JASON YORK, HEAD COACH / NATIONAL GROUP COACH
October 2020 - Present, Email:  [email protected]
 
York was the head coach at Buenaventura Swim Club in Southern California for 13 years. During that time, the team earned the Silver Medal Club status four different times as well as Bronze Status. Under Coach York, Buenaventura Swim Club sent several swimmers to Olympic Trials in both 2016 and 2020/1.  Before Buenaventura, York coached at the renowned Santa Clara Swim Club for seven years, coupled with his three years at San Clemente Aquatics, bringing his current coaching experience to 24 years. During his own swimming career, York competed in distance freestyle events and culminated his swimming career at Division 1 UC Santa Barbara with a full ride scholarship and he also participated in the 1992 Olympic Trials in Indianapolis.
 

AIDAN PASTEL / ASSISTANT NATIONAL GROUP COACH
June 2023 - Present, Email: [email protected]
 
During his competitive career, Aidan was a sprint freestyler, breaststroker and IMer. He spent most of his club swimming years in Northern Virginia at Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP), but swam for San Clemente Aquatics and San Clemente High School from 2013-2015. He competed as a four year letter winner at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering. Aidan currently works full time as an engineer in the defense and space industry.
 
NATIONAL GROUP

This is the highest level competitive group that San Clemente Aquatic Team offers.  Recommended for swimmers who qualify and plan to participate in local, state, Sectional, Jr. National and National competitions.  We also work to qualify as many swimmers as possible to be USA Scholastic All-Americans in the classroom.  This high intensity/high reward group is designed to be a “center of excellence”.   Swimmers are expected to behave in a positive manner with teammates and foster the “winning culture” necessary to be an elite level athlete with the expectation of swimming in college.  Swimmers are expected to accept the responsibility of his/her performance, understand and perform specific race strategies, take responsibility for their own swimming careers and commit to being leaders of SCA.  Coaches invitation is required for admission to this group and the athlete must be in high school. 

 

Minimum Performance Requirement:

- Swimmer must achieve at least 3 Senior Development Time Standards

 

Minimum Practice Requirement:

- 20 x 100 Freestyle @ 1:10

- 16 x 100 IM @ 1:25

- Kick 20 x 50 @ :50

In additional to the minimum swim requirements, swimmers must maintain 80% attendance as measured by a monthly snapshot, maintain a supportive and appropriate attitude toward themselves, their coaches, and their teammates. 

Equipment:  Catalyst Hand Paddles (size appropriate-see coach), Pull Buoy, TYR Snorkel, TYR Hydroblade Fins, Mesh Bag, Water Bottle and Appropriate Dry-land Clothes and Shoes.

 

A Tryout is required to join this group.  Please contact Coach Jason at [email protected] to try out for the National Group.

The San Clemente Aquatic Team assigns swimmers to practice groups based on skill/ability and age.  Coaches are able to focus on techniques, skills and intervals that are best suited for our swimmers’ development while enhancing aerobic and speed capacity.  Each coach strives to create a fun yet challenging environment for our swimmers.  

Although practice attendance is not mandatory for most groups, we do encourage swimmers to attend all or as many practices as possible, attendance + effort = success.  Swim meets are optional for some groups and mandatory for others.  Swim meets are a chance for swimmers, coaches and parents to see progress. 

Move-ups between groups tend to occur at the end of our short course and long course seasons.  Coaches will review all aspects of move up timing, including test sets, leadership in the lane and group, mental, physical and emotional readiness.  Attendance and practice effort will also be considered as variables.