The Riptides swim team of Wareham's Gleason Family YMCA has been tearing it up this season. So far, the swimmers have broken a total of 14 team records, and 10 team-members have already qualified for regional championships.

“Last year we had only had two individuals who qualified…their effort is outstanding,” said Aquatic Director Ron Sutherland, who has worked for the Gleason Family YMCA for more than two years.

The competitive swim season lasts from September through March. The Riptides compete within the YMCA league, which has a state championship competition at Bridgewater State University in March.

The competitive teams are divided by age with an 8-and-under group, a 9-10 group, an 11-12 group, and a 13-14 group.

“I couldn’t think of a better place for a teenager,” said Liz Rathborne, who has a 13-year-old son on the Riptides. Rathborne credits swimming with helping her son become more focused.

In late-March, qualifying swimmers compete in the New England YMCA Swim Championships, a regional competition held at Harvard University. In order to qualify, a team-member must beat designated qualifying times at any point during the competitive season.

"It builds really good sportsmanship," Gail Riley said of the Riptides. Her granddaughter swims for the team.

Rebekka Blanchette, a 13-year-old in her third year with the Riptides, said that the camaraderie among teammates helps them get through tough practices. “They push us during practice, it works out during competition. We work together and it shows.”

Once the swimmers reach high school age, they normally turn to a high school team to continue competing. Unfortunately, that is not an option for most members of the Riptides, as Wareham High School does not have a swim team.

Some former members of the Riptides have gone on to swim for private school Bishop Stang, however.

“They want to swim in high school and that’s the closest school with a team,” said Sutherland.

Donna Cisco, an elementary school teacher who was at a recent meet to cheer on one of her students spoke highly of the team. “I think it’s good that they're active. It teaches them team-building.”

Stephanie Cyr, who was with Cisco, cheering on that same student, agreed. “It gets them away from the video games.