Swim Team
Resource
Hello Manchester Marlins!
This is a resource created for all of you! Click on the blue buttons below or at the top of the page to navigate this website. On this home page, you will find information about the coaches and answers to common questions. Under each stroke, you will find stretches, videos, workouts, and more information. Under the "Starts & Turns" page you will find videos explaining how to complete every start and turn for each stroke. Under the "Stretches" page there is information on stretching and pictures of how to complete different stretches. Under the "Dry Land" page you will find workout moves that work the same muscles used while swimming. Finally, under the "Olympics" page you will find videos of various Olympic races for every stroke.
Coaches
Head Coach Emma Dunkel
Emma was a member of swim team for 8 years and has been coaching the Manchester Marlins since 2020. She graduated from West Delaware in 2020 and is currently attending the University of Northern Iowa for elementary education with a minor in literacy. Emma has been a lifeguard since 2017, instructing swim lessons since 2018, and has been instructing lifeguard classes since 2022.
Contact Information
Email: edunkel2002@gmail.com
Phone: (563) 929-0378
Assistant Coach McKenna Bush
MaKenna Bush is going into her senior year at Maquoketa Valley High School. She has been on swim team for 7 years. Aside from swimming she is also involved in cross country, speech, jazz band, student council, fall musical, spring play, and marching band.
Assistant Coach Adam Cook
Adam Cook is going into his senior year at West Delaware High School. He has been on swim team for 6 years. Adam is involved in musical, speech, and play. A fun fact about Adam is that he used to not be able to dive and would belly-flop every time.
Assistant Coach Madelynn Zehr
Madelynn Zehr just graduated from West Delaware and is currently planning on going to college for physical therapy. This is her 5th year swimming. A fun fact about Madelynn is that the first bone she broke was her nose at a soccer game.
Junior Assistant Coach
Nolan Hemann
Nolan Hemann has been on swim team for four years and is going into eighth grade. Aside from swimming, he is also involved in 4H, livestock judging, cross country, and track. A fun fact about Nolan is that his family raises meat goats.
Junior Assistant Coach
Breanna Bush
Breanna Bush is going into her freshman year at Maquoketa Valley High School. She has been on swim team for 7 years. Breanna is also involved in the DASH swim team, cross-country, jazz band, and marching band.
Stroke Coach
Isaiah Rich
Isaiah Rich recently graduated from UNI with a degree in business administration and marketing. He has been involved in the swimming scene for over 10 years. In his free time, he enjoys basketball, running, swimming, video games, and art. One fun fact about Isaiah is that he has worn swimmer Jason Lezak's Olympic Gold Medal.
Assistant Stroke Coach
Evan Dunkel
Evan Dunkel is going into his senior year at West Delaware High School. He has been on swim team for 9 years. Outside of swim team Evan is involved with lighting, golf, band, Boy Scouts, FBLA, and 4H. He is also a very big Packers fan and currently holds the Delaware County Fair King title.
Common Questions
What are the Practice Times?
11-year-olds and up practice from 7:00-8:00 AM, 10-year-olds and under practice from 8:00-8:45 AM.
What is the Pool Length?
Our pool is 25 yards long, in swim meets you will often swim a 25 (1 lap), 50 (2 laps), 100 (4 laps), or 200 (8 laps).
Some pools are 25 meters long, this will mean times will be slightly different. The coaches will remind the kids in advance.
What is a lap?
During practice we refer to "1 lap" as one time down the pool or a 25, so 2 laps is down the pool and back or a 50.
How many events can a swimmer be entered in for a meet?
A swimmer can be entered in up to five events during meets, the medley relay, three individual strokes, and the free relay. However, we are limited in the number of swimmers we are allowed to enter into each race.
What are the age groups?
The age groups are: 8 and unders, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15-18.
How many meters are races in meets?
All 8 and unders swim 25s at swim meets for each stroke except for the long free which is a 50.
All 9 and ups swim 50s for each stroke except for the long free which is 100 and IMs.
9 to 12-year-olds swim 100 IM (1 lap of each stroke) and 13 to 18 -year-olds swim 200 IM (2 laps of each stroke).
Can a swimmer only swim whithin their age group?
Swimmers can swim up an age group but can not swim down an age group.
What is the medley relay race order?
The medley relay race order in back, breast, fly, and free.
What is the individual medley (IM) order?
The IM order is butter, back, breast, and free.
What are the races in meet order?
Races in meet order can be found here.
What do swimmers and parents need to do for meets?
The swimmer must be declared or undeclared for each meet by the Saturday before the meet starts (this includes both Tuesday's and Thursday's meets). The coaches put together the meets ahead of time and relays will get messed up if a swimmer drops out of the meet. If you forget to declare you will most likely only be put in a few events. For any changes please contact Emma Dunkel by either email and/or text (look above for contact information).
To declare or undeclare a swimmer, go to the Manchester Marlins Swim Team Website and click on Events at the top of the page. Scroll down to the meet and click on the attend/decline button and either declare or undeclare each swimmer. You can do all meets ahead of time if so wanted.
Find a swimmers race numbers by looking at the Manchester Marlins Swim Team Website and click on Events at the top of the page. Click on the meet and scroll down to forms and documents. We recommend writing each number on the swimmer's arm with a permanent marker (nail polish remover or spray sunscreen will take it off after the meet).
Warm-Up starts at 4:30 PM, we recommend coming by at least 4:15 to set up camp.
The meet starts at 5:00 PM, most meets last around 3 hours.
Each pool will have a concession stand but we also recommend bringing healthy snacks, supper, and water!
Don't forget your towels, goggles, swim caps, swimsuits, and other necessities such as ear or nose plugs.
Ribbons will be available the next day at practice. Coaches will try their best to speak with each swimmer that was disqualified and tell them why they were disqualified and explain how to fix it for next time.