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Mako Sharks Families,
As we officially wrap up the 2026 season, we want to take a moment to say thank you.
What an incredible season this was for the Massey Mako Sharks.
This team made huge strides forward this year, not just in numbers, but in
culture, effort, competitiveness, and community. We are extremely proud of what our swimmers,
families, coaches, and volunteers accomplished together.
This season, we finished 7th in the league, moving up from 9th place last year.
Even more exciting, our 10 & Under team finished just 7 points away from 6th place in the league,
which is a huge accomplishment and a strong glimpse of where this team is headed.
Updated Team Records
We are also excited to share the updated Massey Mako Sharks Team Records. This year,
our swimmers set a strong new standard across the board, with updated individual records
and relay records now reflected for the team.
These records represent the fastest official short course yards swims in team history and give our swimmers
something to chase moving forward.
Please see the updated team records below:
We are incredibly proud of the swimmers who earned a place on the board, and just as excited for the next
group of Mako Sharks who will be chasing those records in the years ahead.
Our growth this year was remarkable.
Last season, we had around 80 active swimmers competing regularly. This season, while we
rostered about 155 swimmers, we consistently had 130+ swimmers attending each meet.
That kind of participation is incredible and speaks volumes about the commitment of our families and the enthusiasm
of our swimmers.
Looking ahead, we believe we could realistically reach 200 swimmers next season.
That growth is exciting, but it will also come with new challenges. As we begin thinking about 2027,
we want to make sure we continue growing in a way that keeps the Mako Sharks
organized, fun, competitive, and true to the culture we have worked so hard to build.
We Want Your Feedback
We would genuinely love your feedback: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
- What worked well this season?
- What could be improved?
- What challenges did your family experience?
- What ideas do you have for next year?
Please feel free to email us or share feedback however you are comfortable. Your input matters,
and hearing from our families helps us build a better team.
We also want to thank our amazing sponsors. Their support helped make so much of this season
possible, and we are incredibly grateful for their investment in our team.
And yes, we already have big things planned for next season.
BLOCKS!!! đź‘€
Parent Leadership and Support
As we grow, we are also going to need more parents who are willing to step into
leadership and support roles.
We want to be intentional about building a strong team behind the team. We never want any one
leader, coach, or volunteer carrying everything alone or feeling like they are out on an island.
Next season, we will especially need more parent support in areas like:
- Event planning
- Sponsorship outreach
- Volunteer coordination
- Meet operations
- Team communications
- General board and leadership support
If that sounds like something you may be interested in, please let us know.
This is not a full commitment right now. We are simply starting a list of parents who may want
to get more involved in helping shape the future of the Mako Sharks.
What Comes Next for Your Swimmer?
We also know that many families may be wondering what comes next for their swimmer after the summer season.
Summer league is a great foundation, and for some swimmers, it may be exactly what they need. For others, this
season may have sparked an interest in continuing to swim beyond the summer.
There are a few different options depending on your swimmer’s interest level, experience, and family schedule.
YMCA Options
For families looking for a lower time commitment after summer league, the
Fort Mill YMCA Tiger Sharks may be a good next step. Tiger Sharks is a recreational YMCA swim team
and gives swimmers a chance to continue improving, compete, and stay connected to the sport without jumping into
a major year-round commitment.
For swimmers who are ready for more structure and skill development, Mini Rays
may be a good bridge program. Mini Rays can help swimmers continue developing before moving into a more competitive
year-round team environment.
For swimmers who are ready for a more committed YMCA competitive program, Rays
may be the next step. Rays involves more training, more instruction, and a higher level of commitment than Mini Rays.
If you are interested in any of the YMCA options, including Tiger Sharks, Mini Rays, or Rays,
please reach out to Kendall Richards at
[email protected].
Club Swimming Options
For families who are fully committed to year-round swimming, there are also club programs in the area, including
MSA and SwimMAC Carolina. These programs are more involved and typically require a larger commitment
in terms of training, competing, and some travel.
If you are considering MSA or SwimMAC Carolina, please reach out to
Nick Brunelli at [email protected].
I would be happy to talk you through the process, what to expect, and what may be the best fit for your swimmer
and your family.
A Simple Example of the Progression
I also want to share my own swimming path as a simple example of how this progression can work.
I started in a program similar to Tiger Sharks during the summer, then transitioned into a YMCA program for about
a year and a half when I was around 7 and 8 years old. Right before I turned 10,
I moved to a local club team, and that is when I really began to understand what a full commitment to the sport
looked like. Training six days a week, competing more often, and being surrounded by swimmers
with similar goals helped me take a major step forward.
From that point on, I was part of a club team through high school and into college.
That does not mean every swimmer needs to follow that same path.
Every child develops differently, and every family has different time commitments. But if your
swimmer is showing interest, improving quickly, or asking for more, there are real next steps available beyond
summer league. We are happy to help families think through what option may make the most sense.
Thank you again for making this season so special.
We truly could not have done this without our swimmers, families, volunteers, and sponsors.
What we are building at Massey is something special, and we are excited about where this team is headed.
See you next season!
Coach Nick, Coach Laura, and Coach Kendall
Massey Mako Sharks
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