The Bethlehem Tides summer swim team opened its season in the Suburban Swim League of the Lehigh Valley against Soleco on June 13 at Memorial Pool.

“The kids had a blast,” said Tides head coach Sara Collins. “Everything went perfectly.”

Although Soleco came out on top, 353-221, it didn’t take away from the excitement of the Tides’ first meet as a new team in the Lehigh Valley.

First-place finishers for the Tides in the order of events were Nikhil Bonilla in the Boys 13-14 50 freestyle (55.19), AJ Black in the Boys 15 & Over 50 free (26.79), the Boys 10 & Under 100 medley relay team of Lincoln Silvoy, Joseph Black, James Krakowski, and Frederick Shang (1:26.90), the Girls 11-12 100 medley relay team of Lena Blazure, Alexandra Yerk, Lele Waldman, and Camila Wilson (1:07.81), and the Boys 11-12 100 medley relay team of Bradley Bobsein, Theo Collins, Nate Krakowski, and Nolan Samson (1:23.01).

Amelia DeBalko in the Girls 9-10 25 breaststroke (25.53), Joseph Black in the Boys 9-10 25 breast (19.19), Alexandra Yerk in the Girls 11-12 50 breast (40.45), Theo Collins in the Boys 11-12 50 breast (46.22), Darren Nguyen in the Boys 13-14 50 breast (38.08), AJ Black in the Boys 15 & Over 50 breast (32.10), Lele Waldman in the Girls 12 & Under 100 IM (1:23.03), Theo Collins in the Boys 12 & Under 100 IM (1:34.96), and AJ Black in the Boys 15 & Over 100 IM (1:13.95).

Joseph Black in the Boys 9-10 25 butterfly (18.50), Lena Blazure in the Girls 11-12 fly (36.58), Logan Lech in the Boys 11-12 50 fly (49.59), Abigail Yerk in the Girls 9-10 25 backstroke (23.10), James Krakowski in the Boys 9-10 25 back (21.39), Lena Blazure in the Girls 11-12 50 back (37.54), Logan Lech in the Boys 11-12 back (46.85), Amelia DeBalko in the Girls 9-10 25 free (18.09), Joseph Black in the Boys 9-10 25 free (15.84), Alexandra Yerk in the Girls 11-12 50 free (31.77), Theo Collins in the Boys 11-12 50 free (35.25), and Darren Nguyen in the Boys 13-14 100 free (1:03.94).

“A lot of age groups have 15 swimmers, and we tried to keep the total under 100 kids for the first season so that everyone has a good experience,” Collins said.

AJ Black, who recently graduated from Freedom and will continue his academic and swimming career at Susquehanna University, has taken on the role as a kind of team captain for the Tides, which has been a huge help to Collins and her staff.

In addition to weekday morning practices, the Tides offer Tuesday and Wednesday evening and Saturday morning practices to accommodate the needs of different family situations.

“Our strength and conditioning coach Samantha Miller runs with the kids and does circuit training and stretching prior to the kids getting in the water,” said Collins. “John Waldman, a former internationally-ranked swimmer is doing clinics with us to teach our middlers how to be teachers of the sport and help the little ones.”

Collins added that all of the Tides’ equipment, gear, and scholarships were paid for through private fundraising. Their top three donors are the Knicos Foundation in honor of Dr. Darren Traub of St. Luke’s, Rodney and Diane Gigone, and the Dyson Family.

“The City has been so welcoming and supportive,” said Collins, who is looking forward to promoting the sport of competitive swimming in the City of Bethlehem and the surrounding area.