Supporting Your Swimmer’s Dreams: Q&A with Cullette Sommers

Check out our Q&A interview with Cullette Sommers!

Cullette Sommers has been the General Manager at Emler Swim School of Tualatin, and soon you'll find her at our brand new location in Tanasbourne. With a passion for helping all swimmers find their stride, Cullette loves helping our students perfect their strokes, get excited for competitive swimming, and prepare for swim team tryouts. If your swimmer is thinking about moving into the world of competitive swimming, this is the interview you want to read!

Can you tell us about your entrance into the world of swimming?

My mom had a rule that she passionately followed (it’s one that she has even nudged her grandchildren with): you are allowed to do anything you want – except for sitting at home – so choose your sport or activity. My mom knew that raising us would take a village, and she helped build that village by pushing us towards community sports. I tried everything. There was tee-ball, karate, and even ice skating. When I was 10 years old, I made my commitment to competitive swimming. I wanted to race.

There weren’t many teams in Las Vegas, but we were able to find a team called the Sandpipers. I will never forget this team! This is where I grew to love everything about the sport– training, traveling, competing, and, of course, meeting amazing people. Community is what the swimming world is all about.

How did you find your place with Emler?

Before Emler, I spent over 25 years in the hospitality industry. Actually, I would drive past Emler’s Beaverton location almost everyday, for two years, while it was being built. It was right across the street from my restaurant. At first, I didn’t pay much mind to the giant fish sign hanging over the building– I was working no less than 50 hours a week (as one does when one works in the hospitality industry), with three elementary-aged children on swimming and school schedules. There wasn’t much time to think.

I blinked and, suddenly, it was December 30, 2021. My restaurant would not survive the pandemic. My staff and I were given a 24-hour notice: New Year’s Eve would be our last day of service. At this point, I wasn’t sure if I was crushed or relieved. The last 24 months had been brutal. Now, don’t forget, I was still driving by that fish everyday. 

About two months after my restaurant closed down, I started looking for work. I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to go back to the hospital industry. Maybe I just needed a break from it all. 

Then, one Saturday evening, I noticed the Emler fish, again; this time on LinkedIn. It was still staring at me. There was a job posting for a general manager. I applied, and, to my surprise, I had several interviews scheduled with Emler. Everyone I interviewed with was amazing! I was offered the role, and that was the start of a new journey!

The kids are now 15 and 16 years old. One is a Team Manager at Beaverton, and two are Emler swim instructors. All three have played their part in making our competitive swimming program a big success here in Oregon. I would say that there has been no looking back for me, or for our family. 

While Emler’s main focus is on swimming lessons, some people might not be aware that we also have a recreational swim team (also known as STEALTH). How do you (and other instructors) support our STEALTH program?

I am 110% a swim mom. I will always believe in the sport of swimming for every child that shows interest. It’s important for me to be there with the kids that are nervous at the beginning. They’re transitioning from 30 minute lessons to 60 minute practices. We are doing less manipulations and more drills that focus on technique, sprints, and endurance. They also have to learn to work together in a lane as a team. 

I’m there to support the parents, as well. The facilities are a bit quieter during STEALTH sessions, so I can catch up with the parents and check in to make sure the kiddos are truly enjoying themselves. As we go through a few STEALTH meets, we can start looking at the next steps to move the kids to a year round team, if that’s something the family wants.

Why should a student consider participating in STEALTH after graduating from level 11?

STEALTH gives the kids a headstart on what to prepare for when they move on to a bigger USA swimming event– it’s just in a smaller environment. The kids will learn what a heat is (a heat is essentially a round of races), how to report to their lane, how race timing works, and more. The parents are there to cheer them on and everything. It is such a great stepping stone for them!

At Emler, they are gaining confidence, and they are learning the fundamentals and techniques of the strokes that are required to make it on to the teams. They are leaving STEALTH with increased endurance and strength, knowledge on swim sets, and the ability to work as a group in a lane with multiple swimmers.

As we are in our second year of STEALTH here in Oregon, we are starting to see quite a few of our swimmers move on after one session to try out for teams in Oregon Swimming. They are making it to the state meet in their first season! It’s rare for kids to make it to state meets their first year in swimming. This is amazing and exciting for everyone! 

What advice would you give current families that want to swim competitively? 

First, I want to acknowledge that our swimmers are used to having smaller classes, and transitioning to something big can be scary– understanding and addressing your child’s feelings is key! When you go to a team it can be overwhelming, especially if you are put into a pool of kids that are much more advanced than you. This is why Emler’s managers work with the families on the pros and cons of joining a recreational team (such as STEALTH) before going to a try out. 

Sometimes, kids come back to STEALTH because they enjoy the recreational team more. Not every kid is going to want to compete, and that is 100% ok. That doesn’t mean that they don't belong on a swim team. If they love the sport, they absolutely can still be part of a swim team– many teams have different levels designed just for that. 

My advice to parents would be to ask lots of questions before your child commits to a team! Ask about attendance and meet requirements. For example, maybe the child doesn’t want to do meets right away– does he have to do every single meet or is there more flexibility? Ask yourself how many times a week you will realistically be able to get your kid to the meets. 

Swimming isn’t about beating the person next to you. Yes, sometimes we race and there is a winner. At the core of it though, we’re working on ourselves. Swimming is both a team sport and an individual sport. I have watched my kids, from childhood to now, uplift each other, their teammates, and their friends on other teams. These athletes grow up supporting each other.

The parents are doing the same thing. I have so many families that I barely know, but they will still reach out on social media to give my kids their accolades– and vice versa! It all starts at the beginning. This is what STEALTH is for our kids at Emler, the beginning. 

Swimming is a community sport. Be ready to be part of a really big family!

Learn more about our swim team programs! https://emlerswimschool.com/swim-teams/