(Article/photos submitted by Tina Vu and Ed Woo)
The SFRP (San Francisco Recreation and Park) Rossi Manta Rays Swim Team was established in 1990 by three swimmers, Michael Wong, Gregorio Edmisten, and Phong Pham, who swam competitively during their high school years and practiced at San Francisco Recreation and Park (SFRP) pools. Their excitement and enthusiasm about the sport resulted in the formation of this team located at the Rossi Pool at Arguello and Anza. All three of them, along with help from friends, devoted many long hours to creating the team, recruiting new swimmers, and sharing their expertise by coaching beginning swimmers into competitive swimmers. Their efforts have been rewarded 21+ years later with a non-profit swim team which is now considered one of the most successful in San Francisco.
Currently, our membership consists of about 80-100 year-round swim team members and continues to be lead by Michael Wong, our head coach. We have an additional 2 assistant age group coaches along with a parent-based Board of Directors. Our swimmers compete in year-round sanctioned Pacific Swimming meets. Pacific Swimming has approximately 16,000 members in Northern California and Nevada and is the 2nd largest of the 59 USA Swimming's Local Swimming Committees (LSC's).
Daily practices are held in the afternoons from 4-6 pm during the school year, 3:30-6:00 pm during the summer and year-round Saturday morning practices. One aspect which makes our team especially unique is every summer, after 5:30-8:00 am morning practice, our youth give back to the community by volunteering to teach in the SFRP Learn-to-Swim Program. They teach Monday through Friday during the summer from 8:00 to 10:00am. Many of the neighborhood children have learned to swim due to their efforts.
The SFRP Rossi Rays continue to represent San Francisco in many competitions and have shown that our swimmers have the talent to compete with other, much larger swim clubs. We have won many team trophies at various meets and our swimmers have made finals in two of the largest age group meets held bi-annually for both short and long course, Junior Olympics and Far Westerns. A couple of our swimmers have also been chosen to attend development and leadership camps and compete at All Star Zone meets, Pacific Coast All Stars, Western Zones, NACC, and Sectional meets. Additionally, we have had swimmers who have achieved National Reportable Times (NRT) as well as AAAA times. Some of them have been ranked among the top 16 in the nation.
In August 2010, one of our 10-under swimmers just recently broke the mens 50 Back LCM Pacific Swimming record. Most recently in 2011, one of our 8&under girls broke the Pacific Swimming 25 free short course record. Besides local meets, for the last couple of years we have had swimmers who have competed nationwide and internationally in the U.S. Children’s Youth Games and the International Children’s Games (ICG) representing the city of San Francisco. In June 2009 at the 43rd annual ICG games, one of our 14 year old swimmers was able to make top eight in finals in Athens, Greece in the Men's 100 Breast LCM. In 2010 at the Manama's ICG, 2 made the finals in 2 events and came home with San Francisco's first medal, the bronze in the 200 IM.
Historically, the swimming culture in San Francisco is not as well-known or as large as the surrounding communities which consist of much larger swim teams in the Bay Area where swimming is considered a top sport. Our team, although small, attempts to fill this void and bring swimming into the forefront of San Francisco sports. To achieve this goal, we have tried to show the positive aspects of this lifelong sport such as good health, increased discipline, time organization, camaraderie and sportsmanship. Our swimmers work hard and we reward them with team potluck award dinners, BBQ’s and social events.
We also address social contributions and responsibility. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, our team held a swim-a-thon and donated proceeds of $5,323.00 to the American Red Cross. Most recently in 2010, our swim-a-thon held for the Japan Quake/Tsunami raised a total proceeds of $4567.90 which were donated again to the American Red Cross.
Additionally, we have participated for 4 years in the newly developed SF Summer Swim League to promote the sport of swimming in San Francisco. Our team has come in 1st four years in a row at this league, most recently in August 2010. During High School swim season many of our swimmers have won or placed very high at the San Francisco High Schools, AAA/CIF Section Swimming Championships. Rossi swimmers placed 1st in many events and also broke some AAA records. We are proud to be an SFRP swim team and hopeful our team’s community involvement, participation, hard work and dedication will continue to grow in the following years. With the continued support of the City of SFRP Department, we will be able to achieve and set even higher goals.
Additionally, we have participated for 4 years in the newly developed SF Summer Swim League to promote the sport of swimming in San Francisco. Our team has come in 1st four years in a row at this league, most recently in August 2010. During High School swim season many of our swimmers have won or placed very high at the San Francisco High Schools, AAA/CIF Section Swimming Championships. Rossi swimmers placed 1st in many events and also broke some AAA records. We are proud to be an SFRP swim team and hopeful our team’s community involvement, participation, hard work and dedication will continue to grow in the following years. With the continued support of the City of SFRP Department, we will be able to achieve and set even higher goals.
