AAAA Team History

 

Competitive swimming in San Antonio has included many exceptional athletes, coaches and administrators. The Alamo Area Aquatics Association (AAAA) was established in 1977 to serve as an organizational and administrative umbrella for multiple club programs across the city. The history of San Antonio Swimming as well as our noteable atheletes includes: 

 

1949 - 1976: 

  • The San Antonio Aquatic Club (SAAC) was formed in 1949 and coached by Roy and Lilly Kniep. 
  • Alamo Heights was coached by Jimmy Cunningham, SAAC was coached by George Smith, and Alamo Heights was coached by Hal Robbins. During this time a swimmer named Chuck Worrel (1961-1964) became one of the best backstroke swimmers in the USA and later became the Head Coach at Alamo Heights.  
  • SAAC trained at the Alamo Heights Pool in Olmos Basin and at the North East ISD pool at the Blossom Athletic Center. Another team at that time that trained at the NEISD pool was the North East Aquatic Team coached by Ted Stickels and eventually in 1969 merged as one team keeping the SAAC name.    
  • Coach Bill Walker served as the NEISD Aquatic Coordinator and Head Coach for SAAC from 1969-1976 while John Ryan served as the Age Group Coach.  
  • SAAC won the Long Course TAGS Championship in the Summer of 1972. 
  • In the fall of 1976, Coach John Ryan was named the NEISD Aquatic Coordinator and Head Coach for SAAC. During his tenure he developed a 3rd grade swim lesson program and the North East Summer Swim League. 
  • Pete Williams became the Head Coach at Alamo Heights and was assisted by George Block. 
 

1975 – 1988: 

  • Coach John Ryan and Coach Pete Williams discuss creating Alamo Area Aquatics Association (AAAA) during Spring Nationals in 1977. 
  • George Block became the Northside Aquatic’s Director in 1978. 
  • AAAA is formed with three sites:  Alamo Heights, Northside and SAAC.   
  • AAAA/SAAC swimmer Cassie Cochran sets two American Records in 100 meter and 200 meter breaststroke events in February 1978.
  • AAAA swimmers to win Junior National Gold Medals during this era include: SAAC’s Chris Rowe, Jack Biere, Ken Grey, Greg Goulet and Vanessa Richey; Alamo Heights’ Lynn Reynold and Jim Anderson.
  • From 1980-1983 Tim Henrich succeeded Pete Williams at Alamo Heights and from 1983-1984 Jim Yates became the Head Coach and Alamo Heights left the AAAA umbrella. 
  • Fall 1982 Bill Walker returned to San Antonio to succeed John Ryan at SAAC/NEISD who went on to coach the SMU Women’s team. Walker is assisted by Pete Williams. In 1983, Todd Cook won the Junior National title in the 200 Butterfly. 
  • Bruce Hayes returned to San Antonio to train for the 1984 Olympic Trials. Hayes made the team and anchored the USA Gold Medal 800 Freestyle Relay, becoming San Antonio’s first Olympic Medalist in the sport of swimming.  
  • In 1984, San Antonio Nadadores (SAISD) joined AAAA and the school district hired Donald Walker as Aquatic’s Director and Head Coach.
  • AAAA wins 1984 SC TAGS Championships. 
  • SAAC’s Vanessa Richey qualified for US Olympic Trials in 1984.
  • Bill Thomas joined Block as Assistant Coach at Northside in 1986.
  • In 1986, Northside’s Laura Grimes became the Jr. National Champion in the 100 Breaststroke.
  • Bill Walker retires from coaching at SAAC and remains the NEISD Aquatic’s Coordinator. Pete Williams became the Head Coach in 1987-1988. 
  • In 1988, Kit Patterson, Ellis Eaton, Chris Olvera and Scott Schumaker are named the Jr. National Champions in the 400 Medley Relay.
  • AAAA wins the 1988 SC Junior National title in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 
  • Coach Pete Williams resigns SAAC Head Coach position to take the Head Coach job at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, David Johnson became the SAAC Head Coach in the Fall of 1988, assisted by Shirl Walter. 
 

