Local swim club has become one of state’s largest and most successful
In 2004, identical twin brothers Phil and Chuck Smith were elected to the board of a small swimming club based in Lakeville and Prior Lake. The previous board dissolved, in effect making the Smith brothers the new owners.
South Metro Storm was a fledgling club with an emphasis on safety, teaching the basics, and fostering a life-long love of the sport. With fewer than 100 athletes, both men took on the coaching responsibilities while learning the business of running a swim club.
“Our goal first and foremost was to the young boys and girls that we coach,” says Phil Smith. “We held in our hands the ability, and more importantly the obligation to guide these individuals toward a happy and productive adulthood. As coach(es), it was our job to teach goal setting skills, to build self-confidence, and develop interpersonal skills. Quite simply, (to) lead by example. Believing what you say, living that life you talk about, attempting to instill selfless character and work ethic – if we could instill the ability for each of our athletes to learn that every waking moment is an opportunity to not only better their lives, but the lives of everyone else around them, then we felt like we found success.”
Storm began growing rapidly and made it a goal to achieve the Bronze Level of Club Excellence recognized by USA Swimming. Only the top 200 clubs in the country attain Gold, Silver or Bronze. According to the USA Swimming website, clubs reaching those levels recognize and promote “well-rounded age group and senior swimming programs that produce elite 18 and under athletes.”
The club was well on its way before being derailed by the COVID outbreak of 2020, which forced pools to close. Many small businesses did not survive, but between the club’s fiscal prudence and passionate swim families that continued to pay dues, Storm emerged from the pandemic positioned to finally achieve their goal. In 2022 and 2023, Storm earned the coveted Bronze Medal Club designation. Storm also won their first-ever Short Course Senior Club Championship, held in Fargo, North Dakota, in March of 2023.
In 2024, Storm achieved Silver Medal status for the first time in program history and was recognized as one of the top 100 clubs in the country. Storm is among the largest clubs in Minnesota with more than 450 athletes. Sponsored by athletics gear manufacturer TYR, they host swim team training for beginners all the way to potential Olympic Trials qualifiers. Storm has a strong Masters (adult) swim program and has added StormChaser Learn to Swim programs for children in Prior Lake and Lakeville, with new offerings in Shakopee.
In the last year, the club integrated a diving program at the new Blanchard Aquatic Center in Lakeville. With nine levels of swim proficiency currently offered in the metro area, the club has 17 coaches and uses six pools, with the newly-added Shakopee West Middle School pool now serving the Shakopee/Savage area. Storm finished second in the 2024 Short Course Senior Club Championship by less than 30 points.
“It’s been quite a ride over the past 20 years, but as I look back at it, the most satisfying moments are ones like last week,” said Chuck Smith. “A 26-year-old former swimmer stopped by in the middle of her workday to just say hello. It’s always hard having kids you have known for sometimes eight years graduate and move on, but knowing we’ve been a part of their lives is a special privilege we have as coaches.”
Summer Olympics in the pool
As Storm Swim Club celebrates 20 years under the guidance of the Smith brothers, many turn their eyes to a sport that has been dominated by American athletes since the Olympics began. Nearly one-quarter of all gold medals won by the U.S. during the history of the Summer Olympics have come in the swimming pool, according to NBC.
But this summer, the U.S. could see its pool supremacy tested by the Australian women, while names like Leon Marchand (France) and Kristof Milak (Hungary) look to make names for themselves against the U.S. men. Storm swimmers will be glued to the screen as they cheer on Lakeville native and former Storm swimmer Regan Smith, University of Minnesota diver Sarah Bacon, and Paralympics qualifiers Summer Schmit, Natalie Sims and Mallory Weggemann.
Looking ahead
Swimming faces an uphill battle in the U.S. It’s expensive to build and maintain facilities, and the sport struggles to find ways of generating revenue and increasing viewership.
In Minnesota, the future is brighter. More athletes are committing to college programs now than at any point in state history. Clubs such as Storm are helping by developing a new generation of swimmers with big dreams.
Lauren Colbert, 12, was in a group of Storm swimmers participating in a recent training camp at Gustavus Adolphus College. “Storm is a great club,” said Colbert, a team member since 2019. “I have been pushed hard and improved so much from it over the past few years. The coaches make me laugh and I have a great time. Also, it’s a great place to make new friends and fun memories. The coaches and swimmers make it a very inclusive environment.”
She plans to swim for Lakeville North High School this fall.
“I have enjoyed Storm a lot,” said Lauren’s 15-year-old brother, Jonathan Colbert. “I have made friends and my swimming has gotten better.”
There is one serious downside for Jonathan, however. “After five years, I still cannot tell Chuck and Phil apart.”
To learn more about Storm Swim and Storm Dive, email stormswim@mnstorm.org.
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