The Swimmer Spotlight recongnizes the accomplishments, no matter how small, of the Memphis Splash swimmers. It serves as a way to mentor and encourage others on the team. Be sure to congratulate the spotlight swimmer when you see them and encourage them to keep up the good work. Our spotlight swimmers are Ivan Fluker and Alexa Lemus. Read their stories below.
Ivan Fluker (Age 15)
Ivan Fluker began swimming with the former Hickory Hill team. He joined the Splash team a year ago after not swimming competitively for a year. An original team member, Ivan trained with Coach TR Coach improving his stoke technique and conditioning. After competing in his first Splash swim meet in October 2010, Coach TR recognized that Ivan would benefit from additional training with older, experienced swimmers. Ivan was awarded a Make a Splash Mid-South/Memphis Tiger Swimming Diversity Scholarship to join the MTS High School Performance group last high school season.
Ivan has served as a mentor to new swimmers at Splash Mid-South swim clinics and Splash team practice. He has excelled over the past year, helping lead Splash to third place overall in its first Mid-South Swimming Championship meet this past February. Ivan also helped lead the team to fifth place finishes at the National Black Heritage Championship and MSS Summer championship. He earned individual high point trophies at both the MSS Summer Championship and the MSSL City Championship (with Bluff City Bluefins). Ivan proudly represented Splash at the AAU Jr. Olympics in August where he was an event finalist and medal winner with the relay team from Saudi Arabia. This season he will represent the newly formed Booker T. Washington High School swim team in the Memphis Interscholastic Athletic Association swim conference. He is training hard with both MTS and Splash in preparation for moving up to the MTS Senior training group. Ivan is a team leader in and out of the pool, eager to help and encourage younger swimmers. Congratulations Ivan!
Alexa Lemus (Age 6)
Splash Mid-South swim lessons scholarship recipient, Alexa joined Splash last fall as one of three original members of the pre-competitive group. She trains at the Hickory Hill Aquatic Center where Coach Courtney and several Splash
Diversity All-Star mentors have enjoyed teaching Alexa to swim. Alexa is six years old and is in the first grade at Winridge Elementary School. Alexa joined Splash along with her older brother Edgar (Intermediate group) and cousins Michelle (Advanced group), Paulina (Advanced group) and Ruben (Pre-competitive) Oropeza. Alexa and her bright smile embody the spirit of the Memphis Splash swimmer development program. Alexa was an Aqua Angel recipient sponsored by a Memphis Tiger Swimming family at the team’s Christmas party last year. Faithfully attending swim practice over the past year has paid off. She participated in the Make a Splash Mid-South I Have a Dream…Diversity in Swimming clinic and developmental meet. This season she has worked hard and competed in the first two meets at the Memphis Jewish Community Center and St. George’s pool swimming freestyle and backstroke events. Congratulations Alexa!