About the Seals
The Strawberry Seals swim team, located at the Strawberry Recreation Center and Tam High Pool in Mill Valley, is an exciting, spirit-filled summer league team of swimmers aged 5 to 18. The Seals swim team is part of the ten team Marin Swim League (MSL), with a season running from early March to the end of July. The Seals also run Fall and Winter clinics which offer year round swimming and instruction.
History
The Strawberry Seals have a long and meaningful history. Originally formed in the early 1960’s (exact date unknown) by some very committed parents, it didn’t take long for the swim team to become a focal point of the community.The history of the Strawberry Seals is so pervasive, that there are currently five parents with kids on the team that were themselves former swimmers at Strawberry. In fact, two of them have actually married each other! Memories of the swim team include Mr. Yamanaka (still a Strawberry resident) with his starting gun, timers with actual stop watches and large (and slightly intimidating) starting blocks.
While some of the equipment and technology has changed, and certainly the number of swimmers has increased, what hasn’t changed is the promotion of good physical health, a healthy philosophy of sportsmanship, and a sense of community of pride. The families that make up the Strawberry Seals today are as committed as the founders of this team and are delighted to carry on its tradition.
The Gunnar Skog College Scholarship
There are few organized sports leagues where 6 year olds who have barely started kindergarden are participating on the same team with 18 year olds who are ready to leave the nest and start a new life in college. This is one of the special things about the MSL and the Seals - that two age groups who are on the opposite ends of their childhood, have the opportunity to lead cheers together and to cheer each other on. Elder kids are role models for the younger kids, and over time as the youngsters become older - they become role models themselves.
As our swimmers grow up, more and more constraints are put on their time - school work, volunteering, internships, college preparation, college applications, jobs and of course, being with friends. As they become seniors in high school it all seems overwhelming. And yet, somehow, some still find time for the Seals. These swimmers will, amazingly enough, spend their very last Saturdays before they go off to college waiting 6 hours to swim a total of perhaps 5 minutes.
This is the dedication we are honoring with the Gunnar Skog College Scholarship. Available to graduating high school seniors, this scholarship is named after one of the founders of the Strawberry Seals - father to long-time Seals parent and former Seal swimmer - Ingrid Sato (father-in-law to former Seal Matt Sato), grandfather to current and recent Seals Kristin and Marta Sato, and grandfather-in-law to a new generation of Seals - Jessica Bukowski, Sabrina and Sean Haechler, and Georgia and Sydney Smith. Celebrating the diversity of ages that is one of the highlights of being a Seal, it seems only fitting that we name this award after Gunnar Skog, a founder who was there at the beginning of the Strawberry Seals more than 45 years ago, and whose family legacy is still with us to this day.
The total maximum scholarship is $500 ($300 tuition, $200 cash).
For more information please contact Mindy Norris at treasurer@strawberryseals.com.
Contact Information
Eric Zener |
Ron Chan |
Strawberry Seals Swim Team |
Strawberry Pool Strawberry Recreation District |
2010 Board Members
| Eric Zener | President Mike Potter | Vice President Kathleen Mortimer | MSL Rep Mindy Norris | Treasurer Pete Towle | Meets |
Ron Chan | Technology Vivian Broadway Firmage| Secretary Debbie Book | Coaching Program Melanie Victor-Smith | Fundraising |
