CLASS Aquatics teaches local swimmers in year-round program

Special to The Acorn


STEVE AMES/The Acorn   CLASS AQUATICS SWIMMERS AND COACH-Several members of CLASS Aquatics and head coach Steve Reardon, from left to right: Brett Shiflett, Reardon, Jonnie Pra‚ and Kevin Nielsen.

STEVE AMES/The Acorn CLASS AQUATICS SWIMMERS AND COACH-Several members of CLASS Aquatics and head coach Steve Reardon, from left to right: Brett Shiflett, Reardon, Jonnie Pra‚ and Kevin Nielsen.

Some of its swimmers may someday wear the red, white and blue uniforms that represent the USA at future Olympic games.


Others may take their sport to a college campus where they’ll wear the university’s colors as a member of its swim team.


For all youth who swim for CLASS Aquatics, no matter the level, it’s an opportunity to practice and compete year-round in seasonal programs for novice and beginning swimmers.


"It’s actually good for all kinds of kids," said head coach Steve Reardon. "We have a lot of kids who swim just for the fitness of it. The reality is that, in the long run, there’s no better reason to swim than that because it’s something they’ll be able to do for the rest of their life."


Working with him are Lori Lloyd, head age group coach; Kathie Duncan and Natalie Shapiro-Busby, age group coaches; and Kathy Swatosh and Raine Kishimoto, novice coaches. USA Swimming certifies each member of the coaching staff.


"We have a lot of kids who swim because they like practicing, they like the environment, they like to be able to swim with the other kids and have fun with them, and they swim with the swim team."


CLASS, originally derived from Calabasas Lake–Aquatics Swim Stars, began in the mid-1980s. Reardon started with CLASS Aquatics in January 1994. He co-founded Combined Competitive Aquatic Team (CCAT) swimming, which formed when CLASS Aquatics and Crest Swimming merged.


Today, with the team once again using the acronym CLASS Aquatics, Reardon works directly with the junior/senior and senior groups, as well as overseeing the entire program.


In October 2001, the programs from Camarillo and Calabasas combined. They use three practice locations. One is the pool at Oaks Christian High in Westlake Village and the others are the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center and the pool at Birmingham High School.


Fees for swimming with CLASS are based on the level of the participant, the cost of renting the pool and paying the coaches. The range is $70 to $120 per month, per swimmer. In addition, CLASS depends also on fundraising.


"We try to make it as affordable as possible and put as much burden as necessary on fundraising," Reardon said. "We don’t want money to be an issue in terms of whether people swim or don’t swim."


Brett Shiflett, Oaks Christian High School senior, is one CLASS Aquatics member who’s done especially well and she’s at the nationals at Orlando, Fla., this week to compete in the USA Swimming National Championships, the highest-level meet in the nation.


"It’s my first time going," Shiflett said. "I’m really excited."


She qualified for the 200 freestyle and is also swimming the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly. A part of Shiflett’s success, she said, is her ability to keep in perspective her schoolwork, swimming and social life.


"I’ve been doing it since I was 8 years old," she said. "In high school I’m kind of getting used to balancing it.


"I have to go to swim practice. I make time to do social stuff during the weekends, and during the week, it’s just normally studying and school. I think it’s worth it. It’s going to help me get into college."


She hasn’t decided where she’ll enroll, but Shiflett said she’ll probably major in English.


Swimming has helped her learn to be more disciplined instead of putting things aside, she said. "I say, ‘Gee, I have to do my homework now because I’m not going to have time later for some practice.’ A lot of the characteristics I’ve learned through swimming—like hard work—is definitely helping me in school."


Another CLASS Aquatics member, Jonnie Praé of Westlake Village (in the 100 butterfly, 100 and 200 backstroke) is a freshman at Oaks Christian High School and will join his high school team for its season next month.


Praé said that CLASS Aquatics has created in him a dedication and discipline in his academics as well.


More information about the team or membership details are available via the Internet at www.CLASSaquatics.org or by phoning (818) 389-8812.




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