The Barracudas earned treasured three-peat in the pool this summer. After winning Intersuburban Conference swim meet championships at Burr Ridge in 2012 at River Forest in 2013, the Riverside-based Barracudas garnered their third straight conference out title in their home pool, the Riverside Swim Club.
The Barracudas scored 2,224 points followed by runner-up Village Field Club Dolphins (1,959) and LaGrange Field Club (1,876).
“This year’s been amazing and there’s nothing like winning a title in your home pool,” Riverside Swim Club pool rep Angela Izzo said. “It was an incredible day. To win again, three years in a row, in our own pool during the Intersuburban Conference Swim Meet’s 50th anniversary is special.
“The LaGrange Field Club had dominated this event for years. The Riverside Swim Club had some challenges, but it didn’t stop us from winning again.”
In addition to the three-time champions, teams from River Forest, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge, Oak Brook, LaGrange and LaGrange Park rounde outd the field at the Riverside Swim Club.
“The crowd turnout was amazing,” Izzo said. “I was apprehensive about space for the meet since space is tight at the Riverside Swim Club, but it all worked out. We had plenty of lovely green space for the swimmers, plus they had team tents. There were food trucks and people milling around. We had great weather; just a wonderful day all-around.”
“We had our parade of athletes with the athletes from each team coming out on the deck. There was a great spirit of competition but also camaraderie among the competing towns”
Heather Mathis, also the head coach of the Riverside-Brookfield High School girls swim team, coaches the Barracudas. Riverside suited up approximately 80 swimmers for the conference meet. There about 200 swimmers overall in the Barracudas swimming program, ranging in ages six to 18. Along with Mathis, the Barracudas have five other coaches including Katie Burris, her assistant coach at RBHS.
Izzo offered praise for Mathis, who is also the pool manager.
“Heather has been involved in some form with the Barracudas as either a swimmer or coach over the past 30 years,” Izzo said. “She and the rest of the coach do a wonderful job coaching all the kids.”
