Sharks History 
 
Lakeside's swim team, The Sharks, dates back to the mid 1970's, and has been a part of the Bayou Swim League since 1976. At that time, the league consisted of neighborhood teams from Lakeside, Walnut Bend, Briargrove, Briargrove Park and Westchester. In 1994 due to a declining number of swimmers from Lakeside and Walnut Bend neighborhoods, those two teams joined forces and became one team now known as The Sharks.
Cathy Hollowell, who has been president of the league, a team rep, and a referee while her daughter and then grandson swam for the team, was instrumental in the formation of The Sharks. Cathy said that she and Onie Swanson (Plummer) worked it all out one day in the Walnut Bend restroom, "Walnut Bend had about 60 swimmers and Lakeside had 34. Lakeside's strength was that we had all big kids and Walnut Bend had quite a few also. At individual meets where we had such strong swimmers. We had wonderful kids but we were always coming in third and fourth at Championships. We got our heads together one day and worked it out."
 
Today the Bayou Swim League consists of The Sharks, the Briargrove Park Stars (Briar Forest / BW8), The Briar Flyers (Briar Village Westheimer / highway 6) and the Westchester Dolphins (Memorial / Dairy Ashford).  The Sharks are sponsored by gracious families, businesses, and organizations around our area, one being our own Lakeside Civic Association.
 
Our coaches are typically former Sharks that have grown up, and are strong in the fundamentals, stroke mechanics and technique.
 
Getting involved to swim
 
 
The Sharks have swimmers as young as 3 and 4 years old, all the way up to 17 years as of June 1. You need not be proficient in all of the strokes. The only requirement is that a child be able to "freestyle" across the pool (25 yards) in under 2 minutes before the first meet in June.
 
The fee for joining the swim team is $100 for the first child and $75 for each additional child. The cost primarily covers coaching fees, trophies, awards, and swim meet entry fees and includes a team t-shirt. Each family donates some time whether timing, judging, auditing, selling concessions, operating the computer, etc.
There is a hotdog night on Thursdays after practice at the Lakeside clubhouse where the whole neighborhood is invited. The team provides hotdogs and everyone brings a dish to share.
 
Please see the contact page to get in touch with a Sharks representative! 
You can also visit the Shark's web page for more information:
http://www.sharksswimteam.com/