Mid-Cities Arlington Swimming (MARS) is a result of the 1997 merger of Swim Team Arlington (STAR) and Mid-Cities Swim Team (MCST).  STAR began as Tarrant County Aquatic Team (TCAT); over time, TCAT evolved to Arlington Irving Swimming (AIR) and ultimately to STAR.  MCST was founded to serve the communities of the Dallas-Fort Worth mid-cities of Hurst, Euless and Bedford.  Both Clubs' primary purposes at the time they were formed was to develop age group swimming and prepare swimmers for the area's high school teams.  These remain the club's major purposes today.  However, the club goals today include establishing a comprehensive competitive program for our communities.  MARS has not only become recognized as one of North Texas's finest programs, but we also participate at the state and national level by virtue of our age-group champions, National Finalists and Olympic Trials Finalists.

Our Facilities

        We are fortunate to have access to several wonderful aquatics facilities within the metroplex.  The MARS team trains year-round at Trinity High School Natatorium in Euless, and at Tarrant County College Southeast Campus in Arlington.  These fine indoor 25-yard, short course facilities provide us with ample lane-space for all of our programs and their unique locations provide us with the ability to service the entire Mid-Cities / Arlington area. Beginning October 1, 2007 our program expanded to include the 25-yard indoor pool at the Hugh Smith Recreation Center in central Arlington.

        In addition we utilize the 50-meter pool at University of Texas at Arlington (map) in the summers for our long course training.   

HEBISD Partner

 

In 2001, MARS became the "Official Age-Group Swimming Partner" of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD.  This recognition was a great step for both the MARS program and the HEB school district.  It means that for the next several years, the MARS program will continue to provide a much needed age group swimming feeder program for the HEBISD high school teams.  This allows the high school teams to remain highly competitive at the district, region and state level.

MARS Foundation

In early 2008 the MARS Foundation was formed to provide swim lesson and water safety opportunities for families in our community that are unable to afford them.  The MARS Foundation has also been recognized by USA Swimming as a local partner in its Make-a-Splash initiative.  The MARS Foundation has partnered with the City of Arlington and Arlington ISD to provide services to the community.

OUR MISSION

Mid-Cities Arlington Swimming (MARS) is an age-group, year-round competitive swim club located in Arlington, Hurst, Euless and Bedford, all suburbs between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

The goal of the MARS is to provide opportunities for young people to develop socially and emotionally, to experience a wholesome and worthwhile physical and recreational outlet, to learn sportsmanship and be aware of team cooperation and to acquire skills to achieve personal and team goals.

Mid-Cities Arlington Swimming is a member of North Texas Swimming, Inc. North Texas Swimming is part of USA Swimming, Inc. which sanctions and rules competitive swimming. MARS is also a member of the Texas Swimming Association, the governing body of the Texas Age Group Championships and the annual Texas North - South All-Star Competition. Additionally, the team is a member of the Southwest Senior Circuit Association that provides competition for the highest caliber swimming in the southwest region of the United States.