WELCOME TO THE COUGARS DEN 

Founded in 1985, CAT is a recognized USA swim team that practices at the Haddam-Killingworth High School pool and competes at several locations and colleges around Connecticut and New England. Under the sponsorship of the Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Department,CAT provides competitive training programs where individual needs and goals are given careful consideration. Swimmers are grouped based on ability, age, and objectives.   Practices are available seven days a week with incorporated dry land training (strength training and exercises outside of the water), as well as periodic specialized clinics. Our team is open to swimmers with the desire and determination to succeed in a sport strongly dominated by outstanding student athletes.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Cougar Aquatic Team is to provide a competitive swimming program to Haddam and Killingworth, and its surrounding towns, that will develop student athletes who are a credit to society.  By providing high quality training for age group, senior, and elite swimmers, emphasizing physical, social, and emotional development, the Cougar Aquatic Team is committed to excellence and dedicated to empowering our student athletes to be champions in and out of the water.  We will measure our success by our individual progress, team unity, and family participation.

      OUR VISION  

The vision of the Cougar Aquatic Team is to continue its dedication in providing a competitive swimming program that consistently produces student athletes that are a credit to society.

The CAT swim team will begin practice on Monday, September 14th.  The practice schedule for September is on the website under the "calendar" section.  We had a great turnout for the "meet & greet" on Monday and everyone seems excited to get back in the pool.   Here is a brief description of the 3 teams CAT uses to help all levels of swimmers.   If you have any questions about these programs or what team your child should be on just email Coach Mike at (coach.mikek@yahoo.com).  

Mini-CAT:  This beginner program focuses on teaching the four strokes to the kids and will start their muscular development that they will need to become stronger swimmers.   This team swims 2-3 times a week for an hour and will compete in 2-3 meets this season.  The age groups for the team are all 8 and unders and any beginner swimmer 12 and under.

CAT Lite: An intermediate program that also focuses on the technical aspects of the sport.  This team takes technique from a recreation level to a USA swimming level.  The strokes are fine tuned and endurance training is introduced.  This team also focuses on having fun and making friends that they will have when the move up to the CAT program.  Practices are 3 times a week for an hour and fifteen minutes and the athletes will swim in 3-4 meets this season. There are no age limits for this group.

CAT:  The elite USA program that trains top swimmers in Connecticut and New England.  The program focuses on speed and endurance but also spends 10-30 minutes every practice on technique.  CAT practices 5-6 times and week and also does dry-land training 1-2 times a week.  Practices are 90-120 minutes and the kids will swim in 8-12 meets this season.  There are no age limits for CAT but participants must be strong swimmers.