Today we’d like to introduce you to Cayla Oatman.
Hi Cayla, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey with Memorial West Sharks started five years ago when I signed my daughter up for our neighborhood swim team. Growing up in North Texas, I never had neighborhood swim teams, so the whole experience was new to me—and I immediately fell in love with it. I loved sitting with neighbors during practice, watching parents pitch in and volunteer, and seeing families, siblings, and friends cheer on every swimmer. The camaraderie, healthy competition, and sense of community blew me away. I knew I wanted to be part of the Sharks.
When the opportunity came up to direct the team, I jumped in—and brought my friend Mandy Barrow with me. Mandy and I worked well together. I tend to have big Clark W. Griswold-style ideas, and Mandy was the one who could step back and ask, “How do we actually make this happen?” Together, we revamped the program from the foundation laid by our predecessors who came before us. We designed a new logo, made flyers, walked the neighborhood, talked to families, and hosted a kickoff party where people could meet the coaches, ask questions, buy yard signs and shirts, and grab a snow cone. One of the best compliments we heard was that the swim team felt like a breath of fresh air again.
I always knew Memorial West had great swimmers, even though the team had not won a meet in a long time. Mandy and I had two main goals that first year: introduce swim clinics and win one meet. Our swimmers rose to the challenge. We won three out of four meets, and the one we lost was by only two points. That year, Memorial West went from last place in the lowest division to winning our division and moving up.
In our second year, we kept what was working and built on that stronger foundation. We added new swim programs, hired a new head coach after our previous coach retired on a high note, and made changes that helped both swimmers and parents. We also went back to the basics – technique. Teaching swimmers to be fast is important, but if they do not know proper stroke technique, speed does not matter. Coach Cassie Salas brought her years of swimming and teaching experience to the pool and helped our swimmers grow the right way.
We also made a focused effort to bring older high school swimmers back to Memorial West as coaches, swimmers, or both. We wanted our younger swimmers to have strong role models on deck—people they could look up to and also see themselves becoming one day. Our assistant coaches played a crucial role in building trust with every swimmer, no matter their age or ability level. They showed up for every practice, ran stroke and dive clinics, and gave private lessons. Off the deck, they talked, played, and connected with the kids in a way that went beyond friendship; they treated each swimmer like part of the Memorial West family. They knew every swimmer’s name, their siblings, and their comfort level in the water. That kind of care and maturity is rare, and it made a lasting difference for our team.
In 2025, we also launched Junior Coach Captains, a program for our middle school and younger high school swimmers. Those years can be awkward and challenging, and we wanted to give our older swimmers a chance to lead, build confidence, and give back. Coach Cassie created the practice plans and coached the older groups, while stepping back and letting the Captains help lead our half-lappers and 6-and-under swimmers. They taught basics like kicking, side breathing, freestyle, and backstroke in a safe environment where they could make mistakes, learn, and grow.
Going into this season, I knew Memorial West had a real chance to win our division, but we needed the right support to get there. Julie Huff stepped in as co-director after Mandy and brought fresh energy and drive. We also introduced WaveMakers, a training program designed by Coach Cassie to help turn good swimmers into great ones through both land and water workouts. The program was not just for our top heat swimmers—it was also for swimmers who stepped up and swam in older age groups. Many 9-11 yr old swimmers competed against 15–18-year-olds and held their own because Coach Cassie believed in them and trained them to be confident.
At Meet of Champs, we hoped to improve on the year before. In 2024, we finished 10th out of 13 teams, and in 2025 we finished 6th. In 2026, we thought 4th or 5th would be a huge win. Instead, Memorial West finished 3rd out of 13 teams, won our division, and earned a move up to the Big Show—the top division.
What makes me proudest is that we did it by putting community first and swim team second. Memorial West would not be where it is without our parents, coaches, directors, and swimmers. Our parents show up, jump in, and constantly ask, “How can I help?” Our coaches are there because they love swimming and love being around the kids. Coach Cassie brings a calm, steady presence to the deck and connects with everyone from our littlest swimmers to our oldest assistant coaches. And our swimmers show up ready to learn, work hard, take on challenges, and have fun. That is what makes Memorial West Sharks special.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There were definitely times when we wondered if we had bitten off more than we could chew. Directing the Memorial West swim team is a fully volunteer role, and in many ways it feels like a role reversal: the parents and adults do so much of the behind-the-scenes work without pay, but the kids in the more visible roles, coaching at practices and meets, are the ones who get paid. But we do it because it is a labor of love. An undertaking of this size starts coming together as early as November, and at times it can feel like taking on a second or third full-time job. After a season like 2026, though, it all feels worth it because of the joy, confidence, and memories it creates for the kids.
Our team is built on parent volunteers and sponsorship donations. A friend once told me that running a swim team is like owning a small business that is only open two months of the year and makes money during one of them—and that is exactly what it feels like. We rely on families who give their time and local businesses who believe in supporting our neighborhood team.
Thanks to generous sponsors like Olivo Remodeling, we were able to add a team pool shed, purchase a new timing system, and provide mats around the pool deck so swimmers are safer and more comfortable. From local Realtors and dentists to Shark-family-owned businesses, our community shows up for us, and their support makes this team possible.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
When I became swim director for the Sharks, I was surprised by how many kids lived in the same neighborhood, went to the same schools, and became best buds during swim season—but barely saw each other the rest of the year. That really stuck with me. What sets Memorial West apart is that we create opportunities for our swimmers to connect outside the pool. Yes, we are a swim team, but we are also a community.
One way we did that this year was through our Coach Tournament. Our Junior Coaches, Junior Coach Captains and Assistant Coaches were divided into four teams, each with its own color, spirit gear, and team name. Throughout the season, they competed in events like sand volleyball, pickleball, trivia, dinners, and meet-day challenges. It gave the kids a chance to spend time with neighbors they might not normally talk to, work together, disconnect from their phones, and just have fun.
What happened next was even better than we expected. The kids started planning their own get-togethers—surprise birthday parties, pool hangs, and FIFA watch parties. Bringing them together off the deck helped them become closer on the deck, too.
The other thing that sets Memorial West apart is that we are competitive, but not at the expense of the kids. Winning matters, and we have plenty of competitive swimmers and parents, but it is not our only goal. That is what I love about summer league swim: there is truly a place for everyone. If your child wants to race and win, there is a place for them. If your child mostly wants to hang out under the tent with friends, eat candy, drink a soda, and swim a race or two, there is a place for them too.
At the end of the day, this is summer league—not Olympic Trials or a college meet. Every swimmer gets a chance to compete, every swimmer gets a ribbon and every swimmer belongs. That is what makes Memorial West special.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://memorialwest.swimtopia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memorialwestswimteam
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MemorialWestSharks/
- Other: memorialwestswimteam@gmail.com
Image Credits
Top photo taken by Rachel Manning with Rachel Alyse Photography. Dressed by Lady Bird & Grace.
Teams photos taken by Cayla Oatman, Julie Huff & Linda Pham.