1989 – 2000:

  • SAAC’s Kathleen Wilcox, Eric Bailey and Ryan McKinney US National 1989  
  • In 1989, Northside’s Matt Hooper won the 1500 Freestyle at US Olympic Festival Champion. He goes on to become AAAA’s first selected US National Team Member, moving on to make the US SC World Championship team. In 1990, he held the National Champion title in the 1650 Free. During the 1992 Olympic Trials, he finals, and goes on to become the 1992 National Champion in the 400 IM. 
  • Judson Metrocom joins AAAA, and hires Scott Harris as Head Coach. Bob Renfrew became Head Coach 2000 – present 
 

2000 – Present:

  • In 2001, Bill Walker retires from NEISD and David Johnson becomes NEISD Aquatic’s Coordinator. Following his appointment, NEISD absorbed the team and re-established it under district management as the North East Aquatic Team (NEAT).
  • NEISD/NEAT hires Rick Whittlesey as Head Coach in 2002, with David Johnson becoming interim Head Coach in 2004 following Whittlesey’s departure. 
  • In 2005, Mark Jedow becomes NEISD/NEAT Head Coach. Jedow resigns to coach at Winston Churchill High School, and NEISD hires Larry Hough as Head Coach 2008. 
  • NEISD/NEAT hires Lou Walker as Head Coach in 2012, following Larry Hough’s departure.  
  • In 2012, Jewish Community Center (JCC) joins AAAA, with Susan Ingraham as Head Coach. 
  • Former USA Olympian Doug Gjertsen is hired by NEISD/NEAT as Head Coach in the Fall of 2019.
  • Coach Bill Walker passed away on January 7, 2021 
  • 2021 AAAA umbrella organization includes: Alamo Heights, Jewish Community Center, Judson Metrocom, North East ISD, Northside ISD, Palo Alto College, San Antonio Nadadores 
 

AAAA National Qualifiers & Notable Athletes:

