RELAYS AND RELATIONSHIPS: BARTLESVILLE SPLASH CLUB SWIM-A-THON SWAPS LAPS FOR TEAM BONDING
Participants take part in the Bartlesville Splash Club's annual Swim-A-Thon at Sooner Pool last Saturday. The fundraiser focuses on team-building relays to support technology updates.
STEPHANIE J. LIEF/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
Participants take part in the Bartlesville Splash Club's annual Swim-A-Thon at Sooner Pool last Saturday. The fundraiser focuses on team-building relays to support technology updates.
STEPHANIE J. LIEF/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
By Stephanie J. Lief
June 26, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The Bartlesville Splash Club turned its annual Swim-A-Thon into a celebration of team chemistry last Saturday, swapping traditional lap counting for high-energy relays.
"Swim-A-Thon is an annual Splash Club event that serves as both a major fundraiser and a fun, family-friendly celebration," Splash Club board member and Swim-A-Thon coordinator Cristina Durrell said. "It brings together swimmers of all ages and abilities for a common goal. This year, the money we raise will support much-needed technology updates, so we can continue to host the best swim meets possible. Swim-A-Thon fundraising also helps keep our coaching fees low and provides enriching experiences for all of our swimmers.”
The Bartlesville Splash Club hosts three to four large meets a season at the Phillips 66 Aquatic Center in downtown Bartlesville. According to Visit Bartlesville data analytics, the club’s meets have been responsible for approximately $3.5 million in economic impact for the 2025-2026 season. The club is on track to host three to four large meets once again for the 2026-2027 season, organizers said.
This year’s Swim-A-Thon featured a family-friendly twist and a team-bonding vibe. Switching the event's focus from individual lap counting to fun team-bonding relays gave this year’s event a truly special memory, according to participants.
_____
A swimmer takes a breather during the Bartlesville Splash Club's annual Swim-A-Thon at Sooner Pool last Saturday. The fundraiser focuses on team-building relays to support technology updates.
STEPHANIE J. LIEF/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
_____
Swimming, which seemingly appears to be an individual performance sport from an outsider’s perspective, has a major team aspect to it. During the season's swim meets, swimmers give it their all as individual performers and their finishes in turn earn points for the club in the meet, leading to team podium finishes. Above all else, above all finishes and time, the teammates and coaches will always be there.
For myself, as a now-alumna mother of a Splash Club swimmer, seeing the entire team together having fun, trusting each other and cheering each other on is one of the best experiences in the journey. You remember your swimmer being little, and now they are the ones helping set the tone for those little ones. The athletes become friends, the families become friends and the bonds are created. Making connections like this is what it is all about.
The coaches fall back on Splash Club’s vision when coaching and communicating: how are they “Challenging Tomorrow's Leaders, Building Lifelong Champions”? Events like this are truly one of the ways to help remember the goal... build good foundations of trust, character and above all, have fun.
You can be a part of the efforts by following the Bartlesville Splash Club on Facebook or Instagram or even donating to the Swim-A-Thon efforts until June 30, 2026. Visit https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/oscpsc/page/tu-money or find a Splash Club family today.
Participants take part in the Bartlesville Splash Club's annual Swim-A-Thon at Sooner Pool last Saturday. The fundraiser focuses on team-building relays to support technology updates.
STEPHANIE J. LIEF/Bartlesville Area Sports Report