Team Goal

Improve the fitness and overall swimming ability of every
member of the team to continue a lifelong healthy lifestyle
while forming a strong team relationship and having as
much fun as possible.

The Dayton Area Sharks (DAS) is a Masters swim team whose objective is to train and develop beginner swimmers and advanced swimmers alike.

We train the young and the mature, we train triathletes, we train the serious and the not-so-serious swimmer, we train the experienced and the new. We offer 10 work outs a week at three different pools. Chances are that we offer a practice near you that works with your schedule! We have an experienced coaching staff that consists of nationally recognized swimmers and triathletes.

We are here to develop you as a swimmer. We do so while trying to have as much fun as possible. Competition is purely optional. However, going to meets with the team is one of the best ways to have fun. Masters meets are easy going with no stress and they are events geared towards everyone of all skill levels. It doesn't matter if you're new to swimming or a veteran, you'll have fun at a Masters meet! We usually go out afterwards as a team, so don't miss out on a great chance to hang out with us.

We believe that technique is the quickest way to become a better swimmer. We use our knowledge and experience to develop your stoke technique so that you can improve as a swimmer. We believe that every swimmer needs diversity in their work out. Balance is the key. Sprinters need speed and endurance. Distance athletes need aerobic capacity and strength and the ability to peak. This makes our work outs unique, different and fun.

Our team goal says it all: "Improve the fitness and overall swimming ability of every member of the team to continue a lifelong healthy lifestyle while forming a strong team relationship and having as much fun as possible." You can join one of our work outs at any time and try us out!

Cody Rasmussen   Email Cody

Cody is no stranger to the world of swimming. He has been a coach for over 8 years and a competitive swimmer for over 2 decades. He has coached the Dayton Area Sharks for four years. Before that, he coached as a volunteer with the Air Force Academy Intercollegiate Swim Team where he coached Top 25 ranked NCAA Div I swimmers. At the same time, he was the coach for the Air Force Academy Triathlon Team. In addition, Cody resided as the head coach for the Greene Valley Swim Club where he was in charge of 6 coaches and 120+ swimmers. Cody is also experienced in multiple levels of coaching: high school (Beavercreek High School), other masters swim teams (El Segundo Masters, AFA Masters), and at nationally renowned swim camps (Air Force Academy Sports Camp). He is a Level II certified coach with the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA).

Cody has shown excellence in the water as well. He was ranked in the NCAA Div I Top 25, qualified for the US Olympic Trials, and earned the MVP trophy during his senior year at the Air Force Academy. He has competed internationally at the Military World Games and at AIRNORTH. He is ranked in the US Masters Top 10 list in 23 different events and has won numerous events at the state and national Masters level. Cody also competes in triathlons where he has done every distance from sprint to Ironman.

Coach Cody also works within the US swimming community. He has attended the ASCA World Coaches Clinic and the United States Aquatic Sports Festival. He is also the Chairman of the Ohio Local Masters Swimming Committee.

Franklin Halley

Franklin has over 40 years of swimming experience. He places in the top-8 regularly at the USMS and YMCA masters national championships and has won multiple individual and relay events. He is ranked in the US National Masters top-10 list in 4 different events. At Grinnell college he was team captain for 2 years, was a NCAA Div III national qualifier, was a conference champion multiple times, and was a school record holder. He has extensive coaching experience with The Yellow Springs Sea Dogs age group team over the last 10 years.

Jason Hill

Jason is a native of Springfield, OH where he swam 8 years for the Springfield YMCA Swim team. He is a 2001 graduate of Wittenberg University where he specialized in distance freestyle and finished in the top-8 at the conference championships in the 1650 freestyle all 4 years.

After college, Jason returned to the Springfield Family YMCA where he spent 5 years as an assistant coach, working primarily with the 13 and over age group. In 2006, he accepted a position as head coach at Shawnee High School in Springfield where he is entering his third year.

As a Masters competitor, he achieved six separate top-3 finishes in his age group at the 2008 YMCA Masters Nationals. Most notable was a first place finish in the 1650 freestyle, a swim which also earned him USMS top-10 honors.

Jason is a civilian employee at Wright Patterson Air Force Base and resides in Springfield with his wife Ashley who also swims for the Sharks.

Essential Equipment

Team Swim Cap

Every DAS member will be provided (free of charge) a latex team cap to wear at team practices and all swim meets (if the swimmer elects to wear a cap)

Goggles

Every swimmer should wear goggles to protect his or her eyes. Be sure to try them on prior to purchasing.

Strokemaker Paddles

The coaches strongly suggest getting the Strokemaker Paddles. These help develop both technique and strength. We suggest using them without a wrist strap to help teach swimmers proper stroke balancing. Every swimmer on this team should have their own pair of Strokemaker Paddles. Please consult a coach on proper paddle sizing and fitting.
SM (Green)   MED (Yellow)   LG (Red)   XL (Blue)   Extra Tubing

Optional Equipment

Pull Buoy

All pools have pull buoys for swimmers to borrow, but some of you may want to get your own pull buoy.

Kickboard

All pools have kickboards for swimmers to borrow, but some of you may want to get your own kickboard. It is nice to have your own especially if you want to put designs, slogans, or stickers on it to make it your own. Kickboards are great for self expression.

Mesh Bag

Many swimmers love using this bag to carry all of their training equipment. Since the bag is made of a mesh material, it can be placed on deck near the swimmer for easy access. You'll see all the coaches use this bag when they swim since it carries all their swim toys in one bag.

Zoomer Fins

Zoomer Fins are a great way to develop leg strength and ankle flexibility while maintaining leg speed and tempo. These fins are purposely built with a short length so swimmers won't change their core kicking technique. The coaches strongly suggest only getting short length fins for swim training.

Breaststroke Fins

These are the first fins that actually work for the breaststroke kick! These fins not only help develop strength for the breaststroke kick, but they also can help develop proper kick technique. This is money well spent for hardcore breaststrokers or beginner breaststrokers.

Center Mount Snorkel

World-class coaches love this snorkel. The Center Mount Snorkel is a great way to develop stroke technique and develop proper body positioning. It does so by eliminating the breathing motion and allows swimmers to completely focus on their technique without frequent disruptions.

Forearm Fulcrum

If you are having difficulties maintaining high elbows and/or keeping your wrist straight during your underarm pull, you will want to use the Finis Forearm Fulcrum.

Discount at Kast-A-Way Swimwear

DAS members get a 20% discount at Kast-A-Way's website. Here's how to get the discount:

1. Create a Kast-A-Way user account
2. Go to Kast-A-Way's teams webpage
3. Log in as yourself, then add an affiliation with the Dayton Area Sharks:

   Team Login: DASM78
   Team Password: SHARKS78

4. Click on the Dayton Area Sharks Masters link and begin shopping