The beginning of another summer marks the return of many community traditions, including the Columbia Neighborhood Swim League (CNSL).
CNSL is a summer swim league organized by the Columbia Aquatics Association. Born from a handful of teams organized to prepare swimmers for year-round swimming in 1970, CNSL has grown to be a city-wide staple of summer fun in Columbia. Today, across 14 neighborhood teams, the league is open to swimmers ages 18 and under. Staffs of coaches and volunteering managers come together to bring distinct character to each team.
One of CNSL’s most charming aspects is its balance of competition and fun.
Swimmers train throughout the week at practices and their hard work comes together at swim meets on Saturdays. Parents pile into the pool facility at the crack of dawn to secure spots for their tents while swimmers prepare for warm ups.
When warm ups are over, coaches gather their teams on opposing sides of the pool for cheers. Kids scream at the top of their lungs dressed from head to toe in their team colors with tutus, capes, and face paint to show their spirit.
When the cheers are over and the meet starts, the energy only rises. Music blasts on speakers while swimmers cheer for their teammates and eat signature treats from the concession stand. When the meet is over and the scores are added up, the teams gather again for appreciation cheers where they participate in the sportsmanship that sits at the heart of the league.
The excitement the teams bring to their pools each Saturday is hard to beat, bringing a unique experience to swimmers, coaches, and even parents.
Wilde Lake sophomore Perrin Nelson has been swimming for the Oakland Mills Tiger Sharks for about ten years now. “I mainly go because of the community,” he says. To Perrin, CNSL is “meant to be a way to hang around with friends.”
As of last year, in addition to being a swimmer, Perrin is also a coach for his team. The coaching role naturally adds an element of leadership to his involvement in the team. Perrin enjoys it just the same. He says, “Being on the deck, being able to cheer on swimmers, and encouraging sportsmanship is something I enjoy.”
Junior Ike Hughes is a swimmer on the Harper’s Choice Challenge and will be returning to the pool for another season this summer.
He says, “Being on the team is really fun. Everybody there already has something in common. We’re all trying to swim the fastest that we can, and being able to interact with people who have the same goal is really nice.”
Ike is just as focused on the competition as he is on the community. “My favorite part [of CNSL] is being able to see how much I can improve each year,” he says. “The coaches try to make practices fun while still helping you improve your swimming, and I think they meet the balance of competition and fun.”
If you find yourself at the pool a lot during the summer, consider joining your neighborhood swim team. There is no doubt that CNSL will make a splash for another exciting season this summer.