Sibley Forest Seahorses

The Sibley Forest Seahorses is the summer swim team organization that strives to create the most dynamic and unique summer swim team experience that is swimmer oriented, fun centered, and individually focused. Our first and foremost goal is to craft a love and appreciation for swimming in each Seahorse while teaching them the fundamentals of sportsmanship. In order to achieve this, we strive to create a program that is empowering, inspiring, and positive. Therefore, we do not impose a love of swimming upon our swimmers; rather we cultivate it. Through sincere enthusiasm, positive reinforcement, and true empathy, the Sibley Forest Seahorses creates a one-of-a-kind summer experience of personal growth for swimmers ages 5-18 in the East Cobb-Marietta, GA Area.

To achieve our goal of providing an excellent and innovative summer swim team experience that is more swimmer-oriented than any other summer swim league program for swimmers ages 5-18, we focus on instilling 4D Values into all of our swimmers. Our goal is for our swimmers to learn to become...

Daring: Our swimmers are not afraid to be unique and state their mind. Our community does not simply acknowledge each swimmer’s unique attributes and opinions; it fully embraces them.

Dynamic: Our swimmers accomplish goals creatively. Our coaches fit individualized types of coaching styles to each type of swimmer. Our swimmers encourage their coaches to coach in ways in which they can learn best.

Deliberate: Our swimmers are goal-setters who effectively set and accomplish both personal goals and team goals. Our coaches and coordinators build an environment that teaches and hones sportsmanship and teamwork. Our swimmers learn to recognize the benefits of strategizing and working collaboratively. They also learn how important all of their personal contributions are to our team. This inspires self-pride and a sense of responsibility.

Discovery-Seeking: Our swimmers never stop learning. They take away MANY skills in addition to and beyond swimming skills such as sportsmanship, collaboration, goal setting, personal responsibility, problem solving, and much more. Seahorses are enthusiastic swimmers and people who swim because they are passionate about the experience, no matter if they plan to continue swimming throughout their lives. They are life-long learners who recognize the true purpose of learning and the importance of learning new skills everyday!

Together, the entire Sibley Forest Seahorses community: swimmers, coaches, parents, and coordinators, work together to instill these 4D-values into each Seahorse.

With over 35 years of vibrant swimming history, the Sibley Forest Seahorses is a rich neighborhood tradition that not only continues to unite Sibley Forest as a subdivision, but also continues to unite all the subdivisions around Sope Creek Elementary School as a community. In 1983, two years after construction finished on the Sibley Forest Pool, the first incarnation of the Sibley Forest Swim Team got its start thanks to funding from a local brokerage firm and the efforts of Mary Kazmierczak. With the team's mascot always being the Seahorse, the Sibley Forest Seahorses were one of the earliest member teams of the Cobb Summer Swim League.

Over the years, the Sibley Forest Seahorses organization grew dramatically, and, by the mid-1990's and early-2000's, the team had reached its first peak registration with over 130 swimmers on the team and plenty more waiting for a spot to open on the then full roster. During this time period, standout coaches like Erin Corgan led the team to victory after victory against other elite Cobb teams like the Northampton Hammerheads and the Winsor Oaks Dolphins. Long time Lead Coordinator, Andrea Stadler (2005-2008, 2012-2013), took the helm of the team in 2005; around the same time many of the current coaches joined as five and six year-old swimmers. While the Seahorses' long-time streak of winning seasons was broken from 2006-2013, team spirit reached high levels with the help of veteran assistant coaches Hunter Jones (2003-2009) and Claire Parker (2003-2007) and standout head coaches Miller Douglas (2004-2005, future US Olympic Team finalist) and Jordan Bolte (2007-2008). Current swimmer-parent Craig Cates took over as Lead Coordinator from 2009-2011 along with new Head Coach Jay Fitzgerald (2009-2010). During this period of time, registration numbers nearly reached the record set in the mid-1990's, and memorable assistant coach Francis Gray (2009-2012) joined the coaching staff.

In 2013, Head Coach Will Odum (2010-2018) and assistant coaches James Kendrick (2011, 2013-2016), Grant Oesterling (2011-2016), Caroline Ford (2012-2017), Elizabeth Kendrick (2013-2017), and Katherine Barre (2013-2018) took the coaching helm of the organization. This season marked the first undefeated Seahorses season in over ten years. In 2014, Andrea Stadler passed the Lead Coordinator position on to Laurie Odum (2014), and two new assistant coaches Robby Odum (2014-2017) and Katy Perkins (2014-) were added to provide for the expanding team roster. After reorganization to the team leadership structure occurred in 2015, Erin Barre (2015-) took over as Lead Coordinator. During this same season, the Seahorses went undefeated yet again with a 5-0 record and procured the a division title for the Central Bronze Division-- the first time the team did so since the incorporation of CSSL in 2009. The following year, the Seahorses procured the second best record in the Central Silver Division. Between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, a new realignment of the CSSL Zones and Divisions moved the Seahorses to CSSL's new East Bronze Division. The 2017 season brought the Seahorses another division championship.

Following the retirement of Assistant Coaches Caroline Ford, Elizabeth Kendrick, and Robby Odum in 2017, the Seahorses upgraded its coaching staff with the additions of new Assistant Coaches Allie Alterman (2018-2019), Benjamin Barré (2018-), and Coleman Thompson (2018-) and launched a new, part-time Junior Coaching Program. In 2018, the Seahorses procured their third division championship in four years and another undefeated season, their third in six years. After serving as Head Coach for 6 seasons, Coach Will Odum retired following the 2018 season. Now, the Sibley Forest Seahorses look forward to returning to CSSL's Gold Division for the first time in over a decade to defend their division title!

The 2019 coaching staff was led by Katy Perkins and six highly motivated and experienced individuals with 70 years of combined experience swimming for the Sibley Forest Seahorses. Several of the 2018 Junior Coaches have moved into Assistant Coach roles: Luke Westenfelder (2019-), Nick Westenfelder (2019-) and Gabe Cates (2019). 

After being sidelined for the 2020 season due to the Covid pandemic, the Seahorses are back for 2021. Benjamin Barré (2018- ) has assumed the role of head coach. Along with assistants Coleman, Luke, Nick, Jack Rogers (2018-), Marisa Sapre (2019-) and Claire Petersen (2019-), the Seahorses are ready for our best year yet! Our 35-year-old program continues to promise a fun experience year after year, and we look forward to providing the same quality experience every season. Go Seahorses!