Throughout much of the summer youth swimmers ages 7 to 14 made waves as they improved their skills at Treadwell Park with the Newtown Parks and Recreation-sponsored Torpedoes Swim Team. They practiced and had fun for an hour and a half each weekday evening for a month — providing a nice cool-down opportunity during the hot days and evenings when temperatures were regularly in the 80s and 90s.

Led by Connor Negri, along with student-athlete coaches, the program teaches freestyle, butterfly, breaststroke, and backstroke. Swimmers are broken into groups/lanes and get a jump on the competitive indoor season just around the corner.

“We also practice our starting dives, our turns on the wall, and our finishes at the wall,” said Negri, who oversees the program to make sure coaches are covering the required skills and engaging with the swimmers efficiently and effectively.

Although it is a big part, the program is not exclusively about learning and improving skills in the water.

“Our Summer Torpedoes focus on fun,” Negri noted. “Coaches mix in fun games during practice and have swimmers play competitive swimming games, enjoy free swim, and they get to jump off our diving boards at the end of every practice.”

Most of this summer’s coaches were Newtown High School graduates, with the exception of Sierra Marx, who will swim for the Nighthawks again this fall.

“It’s really nice being able to apply my knowledge and seeing them improve. I love seeing them excited to swim at practice and having fun throughout the summer,” Marx said.

Former Nighthawk swimmer Collin Granville, who also coaches at volleyball and flag football camps, used to participate in each of these summer programs so he enjoys the link to his past. “It’s nostalgic for me because I did a lot of this as a kid — it’s a throwback for me,” Granville said.

As much as the program is for the participants it provides a great chance for the coaches to learn skills as well.

“All of our coaches are certified lifeguards for Parks and Recreation and swam competitively in high school. This is a unique opportunity for our swim coaches to share their skills and swimming knowledge, helping swimmers develop and gain confidence in the water,” Negri said. “Being swim coaches also helps sharpen their leadership skills, communication, planning and motivational skills.”

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.