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The Gainesville Swim Team was formed in the 1980’s eventually becoming Lanier Aquatics in the early 1990’s. Lanier Aquatics has historically been one of the best small (fewer than 100 swimmers) in the state. The team ran out of the Green Street Pool and Brenau University until Frances Meadows Aquatics Center opened in 2008.
Former Head Coach Jim Young spent 56 years coaching competitive swimming, most of it here in Gainesville until his retirement in 2021. Coach Young was instrumental in the development of the Georgia Divisional Meet series and was a founder of the North Georgia Swim League. He served Georgia Swimming in nearly every role on the board across his tenure. Hired by Dr. Larry Lykins in the 1980’s, Coach Young developed Lanier Aquatics into one of the top competitive teams in the state constantly producing athletes who race at the National level. Some of his swimmers went on to the coaching world themselves including Elizabeth Lykins (Head Coach at UNC Asheville) and Blaire (Bachman) Anderson (Director of Texas A&M Swimming and Diving). In 2016 Lanier Aquatics merged with the City of Gainesville’s Parks and Rec program Splash Aquatics, retaining the Lanier Aquatics team name. Coach Jim retired to Carabelle, Florida and is enjoying the leisurely life of riding his motorcycle, fishing, and taking walks around town.
Our current Head Coach, Crystal Tavares, joined the Lanier Aquatics family as the C0-Head Coach in October of 2016 after running her own program in Florida for nine years, then took over as Head Coach in August of 2021 upon Coach Jim Young’s retirement. Coach Crystal, also a ASCA level 4 Coach, brought with her a wealth of knowledge and has a passion and commitment to the sport. She is currently serving as the Northeastern Divisional Representative to the Georgia Swimming Technical Committee and the Georgia Swimming Divisional Committee Chair. Coach Crystal has developed countless Futures, Junior National and Senior National swimmers throughout her nearly two decade long career.
Associate Head Coach, David Menchinger, joined Lanier Aquatics in August of 2021 after coaching with SCAT in Atlanta for several years. Coach David has been a Georgia Zone Coach for the past three years.
Coach Crystal and Coach David have vast experience and knowledge in developing swimmers from the beginning swim team level through elementary, middle and high school years on to a successful college career. The LA program philosophy is based around the question of where we want to see the youth of today when they reach adulthood and what kind of experiences do they need during their developmental years in order to become positive, achieving, successful, contributing members of our community and nation into their 20’s, 30’s. 40’s and beyond. We believe that the LA approach to youth development through the medium of competitive swimming offers unique lessons that greatly contribute to the experiences needed for life-long success. As far as the sport itself goes, we are not so concerned with how fast a swimmer is at age 10 or 11 but whether or not that swimmer is still in the sport through their high school and hopefully college years and still enthusiastically participating and improving.
Recent team accomplishments include:
- 3 GHSA High School State Champions in 2024!
- 2 GHSA High School State Champions in 2023!
- 2nd Place Medium Team Division (Division III) 2023 Short Course Georgia Swimming 14U State Championships, February 2023
- Lanier Aquatics placed 6 swimmer on the 2021 Georgia Zone Team.
- 1st Place Northeastern Divisional Championships 2021 - March 2021
- 2nd Place Medium Team Division (Division III) 2021 Short Course Georgia Swimming 14U State Championships, February 2021.
- 3rd Place Northeastern Divisionals 2018 - March 2018
- 1st Place Small Team Division 2015 Senior State Champions
- 1st Place Small Team Division 2014 Long Course Senior State Championships at UGA in July 2014
- 2nd Place Small Team Division 2014 Short Course Georgia 14U State meet at Georgia Tech, in February 2014
- Highest scoring men’s team from Georgia at the Senior Sectional Championships held in Charlotte, NC in March, 2014
- 1st Place Small Team Division 2013 Short Course Senior State Championships held at Georgia Tech in December 2013
LA has had Junior and Senior National qualifiers, Olympic Trials qualifiers and many swimmers that have moved on to college programs including UGA, Auburn, Ga. Tech, West Point, Air Force Academy, NC State, Nova Southeastern, Rhodes College, Tampa, Florida Southern, Cornell and many others.
Coach Crystal and Coach David have vast experience and knowledge in developing swimmers from the beginning swim team level through elementary, middle and high school years on to a successful college career. The LA program philosophy is based around the question of where we want to see the youth of today when they reach adulthood and what kind of experiences do they need during their developmental years in order to become positive, achieving, successful, contributing members of our community and nation into their 20’s, 30’s. 40’s and beyond. We believe that the LA approach to youth development through the medium of competitive swimming offers unique lessons that greatly contribute to the experiences needed for life-long success. As far as the sport itself goes, we are not so concerned with how fast a swimmer is at age 10 or 11 but whether or not that swimmer is still in the sport through their high school and hopefully college years and still enthusiastically participating and improving.
We are not a program for everyone, especially in our higher training groups, the high standards of work and commitment we expect in order to achieve and perform on higher levels require a level of discipline that not all ready for, but the rewards realized far exceed those of the average youth sports programs and it is well worth it.
To arrange a try out for readiness and placement contact Associate Head Coach, Crystal Tavares, at 770-533-5851 (office line), [email protected]
Practices are held at the Frances Meadows Aquatics Center in Gainesville, GA.
