What better way to cool off during the dog days of summer than with a refreshing dip in the pool. Up-and-coming swimmers spent their mornings learning and honing swimming skills in the Newtown Parks & Recreation-sponsored Torpedoes summer swimming program.The Bee for results).

Led by Head Coach Charlotte Gray, a former standout swimmer at Newtown High School, a staff of four coaches worked with new and established swimmers ranging from 8 and unders to a group of 15- to 16-year-olds. The youngest of the 40 or so team participants were kindergartners, and the oldest of the group were in high school, comprising five age groups.

Gray, who will be a junior spring freestyle competitor at Clark University in Worcester, Mass, coaches the two oldest groups - the 13- to 14-year-olds and the 15-16 participants. Other former Newtown High swim team members Frankie Biancardi and Amanda Walsh, along with NHS incoming senior swimmer Tommy Horan, directed the other age groups.

"It's all about having a good time - learning to love swimming," said Gray, a five-year member of the Torpedoes, herself, before joining the NHS team.

Beginning in late June, continuing through July, and ending in early August, the Torpedoes practiced three days mornings per week, at Treadwell Park, and competed in meets two mornings each week - but with flexibility allowing for vacation time. The Torpedoes are in the 20-team State Line League, which features Connecticut towns such as Ridgefield and Southbury, and New York towns including Brewster. The season culminated with the postseason championship meet in Southbury on Thursday, August 4 (check the August 12 print edition of

"I love it. I love that the kids come excited to swim every morning," said Gray, a second-year coach with the program, adding that even on the occasional cool starts to the day participants are eager to hop into the water.

"The best part is seeing the kids learn a love of swimming we all have and cherish," Gray said.

A bonus that comes out of the session for some is that parents can become more comfortable with their children jumping into a pool once they've improved their swimming abilities, Gray noted.

The group includes siblings, and Gray notes that younger brothers and sisters often follow in the path of their elder siblings.

"It's nice to see families grow together in this sport," said Gray, who has siblings involved in the swimming.

From day one until the finish, Torpedoes team members got better and better, she said, adding that the mission of the State Line League is for those who sign up to enjoy swimming and have it develop into a lifelong sport.

The coaches strive to have the least experienced swimmers learn all four strokes by the end of the summer session, and for the seasoned participants to improve upon their skills. Many of the youngest swimmers may already possess a knack to swim freestyle and perform the backstroke, and the objective is for them to develop the technique necessary to execute more advanced strokes - the breaststroke and butterfly.

"It's nice to see the growth and progression," said Gray, adding that this is only the beginning for the newcomers to competitive swimming.

"This is just the first step to a lifelong career of swimming," Gray anticipates.