The Daily Newarker — Press Wire

For Immediate Release

CITY OF NEWARK PIRANHAS YOUTH SWIM TEAM 

TO TAKE ON THREE TEAMS IN COMPETITION

AT JFK AQUATIC CENTER, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, AT 10 A.M.

55 swimmers aged 8-17 will face teams from Passaic, Paterson, and Newark;

Competition is free and open to the public

Newark, NJ – December 9, 2009 - Mayor Cory A. Booker and Director of Neighborhood and Recreational Services Melvin L. Waldrop announced today that the City of Newark’s Division of Recreation/Cultural Affairs’ “Newark Piranhas” Youth Swim Team will face off against teams from Passaic, Paterson, and Newark in a friendly competition at the John F. Kennedy Aquatic Center, on Saturday, December 12, starting at 10 a.m. The competition is free and open to the public, and the Aquatic Center is located at 211 West Kinney Street, with the entrance on Howard Street.

The 55 members of the Newark Piranhas, which were formed a year ago, aged 8-17, will take on squads from the Passaic YMCA, the City of Paterson, and the Newark-based Deep End Aquatics, a private swim team. The competition is sponsored by the City of Newark’s Division of Recreation/Cultural Affairs.

“Swimming is a great competitive sport which promotes overall health and well-being.  From this program, we hope to produce another Olympic swimming star like Cullen Jones who used to train in this state of the art recreational aquatic center,” said Mayor Booker. “I urge all residents to come out to cheer on the Newark Piranhas as they chew up their opponents in what should be an exciting day of friendly competition.”

The Newark Piranhas were formed in 2008 to be the City’s official youth swim team. The Piranhas practice year-round at the JFK and Ironbound Recreation Center, with its indoor pools.

“The Piranhas have provided Newark youth with opportunities to build strong bodies and minds, develop teamwork and discipline, and learn valuable life lessons about competition and sportsmanship,” Director Waldrop said. “I congratulate the Recreation team on developing this program and hope our residents get behind the Piranhas to support them.”

“I have coached this swim team for a little over a year, and am proud of its growth and success in the swim world. My swimmers and I are very fortunate to have great facilities to practice in and wonderful support staff to ensure our success. I hope that anyone that can come out on Saturday will support the Newark Piranhas and see what we’re all about,” said Piranhas Coach Candess Tucker.

Under the Booker administration, each of the City’s recreation centers has had a comprehensive rehabilitation. After millions of dollars of capital investment, every city Recreation facility and pool has been successfully upgraded and is now open for expanded programs and community use. In addition, City programming at recreation centers has been thoroughly enriched. Residents can now access a full catalogue of recreation and cultural programs and services.

The John F. Kennedy Recreation and Aquatic Center is the City’s largest such facility, offering Newark residents of all ages a wide variety of daily recreation, exercise, and swimming programs. The facility is equipped with the only Olympic-size swimming pool equipped with a retractable roof in the State, a multi-purpose exercise room, an NBA-regulation size basketball court, and a state-of-the-art weight room. The John F. Kennedy Center has hosted numerous events, including the 2002 U.S. Youth Games Swimming competition, professional wrestling matches, exercise classes, amateur boxing bouts, basketball tournaments and other community functions.

The Piranhas are sponsored by the City of Newark’s Division of Recreation/Cultural Affairs. For more information about the team, contact the Division of Recreation/Cultural Affairs at (973) 733-6454. For information about any City of Newark policy or program, contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.

-NEWARK-

Contact:        Newark Press Information Office: (973) 733-8004

E-mail: Pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us

About the City of Newark, New Jersey

Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation’s largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major rail connections, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast.

With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival.  In population, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the northeast. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The production of affordable housing has doubled, businesses are returning and crime is going down. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission:  to set a national standard for urban transformation.

For more information on the City of Newark, please visit our website at www.ci.newark.nj.us

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