One Team. One Vision One Goal.

ONE TEAM

ONE VISION ONE GOAL

by Jean Eisenmann | photos courtesy of Lakeside Aquatic Club

The sport of swimming has so much to offer people of all ages. It’s a healthy, low impact exercise and a resource for practicing concentration and maintaining focus. It’s also a lifetime sport. Knowing how to swim could also save your life or someone else’s from drowning. But first and foremost – it’s FUN!

Even at a young age, swimming with a local team or organization provides the structure and socialization that comes with training toward a common goal. It can be a proving ground for setting goals, learning resilience, and becoming part of something bigger than just yourself. When children learn that discipline from a young age, it becomes second nature for a lifetime.

How fortunate for Denton County residents to have Lakeside Aquatic Club (LAC) right in the neighborhood of Flower Mound. LAC has long been recognized as one of the best swim clubs in the DFW metroplex — and one of the largest and most successful in Texas.

“Another distinction that sets us apart,” LAC Operations Manager Candice Saffle revealed, “is that LAC is a USA Swimming Gold Medal Club. [This is] a designation of quality awarded to only 20 of the most successful swim clubs in the United States.”

Currently, there are over 3,100 swim clubs registered throughout the country!

This club focuses on all levels of swimming programs for children and adults alike. From beginner stage to Masters Swimming or national level development, they offer three levels of classes: competitive (developmental), non-competitive, and lessons programs.

LAC is also one of the oldest swim clubs. It all started in Lewisville in 1982. Then called the Lewisville Aquatic Club, it was labeled as a summer recreation team. Flower Mound later merged with Lewisville.

“The Flower Mound/Lewisville club is very robust, and it’s the original, with 40

years of combined history and experience,” Candice said.

Teaming with the Flower Mound/Lewisville location, LAC has grown to include facilities in Keller and The Colony and operates five facilities within these three locations.

“All of our locations act as one team,” Candice explained. “They work together, even though they compete against one another in order to practice competitively.”

She added, “Our clubs really support the high school programs. Students can get PE requirements from us if their school doesn’t offer a swimming program.”

In 2008, Coach Jason Walter joined LAC as one of more than 25 talented and highly qualified members of their coaching staff. Head coach and site manager since 2011, Jason’s leadership has generated many successes for LAC, and the club has nearly tripled in size. Combining all clubs, LAC currently fosters 1,100 swimmers.

“We are the best team in Texas and the top 20 team in the country,” Jason said proudly.

LAC offers a variety of swimming programs for all skill levels: Lessons is for ages 5 and up, where students are taught the basic techniques and safety measures.

Stroke Team is developmental and meant to introduce the basic techniques of all four competitive swimming strokes: Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly.

“This program teaches kids how to swim the Olympic way — not only to be water safe but to swim competitive strokes,” Jason said. “Once you get the strokes down, we can grow you for competitive swimming.”

Competitive Team (Age Group and Senior levels) is the ultimate goal for the majority of these students. Swimmers train to compete, and many continue to pursue collegiate swimming careers that even continue after college.

Depending on age and skill level, tryouts are held for all swimmers, and coaches determine where they will be placed and/ or promoted to other levels.

LAC has trained and developed high school state champions, collegiate athletes, NCAA champions, and Olympic trials qualifiers. Many of them also excel academically and have qualified as Scholastic All-Americans.

“Some people aren’t aware that we are a board governed, coach run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization,” Candice pointed out. “Therefore, we rely heavily on donations. It’s a big piece of how we support our coaches and swimmers.”

The club recently launched their annual Swim-a-Thon fundraiser in Keller, which is open now through the end of July for donations. Check out their website or Facebook page for details.

LAC is a family-oriented organization — a large club with the feel of a small club. Parents enjoy volunteering, and the staff throws parties for team building. Former team members who go off to college often return to swim with the current group and even want to coach.

“You want a place where your kids can succeed but have lots of fun doing it,” Jason said enthusiastically. “We’re here to make them the best.”