U.S. Masters Swimming Club of the Year Award
| Recipient: | Asphalt Green Unified Aquatic Masters |
| Year: | 2010 |
| LMSC: | Metropolitan |
Asphalt Green Masters (AGUA) welcomed all swimmers, from the Olympic Gold Medalists to novice. The team began in 1994 as a conglomeration of teams, using New York City’s only indoor 50-meter pool. Starting in 2009, under the leadership of Head Coach, Craig Keller, the teams consolidated, and membership grew from 89 swimmers to 305 by 2010.
Coach Keller gave each swimmer an opportunity to meet individually to discuss their goals, which might be competitive, fitness, rehabilitation, or any other reason. He then tailored their program specifically to meet those goals. Workouts were adjusted to fit each swimmer’s ability. Stroke instruction, underwater video analysis, and dryland strength training were routinely provided. In 2010, Coach Keller was appointed USMS Head National Team coach for the FINA World Championships.
In 2010, while supporting the community “Waterproofing” program, AGUA members donated money and volunteered as swim buddies to give swim lessons to children from the New York City public schools. And in honor of two Masters swimmers who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, Andrew Fisher and Doug Irgang, AGUA raised funds at an annual event, SWIM FOR THE FUTURE. Proceeds provided scholarship to swimmers who needed financial support to swim with the youth competitive swim team.
AGUA’s enthusiastic management staff and highly skilled coaching staff helped their swimmers meet their goals by providing athletic excellence, team camaraderie, and a challenging and supportive atmosphere. AGUA women took 3rd place in the 2010 Short Course Nationals in Atlanta, and AGUA men took 1st place in the Colonies Zone SCM Championship. AGUA was excited to be selected as the first-ever recipient of a USMS team sponsorship with Speedo USA.