When was the last time you made a new friend—one who really stuck? Not just a passing connection or someone you wave to in the carpool line, but a real, lasting friendship. As adults, those are harder to come by. Without the built-in circles of school or work, meeting someone new can be a rare occurrence. But sometimes, life surprises you—through your kids, a shared activity, or even a neighborhood swim and tennis club.
Kylie Bowdey and Kate Harris met at gymnastics when they were six years old. They didn’t go to the same school or live in the same neighborhood. They didn’t even know each other’s names. But their moms did—after spending hours side-by-side on the bleachers, watching their daughters tumble across the mats.
“I overheard one of the other moms mention that she was thinking of enrolling her daughter in a swimming team. I was on a team growing up and really enjoyed it, so I had been thinking about doing the same with my daughter Kylie,” says Lindsey Bowdey. “I asked her if she had found a place, and she said Broomfield Swim and Tennis Club.”
Soon, both girls were swimming for The Sharks and having a blast.
“You didn’t need to be a member of the club to participate on the summer team, so it was a perfect way to get a feel for the environment,” explains Tracy Harris, Kate’s mother, who also swam on a team in Littleton growing up.
That summer, the girls became fast friends. Their moms, nearby for every practice and meet, bonded too. In 2020, when the pandemic forced the club to limit access and restrict swim team participation to members, both families made the leap and joined.
The club quickly became more than just a place to swim—it became part of their routine, and a shared space where friendships deepened.
Once you find a place like that, it’s easy to say, “Let’s meet at the club.” And that’s exactly what they did.
Kylie and Kate started spending more time together outside of swimming, and their families followed suit. Birthday parties, pool days, and casual dinners became part of the rhythm. Lindsey and her husband, Clayton, soon realized they had even more in common with Tracy and her husband, Kenny—they were all Colorado natives and CU Boulder alumni. Both families had season tickets to the Buffs football games. Their seats were in different parts of the stadium, but they always made time to meet up and say hi.
As the girls got older, their interests shifted. Kate picked up tennis.
“Kylie saw how much fun Kate was having on the tennis court, so she started playing as well,” adds Kylie’s mother. “They did tennis clinics together and then joined Junior Team Tennis as they improved, pushing each other along the way.”
Those six-year-old girls are now fifteen and have just completed their freshman year of high school. Kate plays for the Lightning on the Legacy High School tennis team, and Kylie plays for the Eagles at Broomfield High School. They both played the deuce side at 4 doubles on varsity this past season—and even ended up facing off.
“I think their favorite match of the season was playing against each other. It’s rare in high school for your best friend to be on the opposing team,” explains Kate’s mom.
For Tracy and Lindsey, the club remainsl a place to relax and catch up with friends—whether or not the kids are around. But for Kylie and Kate, it’s something more. It’s where they’ve grown up side by side. Where they swim, play, laugh, and compete. And most of all, where they’ve always had each other.
“The staff and the other members have seen the girls grow up and consider them part of the Broomfield Swim and Tennis Club family,” adds Lindsey, “and family looks out for you and lets you be yourself. What a welcoming atmosphere, no matter what your age.”
Friendship isn’t always easy to come by as we get older. But sometimes, all it takes is showing up—at practice, at the pool, or in the bleachers—and staying long enough to notice the people around you. Along the way, you might pick up a new skill, discover a new passion, or simply find your people. That’s how it started for these two families. What came next was something they couldn’t have planned: a shared history, a lasting bond, and the kind of friendship that just keeps showing up.
“Friendship isn’t always easy to come by as we get older. But sometimes, all it takes is showing up—and staying long enough to notice the people around you.”