Swimming for scholarships

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

Published: August 28, 2008

While most of the world was focused on Michael Phelps and the rest of the United States swimming team, one of the country's top swimming teams, located in Manassas, pretty much goes about its business in a normal way.

Without much fanfare, the QDD Swim team is sending a large number of its members off to college with scholarships, is doing a major renovation job on its facility, had a banner year winning medals, and is taking on new members who have hopes someday to also compete in the Olympics.

The QDD team has offered a national caliber competitive swim program for nearly 50 years. Upward of 10,000 swimmers have enrolled in the swim club, which has as its theme "One Team, One Dream."

"Through the years, the team has cultivated an environment in which swimmers learn sportsmanship, self discipline and a lifelong love for the sport," said Bill Shaw, a longtime parent volunteer who has seen three of his children, Tara, Karen and Deanna, become members of the team, along with four grandchildren.

QDD is a competitive¸, year-round, swim team affiliated with USA Swimming based in Manassas but drawing members from throughout Prince William and Stafford counties.

QDD provides swimmers of all ages the opportunity to reach their full potential as competitive swimmers while helping them develop self-esteem, time management skills, loyalty, respect, team spirit and friendships.

"We are dedicated to building positive relationships with our swimmers and their families, strengthening our communities and continuing the standards of excellence on which our program was built," said Shaw.

Out of 2,450 clubs nationwide, the Toyota Virtual Club Championship ranks the local club 88th nationally. The team had 13 Academic All-Americans last year, which was first in Virginia and fourth nationally and were awarded $842,000 in total college

scholarships for this year's graduating seniors.

The number of All-Americans was the highest in the history of the club and included Meredith Cavalier, Jake Stronko, Jessica Dunn, Kelly Fini, Suzannah Glaeser, Caitlyn Harrison, Caitlin Perks, Brian Kaehler, Philip LaRosa, Matt Penning, Kelly Reightler and Jordan DeGayner.

USA Swimming has recognized QDD as a "Bronze Medal Club of Excellence," the only Virginia Swimming Inc. club with this distinction in Northern Virginia. QDD also achieved USA Swimming' Club Recognition Program's Level 1, recognizing the team's efforts in all aspects of competitive swimming and team management.

Coaches Bob Blashill and Nathan Rhoads this year led the team to 32 team records, and the men's and women's teams won both of the 2008 Virginia Swimming Inc. Medium Team titles as well as many individual award winners. Nevin Cook placed first among men's individual scores, and Caitlin Perks was second among women and overall score.

Personal best times were recorded by Conor Campbell, Dan Francis, Megan Lisbon, April Livingston, Tyler Perez and Chase Wittenauer.

QDD, formerly called the Quantico Devil Dolphins when they were formed in 1962 on the Quantico Marine Corps base, moved to Manassas in 1994 when the Jeff Rouse Aquatic Center in Manassas was completed. It was named for member Rouse, who was a silver medal winner in the 1992 Olympics and a gold winner at the 1996 Olympics 100-meter back stroke. Through the years, the club has also had many national qualifiers and state record holders.

The following will also continue swimming collegiately—Nevin Cook at Virginia Tech, DeGayner at the University of Colorado, Jessica Dunn at St. Francis University, Fini at the College of William and Mary, Glaeser at the University of Connecticut, Sarah Grawe at Bloomberg University, Harrison at the University of Alabama, LaRosa at Virginia Tech, Lucas at the University of Pittsburgh, Perks at the University of Tennessee and Reightler at the United States Naval Academy. The club normally has about 200 swimmers each year, ages 5 to 18.

During the month of August, the pool is being resurfaced, the structure repainted and the dressing rooms renovated. An open house is planned for Sept. 6 to show the public the improvements. The center, in Georgetown South, has its own weight training facility for strength and conditioning.

"While we had an outstanding group of swimmers graduating this year, with our returning swimmers we are prepared to continue QDD's nearly 50 years of excellence and are positioning themselves for a strong showing in the 2008 and 2009 season and beyond," Shaw said.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.