THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410040133
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
It HAS BEEN 16 years since the Bounty Otters first hit the water with a total of 15 swimmers.
That's a far cry from the 120-plus swimmers the Otters, now known as the Old Dominion Aquatic Club, boast today.
The club has gained national recognition over the years with numerous state championship teams and nationally qualified swimmers. Seven ODAC swimmers have been to the Olympic Festival and 1984 and '88 Olympic medalist Mary T. Meagher trained there.
All of the national attention has helped attract swimmers as well as new coach Steve Bialorucki, who has coached the nationally recognized Cincinnati Marlins and most recently coached in Florida. But the attention may have also intimidated those who aren't ever going to be Olympic material, but still want to swim.
Bialorucki hopes to change that by giving attention to ODAC's age group programs.
``We have a very strong senior level program,'' Bialorucki said.``I don't think we have serviced the needs of the age group swimmers. Several of the other clubs have taken that role.
``We're trying to put it together so that age group swimmers can come here for future development into strong senior swimmers.''
ODAC's success spawned five other area clubs which cover Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake and include TIDE, BOLT, Tidewater Aquatic Club, CYAT and Tri-City Aquatic Club (TCAC). The idea was to give every person who wanted to swim, no matter how competitive, a place to go.
Penny Smith founded TCAC three years ago not simply to increase competition, but more to give people a place to learn to swim.
``With all of the water surrounding this area it's very important to learn to swim,'' Smith said.
Smith also saw a need for a place for families to get together, especially in a military area where kids are constantly moving.
``It's an instant organization for families to get involved in,'' Smith said. ``I'm very family oriented and I think we are a lot more accommodating than some clubs. That is why we limit the number of meets to one a month.''
As swimming interest in the area has grown Smith has been one of the biggest proponents of getting swimming going in the high schools to fuel that growth.
High school swimming gets underway as a club sport in Virginia Beach this winter, and this will offer those who don't want the intensity of the United States Swimming sanctioned clubs a competitive outlet. Swimming at the high school level also tends to retain the team aspect of the sport, where the clubs are really training the individuals.
``There is a lot of untapped talent out there that I think stays away from the year-round clubs, but will enjoy high school swimming,'' said Norfolk Academy coach Jay Leach, whose boys and girls teams will be going after their 12th and seventh straight state championships, respectively, when the season starts next month. ``It also adds a new dimension to the winter sports.''
While all of the growth adds excitement to the competition and gives everyone a club to swim with, what the area lacks is a 50-meter competition pool.
Every pool in the area is a 25-yard facility, which is fine for summer leagues and for practice, but it prevents Norfolk or Virginia Beach from hosting any sort of state or Olympic Festival competition. It also hinders the top seniors who are competing at that level in 50-meter pools, but are forced to train in smaller ones.
``It's unbelievable how many children are involved in swimming and the competitions have to be held elsewhere,'' Smith said.
``Without the pools on the naval bases most of the teams wouldn't have a place to practice,'' said Joan Chang, former publicity director for ODAC. ``We just really need to get some support either corporate or from the city. It's very detrimental to the sport not to have a facility. I think we need more facilities of all kinds for the youth in this area.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Thomas Deepak, a student at Norfolk Academy and a member of the Old
Dominion Aquatic Club, is one of the top butterfly swimmers.
Olympian Mary T. Meagher trained at ODAC.
by CNB