While school is out for the summer, class is in session at the Sedona Community Pool for the Sedona Swordfish Swim Team, led this season by Sedona Red Rock High School alumni Carlos Lattanzi and incoming senior Colin Ledbetter — as well as Race Pace Club AZ, which has a greater focus on competition.

“It’s great to be back in Sedona,” Lattanzi said. “We’ve gotten more kids every year in Swordfish … it shows they had a good time and want to return. Seeing all the kids improve in swimming is the ultimate goal, and having fun while doing it… that’s what I love to see.”

Over the past few years, Lattanzi said the group that is only active during the summer has had steady growth. The team currently has around 15 to 20 swimmers, compared to 10 to 12 who regularly attended practices about two years ago.

This is Lattanzi’s third year with the program, in which he previously served as assistant coach before being promoted to head coach. He returned home to Sedona for the summer after completing his freshman year at California State University, Bakersfield, where he is majoring in kinesiology.

“There’s a lot of new things I’ve learned since enrolling,” at CSUB, Lattanzi said. “Because this is the first year I’ve had a consistent training schedule. I’ve learned with swimming that consistency is key. So practicing at the same time, waking up at the same time, it’s all super helpful, especially when training for competitions.”

The program is for ages 7 to 18 and the team is divided into two groups. One consists of swimmers who have some experience and are able to swim laps back and forth across the pool. The other group is made up of younger swimmers, typically ages 11 and younger, who are still learning swimming fundamentals. Coaches work with these younger swimmers on basic skills such as flip turns, diving and stroke techniques.

A typical Swordfish practice begins with a warm-up, followed by drills focused on technique and speed. Practices often end on a fun note with activities like diving.

“To be on the Swordfish it is required that you are able to swim a lap without having to grab the wall, stop completely, but you are able to just swim a full lap of swimming,” Lattanzi said. “Kids come in knowing how to swim a full lap, but I just teach them essentially how to properly, do it to the best of their abilities.”

The second session is $100 and the Swordfish gets underway on Monday, July 7, and runs until the start of August. The schedule is Mondays 6 to 8 p.m., and Wednesdays and Fridays 6:45 to 8:45 p.m.

For more information email sedonaswordfish@gmail.com or text (928) 254-8101 or visit the Facebook page “sedonaswimteam.”

Race Pace Club AZ

For more experienced swimmers looking for a year-round opportunity to hone their skills there is Race Pace AZ, which has participants from kindergarten “’til they go away to college,” Head Coach Jodi Thornton said.

While Race Pace AZ’s regular club offerings and its high school varsity development programs have already started, Thornton said that she’ll prorate for late sign-ups who are welcome to join.

The High School Development program costs $225 and runs until the end of August. Swimmers practice Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m., with a two-week break from Monday, July 28, through Sunday, Aug. 10.

“We work specifically on the events … racing starts, dives, basically we’re helping them to know what to be ready for in high school meets and improve their stroke, improve their technique,” Thornton said. “So they feel fully confident and ready to compete in the high school meets.”

The Beginner Swim Team costs $275 and focuses on learning the four competitive strokes. It runs through Friday, Aug. 29, with the same two-week break. Practices are Mondays from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.

“They should be able to swim one length of the pool, breathing to the side when doing the freestyle, and one length backstroke, which most of the kids that come out of the city’s swimming lessons are able to do no problem,” Thornton said.

The two clubs are also holding a beginner swim meet on Monday, June 30, at 4:30 p.m. at the Sedona Community Pool for the children to get their first official race times.

For more information visit sedonaracepace.com or contact (928) 713-4824 or racepaceclubaz@gmail.com.