Hey there Marlins!

My apologies for the long message, but I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone affiliated with the Muirfield Marlins swim team. This is very difficult for me to convey, but unfortunately my time with the Marlins is coming to an end.  My daughter turns 16 in June and she’s becoming increasingly active in the Parkway Swim Club, Francis Howell HS varsity swim team, and is seeking her first job which is leaving very little time for summer swim.  Nothing stops the hands of time, so unfortunately, she had to make a difficult decision.

I reached out to Muirfield about signing up my daughter on April 2, 2015.  It’s unbelievable how time flies, and since I don’t live in the subdivision, I offered to do any volunteer work if it would help get Emma on the team!  They took me at my word, and we’ve enjoyed being a part of the team ever since.  I doubt that many know, but long ago I competed in this league (swimmer/coach) and was later a Head Coach and League Rep for the YMCA Sunnybrook Pool.  I was also a pool manager, Lifeguard, Lifeguard Instructor Trainer, SCUBA Instructor, and a member of an underwater rescue and recovery team.  Needless to say, aquatics were my life back then!  Getting back involved in summer swim was like being able to relive some of the fun parts of my high school/college days and it was fantastic!

One goal that I set when I decided to get very involved, was to leave the program in better shape than when we joined.  It was great when we got here, but I think we made it even better.  Apparently, word got out that the kids were having fun and we ran a relatively well-organized team.  I hope the kids enjoyed themselves and ultimately that’s what summer swim is all about.  The hours were long at times for those of us that worked behind the scenes, but I always appreciated seeing all the kids having fun and enjoying the results of their work at practices.

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed writing the meet summaries and highlighting some of our swimmer’s accomplishments.  Often, I heard from parents about how happy their kids were to see their names on my meet result summaries.  Setting swim team records was another (seemingly) common event that I really enjoyed reporting on.  I’ve enjoyed seeing a lot of Marlins compete at swim meets and cheering them on at YMCA, High School, and USA Swimming events.  I’d like to think that the Marlins have encouraged some kids to complete outside of summer swim that may not have otherwise.  This too, was a goal of mine.

My time as a volunteer with the Marlins may be closing, but we’re not moving anywhere.  I’ve offered to help Libbi, Krista, and Glenda get started so you may yet see me around a time or two this season.  We live near Towers/Dingledine so if you see me or my family in the area please don’t be a stranger!  I want to wish each family the best of success, health, and happiness & best of luck to the Muirfield Marlins!

GO MARLINS!!!

Dave Bostelmann

Muirfield Marlins - parent volunteer (Retired)

[email protected]

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