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Mother and daughter coach Scott Sharks

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Maria Bowman
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  

The bond between a mother and daughter can be unlike any other relationship.  As a mother, Sharon Wilda has had an enormous influence on her daughter's lifelong pursuit of being physically fit.  Her daughter, Brittany Wilda, has been helping her mom mentor and coach 110 children pursuing that same goal. 

Together, they share an unconditional love for swimming.

Sharon said that since she was a young child, swimming was a big part of her life; spending hours in the pool, perfecting her swimming technique.  In high school, while swimming for the Scott Sharks, she became really good at the breaststroke.  But, because she swam faster than the coach's daughter, her coach never let her compete in that category, so she would not beat the other girl.

She now coaches the sharks, and using her personal experiences, works hard at treating them fairly while encouraging them to do their best, no matter what goals they are trying to achieve.

"I love seeing the children succeed," the head coach said.  "When a child has a goal for themselves-- learning a new stroke, a new technique or getting a faster time--and they obtain that, you can see the excitement on their faces, and an 'I can do it' attitude.  It's amazing to see it."

Sharon began swimming, competitively when she was seven, and continued until she was 20.  As a coach, she works with children ages 5-18 who have an affiliation with the military.    Depending on their abilities, these kids are placed into one of three swimming categories: Level I, Level II, or Level III.

"Their skill and ability depends on if they want it or their parents want it," Sharon said.  "That makes a difference.  If the child is forced to do it and is not enjoying it, he or she will put in less effort.  Whereas when the child feels the taste of success, whether it's learning a new technique, getting a faster stroke, or getting a best time, he or she wants it more and will work harder for it." 

Sharon said working with her daughter for the past ten years has been a wonderful opportunity for her and the swimmers.

"My daughter is my official sidekick," Sharon said.  "She's always helped me.  The swimmers look up to us both.  They know we've succeeded in the sport because we have records on the board, as well as earning the high point trophies.  So, no matter the age of the swimmer we don't have any people who disrespect her, even though she's the age of some of the kids, because they know she knows what she's talking about."

Brittany, 16, began swimming when she was 6 years old.  While she has always helped her mom with the administrative part of the business, this is her first year as an official coach.

"I like working with my mom because it's like learning from the best," the high school junior said.  "She trained me from throwing me in the water, where I'd sink to the bottom, to state qualifications in every stroke, and training for nationals.  I was getting team records and going for conference records."

Throughout her swimming career, Brittany has won several awards and broken many records, including a couple that knocked her mom off the board.

Sharon said, "My favorite memory ever was when I was teaching my 9-year-old daughter a technique and she started to grasp it and was hungry for more.  It came on like a light switch.  She was very desperate for more technique work so she could apply it at swim practice.  She had a little taste of success when she decided that breaststroke was her favorite stroke and had the timing figured out so she was gliding in the streamline."

Chloe Hernandez has been swimming since she was 5 years old, and she said her favorite stroke is the backstroke because you can breathe the whole time.

"My favorite part is all the team spirit and when people cheer for you," the 12 year old said.  "It's fun when you come to practice and see the smile on the coaches' faces and get ready to improve your stroke.  It's a really good experience.  The coaches are nice and they help me a lot, and I think I'm going to become a really good swimmer because of them."

Sharon and Brittany helped some of their swimmers break records this summer.  Aiden Hopp, Colby Derivan, Ben Foster and Junseo Lee broke the record, in the boy's 9 and 10-year old age group, for the 100 meter freestyle relay team, which hadn't been beaten since 1997.  One team, consisting of 9 and 10-year-old boys, broke the team broke the team record and received first place at the final swim meet of the season.

Sharon said she enjoys swimming because it's an individual and team sport.  People can practice by themselves or with a team.  After a person is no longer competing, he or she can still practice the sport and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

 "I have a passion for swimming.  I want children to fall in love with the lifestyle.  In swimming, you just need a pool; you don't have to have other people to do it.  I want to mentor a life-long, healthy relationship with this sport," she said.

Sharon is passing on her love of swimming to her daughter, who now spends her time coaching other athletes.  As a team, they influence children and guide them along the path to living a strong, healthy life.