Swimmers and families,
There WILL be a ONE-WAY bus for swimmers for anyone that needs a ride to Lamphere High school for your meets on May 5th and May 12th. The bus will depart Page MS at 4 pm, so be sure to either stay after school (going directly to the auditorium) or come back to Page by 3:50 to board the bus.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Coach Stephen Smith or Coach Matt Butka.

Swim families,
Just a reminder that for our TWO home meets this season (May 5th and May 12th), there will be NO BUS to take the swimmers to LHS. Athletes will need to find a way to get up to Lamphere High School by 5 pm for warm-ups on those dates.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Coach Stephen Smith (stephen.smith@lamphereschools.org).

Athlete- Grade
Alexander, Reagan- 6
Barichello, Makava- 6
Billock, Allie- 7
Boone, Myles- 6
Cavenaugh, Logan- 8
Cavenaugh, Ella- 7
Cooper, Brianna- 7
Fisher, Kaydence- 7
Fisher, Katelyn- 7
Fisher, Lucas- 8
Gagne Munoz, Alexis- 8
Grey, Jeremiah- 7
Grey, Madison- 7
Ho, Jimmy- 6
Johns, Zachary- 6
Kaufman, Erin- 8
Keeton, Carly- 7
Laster, Austin- 8
Lockridge, Al' Amirah- 7
McLarty, Isabella- 7
Medley, Sender- 7
Polito, Miles- 6
Pope, Avery- 8
Robinson, Lai'la- 8
Robinson, Katelynn- 6
Rudd, Cameron- 8
Schulte, Marissa- 8
Shalabi, Omar- 7
Tokarski, Carson- 6
Twymon, Abel- 6
Walters, Logan- 6
Williams, DaVonte- 6
Wyman, Carlyn- 8
Yakymets, Timeia- 7

Good Afternoon!

stephen.smith@lamphereschools.org
mattbutka62@gmail.com

2026 Page/Clawson Middle School Manatees Swim and Dive Club

Coaches Contact Information                       

Head Coach

Stephen Smith

E-mail: stephen.smith@lamphereschools.org

Assistant Coach:

Matt Butka

Email: MattButka62@gmail.com

Welcome to the 2025 Middle School Manatees Swim and Dive Club! Our focus is to improve and explore your child’s swimming skills as well as install a passion for swimming. We are also offering diving if your child is interested.

Practices Begin: Monday April 6th

Where: Lamphere High School

When:  3:30pm - 5:00pm, Monday-Thursday

Registration

Registration, physicals, paperwork should already be complete and on file with Big Teams. Any athlete that does NOT have a physical from THIS year turned in will not be allowed to participate. 

Goals: Have fun, teach and expand on skills and proper technique, teamwork and sense of community. We want to see your child flourish and continue on with the swim program through high school. High School volunteers from the Varsity swim team will be present to help coach and encourage your child as well as be a familiar face once your student goes on to high school. 

Daily Equipment Needed:

• at LEAST 2 pairs of goggles
• a swim cap for practice. Not required but highly recommended.
• competitive swimsuit – at least 1 blue swim suit for meets. I highly recommend having at least one other suit to also wear at practice (recreational swimwear such as 2 piece suits, loose fitting swim trunks, pictures or wording other than brand logos will NOT be permitted)
• water bottle
• towel

Swim Fee:

The Swim Club does have a small fee of $65 that is payable on the first day of practice. This will include a team shirt, team swim cap, and the end of the year pizza party. We highly recommend getting your child a team shirt and cap to help with inclusivity and comradery. This fee is payable via cash, or a check made payable to cash with the athlete’s name in the memo.

Communication/Parent-Swimmer Contact Information

Communication is key to any successful team. You can always reach me or any coach via cell or email. Last minute practice changes or urgent messages for the team will be relayed through the Heja app and/or emails directly from coaches. My cell phone number is at the top and I am available at any time if you need me.  

Each practice will begin with stretching and drylands to help with mobility and strength. This is a very important part of practice! Please give yourself plenty of time to get to practice, change, and be ready on deck.

Athletes are required to bring their own water and water bottles daily.  There are water bottle refill stations on the deck.  Athletes should not share water bottles. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of cramping. 

