There’s an old saying: it takes a village. After more than 30 years with the New Milford Barracudas, I can say with complete confidence that those words couldn’t be more true.
The Barracudas were never just a swim team. Of course, it was a place for young athletes to train, compete, and improve—but what truly made this team special was always the community behind it. The parents, siblings, grandparents, volunteers, and coaches all played a role in building something much bigger than swimming. For decades, Barracuda families poured their time, energy, and hearts into keeping this team alive.
Unlike many surrounding towns, we never had a pool to call our own. No permanent home base. No built-in facility to make things easier or keep costs low. Each season, we had to secure pool time just to make sure our swimmers had somewhere to practice. As the team grew, so did the rental hours—and the expenses that came with them.
And grow we did.
At one point, the Barracudas reached an incredible 120 swimmers. That kind of growth didn’t happen by accident. It came from the determination of families willing to do whatever it took to support their kids and their team. Fundraisers became a way of life—dinner dances, auctions, swim-a-thons, raffles, and every creative idea imaginable to help offset costs and keep the program thriving.
Countless volunteer hours went into making the Barracudas a success.
For years, not having a home pool was one of our greatest challenges. Today, that story has changed. We now are so grateful to have the New Milford Fitness and Aquatics Club to call home. Our four-lane pool may be simple, but it’s all we need to build something meaningful once again. As one of our longtime coaches always said, “All we need is water—the kids can do the rest.”
Then came COVID.
Like so many programs, the pandemic changed everything. Pools closed, schedules were disrupted, and teams across the region began to decline. For a self-sustaining
organization without a home facility, the challenges became overwhelming. Rising costs and declining numbers made it seem like the Barracudas had finally reached the end of their lane.For many of us, that was heartbreaking.
Former swimmers and families often asked the same question: How do we bring the Barracudas back?
As it turns out, the answer had been part of the Barracuda family all along.
Enter Sarah (Bell) Goncalves.
Sarah first joined the Barracudas back in 1998 after her family moved to the area. A talented swimmer with national-level experience, she quickly developed a deep love for the sport. Even as a high school swimmer, Sarah was already stepping into leadership roles, assistant coaching and showing the kind of dedication and technical skill that naturally inspires younger athletes.
She later returned as a USA Swimming coach and became a valued developmental coach, helping guide countless young swimmers through the early stages of their competitive careers. Sarah remained with the Barracudas through the program’s final season in 2017.
After the COVID decline, a small introductory competitive swim class was launched at the New Milford Fitness & Aquatics Club. What began as a modest effort to keep swimmers engaged gradually grew into an ongoing program. Sarah became one of the technical instructors working with those swimmers, and it quickly became clear she had a vision. Not long after, she asked a simple but powerful question:
Can we bring back the Barracudas?
That was all it took.
A certified USA L2 Coach, Sarah stepped right into the role of Head Coach. With her energy, commitment, and genuine love for the program, she began rebuilding from the ground up. She established a nonprofit parents association to support fundraising and team development, secured sponsorships, and rallied former Barracuda families and volunteers back into action. Her husband, children, former coaches, and long-time Barracuda supporters are all
behind her. And just like that, the program had new life.
There’s something special about this team that keeps calling people back. Maybe it’s the lifelong friendships formed on pool decks. Maybe it’s the lifelong lessons learned through hard work and perseverance. Or maybe it’s simply the feeling of belonging to something bigger than yourself.
Whatever it is, it lasts. Ask any former swimmer what they remember most, and chances are they won’t start with medals or best times. They’ll talk about teammates who became family. That’s always been the magic of the Barracudas.
And that’s why our team shirts have always said it best:
Once a Barracuda… Always a Barracuda.
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