Holy Mackerel! After a two-year losing streak, the Arlington Knights of Columbus Holy Mackerel Swim Team ended their season with a win over the Armfield Farm Stingrays, 246-198. Although their record isn’t stellar, the swimmers and coaches believe the Holy Mackerels is more than a team — it’s a family.

The swim team has been around since the 1970s, when the Knights of Columbus pool was built. The season runs from the end of May to the end of July. Daily practices prepare swimmers for their two meets each week.

The Mackerels have several unique programs that help build team community. With children ages 5-18, the team bridges the gap by separating swimmers into four mini-teams named for types of mackerels: petos, bonitos, kings and chubs. The four coaches each lead a team, and swimmers create friends in all age groups.

The week leading up to their last meet is called Holy Mackerel Week. Each day has a different theme — super heroes day, love the coaches day and roll out of bed and swim day. The season ends with an awards banquet.

The Mackerels want swimmers with good attitudes who practice Christian virtues, said Jon Zischkau, a member of the board. The team does not support a "win at all cost" competitive mentality, he said.

With 133 Mackerels on the team, Head Coach Caroline Heeter has three assistant coaches and two junior coaches. The junior coaches, Philip Kiko Jr., and Jessica Walczak, are swimmers on the team, but also teach the younger swimmers.

Kiko, 18, has been swimming with the Mackerels since he was five. Saturday’s meet marked his last one with the team, and he admits he is sad to leave.

"It’s such a great environment to be in," he said. He hoped that his last meet would be a victory and was happy when the final score was announced.

Steven Lent, a member of St. Agnes Parish in Arlington, has three children on the team and one "in training." Lent hopes his children continue to swim with the team until they graduate high school.

"The coaches love the kids and the kids love them," he said. According to Lent, a member of the Edward Douglass White Knights of Columbus Council, swimmers come from as far as Burke to swim with the Mackerels.

"They have so much energy. They’re great to be around," said Assistant Coach Patrick Rainey, who started swimming with the Mackerels when he was 15. Now, he enjoys coaching and working with the kids. He said he’s excited to wake up at six every morning to get to practice.

According to Rainey, the teammates have an instant connection because of their affiliation with the Knights. Many of these families know each other through various Knight events. The youths come as friends, and the team grows from there, he said.

Assistant Coach Bridget Eldridge, a member of St. John Parish in McLean, started swimming with the Mackerels when she was 7.

"I haven’t been able to get away from it," she said. Whether it is their original traditions and cheers or the tight-knit community, the Mackerels are not a normal swim team, she said.

"I mean who has the Holy Mackerel as their mascot?" Eldridge asked.