Arrival Time/Pick up - Swimmers are expected to be READY and ON DECK by the start of practice. As many students do depend on parents or others for rides to practice and schedules vary, please just send me a text or an email to let me know.  Note: No swimmer should ever enter the pool without the presence of a coach.  Practice will run until designated time.  Please allow approximately 15 minutes after to allow for a post-practice meeting and to get ready to leave. 

Policy for missing practices and meets

Swimmers are expected to be at all practices and all meets.  If a swimmer is unable to make a practice, one of the coaches should be notified prior to the practice start time.  If a swimmer is unable to make a meet, the coaches should be notified as soon as possible as an absent swimmer greatly affects the meet lineup. Failure to notify a coach with a viable reason for missing practice, not showing up to practice when at school all day, or any no-call/no-show will result in suspension of events and/or meets.  

School Comes First

Academics are a priority.  All students need to balance homework, class work, sports, clubs and non-school activities.  Should a student be struggling with schoolwork, please come talk to coaches.  Having an abundance of homework is no excuse for missing practice or meets without talking to coaches first. Athletes must maintain a MINIMUM of 5 passing classes to remain on the team. 

Cold Weather Rules

Michigan spring is unpredictable at best. Cold weather rules (any temperature under 75 degrees) require swimmers to come to and go from practice wearing some sort of long pants (sweatpants, warmup pants, etc.), long sleeve shirt or hoodie (sweatshirt, hoodie, long sleeve t-shirt, etc.), hat that covers the ears such as Beanie, stocking cap, hood from hoodie, coat, sweatshirt), and closed shoes or socks with sandals/Crocs.

Injuries and Concussions

Any injury or sickness should be reported to a coach immediately. Injuries are a part of sports and while we as coaches take every precaution to minimize injury, they do happen.  Should an injury occur during practice or a meet, we will make every attempt to notify a parent either via email or in person.  Additionally, we do have a trainer on site at Lamphere should the injury occur at practice. If a doctor removes an athlete from practice or competition, a doctor’s note shall be required to return.  A doctor’s note may be required at any time by coaches or school.

Any athlete who suffers a head injury shall be subject to concussion protocol.  Should the student be determined to have a concussion or concussion symptoms, they shall not be permitted to return to competition until released for all activity by a doctor.  There is a form that MUST be filled out by the doctor and given to the coaches before the return to competition.  If needed at any time, please let coaches know, and they shall get the forms for you.

Student Attendance: Day of Competition

Students who are absent from school are not to attend or participate in any school function, activity, or sports event, including practices, that day.  A student must attend a minimum of four classes in order to participate in any after-school or evening activity.  If you are absent for the whole day, please contact one of the coaches so we are aware and not looking for you at practice or meet time.

Transportation

One-way transportation for meets will be provided; the bus will leave from Lamphere High School. Please make sure that your athlete has a ride home from each meet. Timing for the bus will be released closer to the meet day(s). 

** John Page Middle School also provides a bus for the swimmers during the week to get to Lamphere High School for practices.

Team Photo – TBD at 3:30 at LHS

We will have a combined team photo and the option for individual photos to be taken. You are not required to purchase a team photo.  

Meets

Due to the timing of us new coaches coming in, we are still actively building the schedule, attempting to add another meet or 2. If any changes are made to the meet schedule, we will notify you as soon as possible. 

Etiquette 

• Always come prepared to practice and meets.

• During the National Anthem, everyone is expected to be lined at the edge of the pool, silent.  

• Support your teammates and cheer for everyone. 

• Stay with the team during the meet.  Stay out of the stands.

• When you finish a race or relay: It is very important that you stay in the water until every swimmer has finished their race. Offer a handshake or simply say "nice race" to the swimmer in the lane next to you.  Once you shake the hands of your opponents you may then exit the water.  We want to be known as a team that displays great sportsmanship. Don't show your displeasure on the deck. Rudeness and improper displays of emotion are not for us.

• Be respectful of parents, officials, coaches, and fellow swimmers on our team or others.

• A coach’s job is to help you reach your peak performance and do things you may not have thought you could do.  When we write practices and meet lineups we will not set you up for failure.  Have faith in our belief in you and your abilities!

• Come see your coaches after your race. Don't disappear on us.  

• Understand the importance of being punctual.  Be on time for every commitment. As the saying goes, If you aren’t early, you are late.  

• Remember it's not always about beating your opponent.  Anytime you swam your best time you did a great job!

• Confidence is essential for success, but hard work must be the foundation of that confidence.

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