When coach Maria Fernandez returned to the YOSI (YMCA of Southwest) Seals swim team, it was hardly a surprise.
After all, it was the continuation of a family tradition.
Fernandez's father, the late John Fernandez, coached the team for more than 20 years. Maria started her second stint as head coach about a year ago.
"The team used to be known as the Belleville Flyers and I swam against them when I swam for the Edwardsville YMCA," Fernandez said. "I started coaching 17 years ago as an assistant with my dad and I was head coach for the last couple years that he was involved with it.
"I stopped for eight years while my daughter was in high school and now she's off to college and I needed something to do with myself. A couple years ago I mentioned to some of the swim team parents that I was thinking about getting back into coaching because I really love doing it.
"I work full-time as a nurse at St. Louis Children's Hospital, so I'm really busy and I told them I didn't think I could be the head coach. I was looking to be an assistant coach, but the stars aligned just right and it all worked out. We have some fabulous people on this team and they've all contributed to the team's success."
Assistant coaches for the Seals are Andrea Slaughter, Danielle Cooper, Jessica Marion and June Webb.
"Andrea and Danielle had been coaching on the team prior to me coming here and Danielle is a former (Seals) swimmer," Fernandez said. "Jessica was one of my swimmers when I coached here before and she actually started out with my father. June, who I just met this year, went to school in Connecticut and moved to this area looking for a teacher's position. She's not going to be returning next year because she's pursuing a career in nursing."
The Seals are a year-round team and compete in both YMCA and USA Swimming meets.
"We do the Y district championships and then the area meet in northern Illinois," Fernandez said. "We had six young men who went to the Y nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. This year I'd like to take anywhere from 10 to 20 kids to nationals."
The team has approximately 150 swimmers, ranging in age from 6 to 18.
"This year we're focusing on strength training," said Fernandez, who coached a summer swim team at Dorchester in Belleville for 10 years. "Not that we didn't train hard last season, but it was my first year and the kids needed a chance to get to know me."
The Seals practice at the East Belleville YMCA and the O'Fallon YMCA. During the summer, they do long course practices at the Belleville Public Pool.
"This summer we're working with the Monroe County Y for long course swimming," Fernandez said. "A lot of the kids are already on summer teams and they usually have meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
"We've had a great time and a lot of good experience going to the long course meets. The kids get exposed to the USA Swimming qualifying times (for the national meet)."
Most of the team's swimmers are from Belleville, O'Fallon and the Scott Air Force Base area.
"I also have a couple kids from Waterloo," Fernandez said. "When I was coaching with my dad, we had kids from Red Bud and Pinckneyville. I was amazed that people would make that drive five days a week."
Upcoming meets include the summer sectionals Wednesday through Saturday in Columbia, Mo., the Ozark Long Course Championships July 29-31 in Carbondale, the Central Zones 14 & Under Age Group Championships Aug. 5-7 in Topeka, Kan., and the Central Zone Senior Championships Aug. 4-7 in Franklin, Ind.
"In the winter, there were some months where we had a meet every weekend," Fernandez said. "That was a little crazy, so I don't think we're going to do that this year.
"We'll try to make sure we have a sufficient amount of YMCA meets versus USA Swimming meets. I like for the kids to get exposed to both.
"The team is a little top-heavy, which means I have a fair amount of older kids. I had three seniors last year who graduated - one went to Truman State University and two of them are going to SIU-Carbondale. I have three seniors this year and it's hard when you have to give them up."
For more information about the Seals, call the East Belleville YMCA at 236-9983 or the O'Fallon YMCA at 628-7701 or go to the team's Web site, which is www.yosiseals.org.