  • 1991

    • Northside’s Brent Branstetter, Joe Vasquez, Walter Soza, Derek Howorth and Jennifer Banda become US National qualifiers. 
  • 1992
    • Jimbo Haley qualifies for US Pentathlon Team to Barcelona
    • Northside’s Heather Branstetter, Soza, Howorth National qualifiers 
    • SAAC’s Ryan McKinney qualifies for US Olympic Trials 
    • Northside’s Chris Epp qualifies for US Olympic Trials 
    • Northside’s Derek Howorth qualifies for US Olympic Trials and was a semi finalist in the 200 Breaststroke (14th place) 
  • 1993
    • Heather Branstetteer named National High School Champion, National Jr. Team and National qualifier 
    • Northside’s Raina Elwani Jr. National Champion in 50, 100 Free and 100 Fly
    • Palo Alto College joins AAAA, and hires Denny Ryther as Facility Director/Head Coach 
  • 1994
    • Matt Hooper and Heather Branstetter qualify for US Nationals 
    • AAAA 9th Place Combined team at US Nationals 
    • Northside’s Megan Ryther Jr. National Champion in 1500 Free
  • 1995 
    • SAAC’s Sarah Doyle, Ryan Mammarella, Chris Ross and Nadadors’ Adrian Montoya qualified for the US Open in Buffalo, NY 
    • SAAC’s Ryan Kafer LC Junior National LC Champion in the 50 and 100 Freestyle. 
    • Ryan Mammarella, Cedric Owens, Michael Proffit and Chris Epp Jr. National Champions 800 Free Relay  
    • AAAA team places 5th at Junior Nationals
  • 1996
    • Megan Ryther Spring Senior Nationals Rookie of the Meet 
    • Megan Ryther qualifies for US Olympic Trials   
    • Matt Hooper National Champion in 100 and 200 butterfly 
    • Hooper, Howorth, H. Branstetter, Ryther qualify for US Olympic Trials 
    • Walter Soza represents Nicaragua in Olympic Games 
    • Raina Elwani represents Egypt in Olympic Games 
  • 1997
    • Chris Epp Jr. National Champion 200 Free and 400 Free  
    • Megan Ryther 5K World Championship Team Event Gold Medalist 
    • AAAA team places 9th at Junior Nationals 
  • 1998
    • Chris Epp National High School Champion 200 Free; US National Qualifier 
    • Kathy Barris, Phoenix Fribourg, Christina Pikla, Katie Peterson Jr National Champions 400 Medley Relay  
    • San Antonio Nadadores’ Christina Pikla and Louis DeLeon qualified for the US Open 
    • SAAC’s Sarah Chandler, Rob Harrison and Jordan Hollsten qualify for US Nationals
  • 1999
    • AAAA places 17th in Combined Teams at Phillips 66 National Championships
    • Sarah Chandler and Rob Harrison qualify for US Nationals 
    • AAAA team places 6th at Junior Nationals
  • 2000
    • AAAA Team places 4th at Junior Nationals  
    • Sarah Chandler qualifies for US Olympic Trials  
    • Matt Hooper and Chris Epp qualify for US Olympic Trials 
    • Jennifer Gutierrez captains USA Triathlon Team in Sydney 
    • San Antonio Nadadores’ Adrian Montoya qualifies for US Olympic Trials  
  • 2002
    • NEAT’s Celina Lemmen qualifies for US Spring Nationals 
  • 2003
    • Shane Milu qualifies for US Nationals 
  • 2004
    • Shane Milu qualifies for US Olympic Trials 
    • Northside’s Sofian Daid, Maharez Mubarek and Aghiles Slimani represent Algeria in Olympic Games 
    • Celina Lemmen represents Netherlands in Olympic Games 
    • Caitlin Andrew National Qualifier
  • 2005
    • Caitlin Andrew National Qualifier
  • 2006
    • Nadadores’ Blake McKay US National Qualifier
    • Northside’s Casey Hurrell-Zitelman US National Qualifier
    • Caitlin Andrew National Qualifier
  • 2007
    • Northside’s Caitlin Andrew makes National Team; Gold Medal as member of 400 Free Relay team  
    • Northside’s Casey Hurrell-Zitelman US National Qualifier
    • Caitlin Andrew US National Qualifier
  • 2008
    • Northside’s Nabil Kebab represents Algeria in Olympic Games 
    • Northside’s Bryan Snowden US National Qualifier
    • Kaitlin Andrew qualifies for US Olympic Trials; semi-finalist in three events   
    • AAAA places 7th Combined Team at Junior Nationals
    • NEAT’s Lily Moldenhauer Junior National Champion in the 100 and 200 Butterfly  
    • NEAT’s Moldenhauer qualifies for US Olympic Trials, and semi-finals in 200 Fly  
  • 2009
    • AAAA places 4th Combined Team at Junior Nationals 
    • NEAT’s Lily Moldenhauer Junior National Champion in 200 Butterfly
    • Northside’s Casey Hurrell-Zitelman US National Qualifier
    • Northside’s Chelsea Miller US National Qualifier
  • 2010
    • AAAA places 7th at SC Junior Nationals  
    • Northside’s Casey Hurrell-Zitelman US National Qualifier
    • Northside’s Chelsea Miller US National Qualifier
  • 2011
    • NEAT’s John Murray LC Junior National Champion in 100 Freestyle. 
    • John Murray, Luke Shaw, Ian Lemaistre and Keanu Stevenson win the 400 Freestyle Relay and set a 17-18 LC National Age Group Record
  • 2012
    • Northside’s Nabil Kebab finaled in World SC Championships 
    • Kebab represents Algeria in Olympic Games  
    • Northside’s David Moore US National Qualifier 
    • Chelsea Miller US Olympic Trials Qualifier 
    • NEAT’s Anna Mayfield, John Murray and Ryan Koops qualify for US Olympic Trials
    • Northside’s David Moore US National Qualifier 
    • Chelsea Miller US Olympic Trials Qualifier 
    • NEAT’s Kim Pavlin represents Croatia in the Olympic Games 
    • Northside’s Casey Hurrell-Zitelman US National Qualifier
    • Northside’s Chelsea Miller US National Qualifier
  • 2016
    • NEAT’s John Murray qualifies for US Olympic Trials.
    • NEAT’s Zach Yeadon becomes Junior National Champion in the 1650 Freestyle, and is named to the National Junior Team. 
  • 2017
    • Northside’s Mikey Calvillo makes National Junior Team  
    • Zach Yeadon competes at the Phillips 66 National Championships, and places 9th 1500 Free and 11th in 800 Free.  
  • 2018
    • Northside’s Mikey Calvillo makes National Junior and World Junior Team
    • Zach Yeadon competes at the National Championship, placing 10th in 1500 Free, 7th in 800 Free and 4th in 400 Free, and is named to the World University Games Team.
  • 2021
    • AAAA NEAT qualified 10 swimmers for the Speedo Summer Championships at Irvine, CA, with the Women placing 7th, Men placing 19th, and Overall Team taking 9th place. 
    • NEAT’s Cole McAnany qualifies for Olympic Trials in Omaha, NE