Sep 08, 2010
Friendswood families love F.A.S.T.
July 27,2010
FRIENDSWOOD — When you have six kids, one thing is for sure, things are never simple. Talking with father of six David Otto about the schedule that he keeps shuffling his five kids around to various sporting activities with four-year-old Jeffery in tow, is enough to make anyone’s head spin.
One day consists of: conditioning class for both of the older boys, basketball practice for both the girls, cross country for his oldest son and swim practice for all. With his days spent running all over town when he gets to swim practice he can finally relax, “it’s two hours at one pool and everyone gets to practice!”
What other sport can you get kids aged 6 to 18 all to their practices in a two hour block at one location? Even better, in one Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. all of your children get to each swim several events in a swim meet.
As a mother of six Juanita Ruffeno commented, “Throughout the year, we conquer and divide to watch our children participate in their sports. Mom goes one place, Dad goes the other. Swimming in FAST gives us both the opportunity to watch our children participate in something they can all do and enjoy!"
And the best part of all?
“There are no bench warmers, every child is successful!” says Beth Ryan mother of five swimmers aged 7 to 14 yrs. “It’s all about being together as a family, the younger children have something in common with the older ones."
Heidi Serage mother to four swimmers agrees, “There’s a lot of family unity at the meets, everyone is cheering for each other!”
A FAST swim meet is a big event for all families especially a family with six kids like the Ottos. After setting up his shade tent at 6:00 a.m. at the Friendswood city pool, Mr. Otto goes home to pick up his family and bring them back to the pool and check in with the coaches for the 19 events that his five kids will be swimming.
“It’s a challenge making sure they all get to their events on time, my wife and I use cell phones constantly to communicate where everyone needs to be," Otto said. “When I do get a chance to sit down I feel like I’m missing something. But it’s one 5-6 hour event where everyone is together. Everyone in our family enjoys it, they are all happy, and that’s what it’s all about.”
The McHenry family’s four children have been involved with FAST for seven years.
“Every summer we look forward to FAST," Dawn McHenry said. "Each of our children started as soon as they could swim 25 yards! Each one of them has come such a long way. The coaches are a great inspiration to all the kids in the community and they encourage each swimmer to do their best.
"It is always a wonderful, fun, family sport that we can all enjoy together. We enjoy going to all the meets with many families and spending time with our very close friends. We recommend it to everyone!"
It is no wonder that FAST is a very popular summer activity for Friendswood families. There are 213 Friendswood families who participate. Eight of these families have four or more swimmers, nineteen families have three or more siblings swimming and 102 families have two siblings swimming for a grand total of 364 total swimmers.
FAST is a well-organized, established group that runs on volunteers and utilizes high school talent for coaches It’s intense swimming that only lasts 2 ½ months, but it is the highlight of everyone who participates -- including mom and dad.