team's first paid coach, Dorian Ring, came on board in 1972 and led Mazo swimmers to at least four victories. It seems that the rules at that time did not limit the number of events a competitor could swim. According to a News-Sickle-Arrow account, two boys were allowed to swim on the girls' 10 & under relay team and also on the boys' 10 & under team.
The first swimathon, called a "Swimeron Swimerama", was organized in 1972 to buy new pool equipment. The event was successful that year and even more successful in 1973 when, led by Tony Walker with a total of $120, the team earned a total of $1200.
At the first Tri-County Conference Championship Meet, held in Middleton on August 11, 1973, the Mazomanie Swim Team placed 3rd. Scores of that first conference meet were: Middleton-204, Sauk Prairie-182, Mazomanie-153, Evansville-104, Cross Plains-77.5 and Sun Prairie-66.5
The information for this little bit of history was taken from past issues of the News- Sickle-Arrow, researched by local historian Virgil Matz.
