The Farm Team
In 2003, the NWB Dolphins inaugurated one of its better ideas -- the formation of a pre-team on which some of the club's youngest children who were not yet ready for the “big team” could swim together, be prepared for what was to come and could learn the basic strokes. They are, of course, the stars of tomorrow.
The new coach for these munchkins is Katherine Young (pictured here with here dad, John Young -- himself a longtime, loyal and hard-working presence for both NWB and the Dolphins ). Katherine is at this moment a Senior at Blake High School. With help from folks like her, the Dolphins “farm team” has been an enormous success and clearly is here to stay.
Forever Young...
Meet Today’s Head Coach, Jared Fribush...
Geza:
More Than A Name
on Our Annual Award
Geza Illes was the Dolphins Head Coach in 1996 and 1997. He was an inspiration -- as an athlete, a scholar and, most importantly, as a human being.
A proud graduate of Gonzaga College High School and a member of the U.S. Navy ROTC, Geza was attending medical school at Georgetown University -- where he wanted to become a pediatric surgeon.
In a cruel blow, Geza was stricken with cancer when he was just 22. Unbowed by his illness, Geza continued to coach our Dolphins, teaching them much more than swimming as he lived his last days with grace, courage and dignity. He was 24 when he died on Feb. 2, 1998. Before his death, his friends, admirers and teammates from NWB visited his home on a bitter night in Advent to sing Christmas carols at his front door -- including his favorite, Silent Night. He smiled a lot that night.
We'll always remember Geza as a continuing and vital presence at NWB. An award is given each year in his honor to a member of the Dolphins team. We are blessed to have known him.
The Wooters Dynasty
Continues Its Reign...
One of the rock solid foundations of the Dolphins through the team's history has been a person once known as Sheila McCarthy -- now Sheila Wooters -- and her extended family.
Sheila was 15 when her family first joined NWB in 1965, the year after the club first opened. She began swimming immediately for the Dolphins and has been one of the team’s greatest assets ever since. The cut-off age for swimming in those days was 17 so when she turned 18 Sheila began her first of many terms as a coach. Add ‘em all up and Sheila has been an NWB coach for a decade and a half of NWB’s existence. Factor in being a Team Rep, a deck official, a timer, Meet Manager and just about anything else you can imagine, and the team has Sheila’s fingerprints all over it.
When she married Charlie Wooters and they had four sons, the tradition continued. All the boys swam with great gusto for the Dolphins. One of those young men, Nick, was not only a star swimmer but also became an assistant coach for a while before going on to coach another MCSL team.
With a grandson now on the scene, Sheila and Charlie are here for a while. And that’s good news because the concept of walking into our grounds without Sheila’s presence is tough to imagine.
Some of the very best swimmers on the Dolphins and in our entire area today owe their basics to someone whose name is synonymous with NorthWest Branch -- Martin Young.
A member of a family who has played a vital role in the history of our pool, Martin started swimming here in 1981 when he was just nine years old. Martin went on to set six NWB records (two still stand) and to take first place in the 15-18 IM in the 1991 MCSL All-Stars Championship. He later very naturally took over as the Dolphins’ coach. His devotion to the team and his encouragement for the swimmers play a critical role in our history. (You’ll also recognize the little girl with him in the photo from one of the first times she made it to All Stars under Martin’s tutelage -- Kelsey Dean, today’s Pre-Team coach.)
Yet again, a family tradition continued with Martin’s younger brother, Paul, later also serving as an assistant coach. His young sister, Katherine, is now on the team and one of the Dolphins’ great contributors.
Thankfully, Martin is still a regular and most welcome visitor to NWB when he gets home in the summer to Silver Spring to visit his folks.
NorthWest Branch Pool
10850 Lockwood Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20914
Tel: (301) 593-9462
Website by Mackenzie Productions
Jared Fribush
Kelsey Dean & Friends
Geza Illes
Sheila, Nick & Charlie Wooters
Martin Young & Future Star
Geza & Martin (1991)
NorthWest Branch Pool: Home of the Mighty Dolphins
Jared Fribush grew up swimming at Calverton but his success story only begins there. He went on to become Calverton's co-head coach for three years. He swam in college and was an NCAA Division III, All-American in 1998.
Jared now works as a math teacher and swim coach at Blake High School. As if that's not enough, he also coaches advanced seniors at the prestigious RMSC in Montgomery County. Jared joined NWB as Head Coach in 2003 and proved to be a great discovery.
He has become an important presence, imparting his knowledge as well as providing leadership, enthusiasm and stability to the NWB team. (See his wonderful essay on the joys of summer in our Blog section.)
New Assistant Coaches
With the retirement of former assistant coaches (Claire and Luke), Jared was joined by two new aides -- Matt Wooters (above) & Kelsey Dean (left).
