Nadadores' Masters Programs make a big splash
While swimming on the Mission Viejo Nadadores Masters team in the 1970s, Margrit Graef remembers the friends she made and the privilege she felt by meeting future Olympians. It's still that way today, more than four decades later.
"Being an active Masters member again since 2006, I slowed down but still enjoy the friendship of my teammates, great coaches, competition and staying in reasonable shape at 86," she said.
Stories like Margrit's of camaraderie, competition and fun run deep with the Nadadores Masters Swimming and Diving programs.
Since 1974, the Masters Swim program has promoted health and fitness from lap swimming to local, regional, national and international competition. Members of this year-round program are part of U.S. Masters Swimming. Competitions and meets are available but not required. The program has received much fanfare. In 2009, it was named U.S. Masters Swimming Club of the Year. The club has hosted the U.S. Masters National Championships four times - 1976, 1977, 2005 and 2013 - and will do so again in 2019 at the City's newly renovated Marguerite Aquatics Center.
In addition, the Nadadores club offers training and recreational diving for adults as part of USA Diving's Masters program. This program encourages athletes of all ages (21-100) to enjoy diving as a sport they can do for life. It includes past competitive Senior National and NCAA Division 1 level athletes as well as new divers just discovering the fun of diving and its tremendous health benefits.
"I took up masters diving in my late 30s to help me manage the stress of my PhD dissertation "¦ I never intended to get seriously involved, but the feeling of accomplishing new skills and the joy of flying quickly hooked me," said Sara Gilliland. "Over the past 5 years, not only have I learned skills that I never would have imagined as a youth, but I have also had the opportunity to compete and medal nationally and internationally."
The Nadadores programs will make an even bigger splash with the reopening of the Marguerite Aquatics Complex on Saturday, April 7.
The opening ceremony is from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. with a host of activities taking place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 27474 Casta Del Sol. Stay tuned for more information leading up to the April 7 celebration.
Information about the Mission Viejo Nadadores is available at http://mvndive.com and http://www.mvnswim.org.