By Amanda Foust
With a history in coaching collegiate swimming and 35 total in years coaching experience, Jim Lutz has partnered with the community for the last seven years through coaching Viper Swim Club. More than 150 kids from elementary age through high school represent Viper Swim Club and compete in statewide and national competitions. Club swimmers practice at either Westfield High School or Westfield Middle School.
The club is a certified USA Swimming year-round competitive swim team, and one of the few places like it in this area. The instruction is high quality due to its professional coaching techniques. Everyone’s level of ability is different, but the goal of the club is to meet students where they are and help them achieve success through reoccurring improvements in individual swimming skills
“As far as our program is concerned, we have kids who are swimming tremendously fast, and I feel very fortunate to be involved in this program,” Lutz said.
Competition is important, but the most important thing to Lutz and the rest of the coaches on staff is for the kids to improve individual times and have fun.
“The biggest philosophy of this club is that all of the coaches have the attitude that when the child leaves the pool, if they are not excited about coming back they have missed the boat,” he said.
Viper Swim Club has had a great reputation in taking part in preparing students for future success in swimming.
“In 2010 we had a three-time state champion high schooler (Meghan Potee of Noblesville) who went to University of Arizona and then competed in the Olympic Trials just two years out of our program,” Lutz said.
Lutz offers a mutual respect to his swimmers and finds it is important that after a race he asks swimmers how they did whether they win or lose.
“If I started to yell at a kid after a race it becomes about me and a bruised ego,” he said. “So I never question their effort.”
The program is set up for kids to learn life lessons as well as a place for swimmers to compete.
“The kids win because they smile not smile because they win. They work with a purpose,” he said. “It’s not to impress somebody else.”
For more information, visit viperaquatics.org.
