TARA TARPONS
SWIM FOR FUN AND COMPETITION
Competitive Swimming means you will eventually compete with swimmers your age from other U.S.S. swim clubs in the Atlanta area, within the state of Georgia and other states, in U.S.S. officiated swim meets. It means you can develop yourself through practice and professional coaching to do the best you are capable of doing.
Meets are scheduled well in advance and usually held twice a month. Some of the meets are in the Atlanta area. Swimmers are encouraged to attend allmeets but are required to attend at least three meets a year.
Any young person from the age of six and up can join the club. The real competitors, of course, are the ones who are willing to train and practice hard.
As in any sport, training and practice will develop you to achieve the maximum physical goals of which you are capable. U.S.S. swimming will prepare you for Middle and Senior High School swim teams, State Competition and U.S.S. swimming has led many to college scholarships and Olympic competition.
The Tara Tarpons Swim Association was formed in Clayton County in 1958. At that time it was charted as the Clayton County Swim Team and consisted of the coach's son and daughter; but quickly grew into a large group of boys and girls as word and accomplishments of the team spread to other cities and areas in and around Clayton County.
Later, the team acquired a home pool, which during 1958 was owned and operated by the Forest Park Jacyees and was later donated to the city of Forest Park. The team became the Forest Park Swim Team in 1959 and was sponsored by the city of Forest Park. As members of the team advanced in skills and participated in local and national competition, it became evident that a year-round program was needed for both competitive and recreational swimming. Parents of the swimmers spear-headed a drive to incorporate a swimming pool into the Recreation Center's indoor building and this was voted on in a bond issue in 1960.
The team has become a tradition in the community. Several of the club's swimmers have distinguished themselves in national and world competition. In 1978, the team decided on a new name to associate with its geographical location --- TARA from "Gone With The Wind". Many teams have been formed in Georgia since 1958, but the TARA TARPONS is one of the oldest continuously-operating year-round swim teams in the state. John Bowles, the originator and retired head coach, has been coaching for over 43 years. He is a charted member of the American Swimming Coaches Association, was Water Safety Chairman for Clayton County and has been an inspiration to several decades of Clayton County Swimmers.