Dolphins swim fast. They're smart, they like to have fun and they swim together in pods.

Dolphins are the perfect mascot for the New Holland community summer swim program.

"In the summertime, there's a lot of down time for the kids," said Tamara Wanner, who's been the vice president of the New Holland summer swim program for four years. "It encourages kids to get up in the morning and keep schedules. It gives kids something to do. It keeps them active, and it allows them to relax. It helps them to learn to be active going forward."

The Dolphins practice and host home swim meets at the New Holland Community Pool, which is located at 400 E. Jackson St., New Holland, and owned and operated by the borough. A member of the Lancaster Summer Swim League, the Dolphins compete in about seven meets a year during a summer season that begins in the middle of May and concludes at the end of July.

On Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, the Dolphins will host the annual Lancaster Summer Swim League championships at New Holland Community Pool.

"These swimmers are learning perseverance," said Wanner. "You don't just jump in and get a top time. It takes hard work. We encourage them. It teaches the kids not to give up and to keep going. We also emphasize getting along as a team. We're all working on our own times, and we're all on the same team.

"We're teaching personal goals, and it's hard to attain these goals," added Wanner. "It's a team of all abilities. Most of our swimmers return year after year; they enjoy being part of a team. It really teaches them a lot of life lessons."

Currently, there are nearly 110 kids between the ages of 5 and 18 involved with the competitive New Holland summer swim program. Those students reside in the eastern Lancaster County, Conestoga Valley, Pequea Valley, Ephrata, Adamstown and Elizabethtown areas.

Overseen by a board of parents, the Dolphins are led by head coach Connor Ludwig and assistant coaches Bryna Kelly, Erin Cromwell and Bria Burkholder in the pool.

"These are kids who have all kinds of backgrounds - acting, field hockey, basketball," said Wanner. "They are normal everyday American kids who are here to enjoy swimming and the coaching. They make new friends. There's no pressure to be something you're not. The kids love it.

"In swimming, it's easy to learn the strokes," Wanner continued. "But to improve, it almost takes constant practice and training. It takes a lot of diligence to become good at the sport. If you keep up with it, you can keep up with it, and the more you do it, the more the love of the sport grows. You basically improve as much as you want to improve. That can be very motivating for a lot of kids. Swimming can be a lifelong activity."

At the beginning of each season, the Dolphins host an introductory ice cream social. They have also participated in food drives and constructed a float for the New Holland holiday parade.

But what makes the Dolphins a true community team is the support they receive from more than 14 local sponsors.

"We raise money through local sponsorships," said Wanner. "Without community support, we don't have a community swim team. It makes for a very successful team."

The New Holland summer swim program was founded in 1985.

"The summer swim team is a really nice program to be involved with," said Wanner. "It's a really nice opportunity for kids to be kids in a structured environment.

"Our growth depends on our swim team members," concluded Wanner. "We're always looking for more swim team members. We try to keep our team going with a lot of swimmers."

For additional information, go to http://www.gomotionapp.com/team/reczznhstpa/page/home.