P
ine-Richland Aquatics, Inc.
was founded in 1994, and the
group’s first season began in
September that year. At the
time, Pine-Richland School District had
just completed a brand-new high school
campus with many athletic sports venues.
The organization was started by a group
of parents who had kids swimming at
neighboring swim clubs.
“They wanted to swim for Pine-
Richland as a varsity team,” says Pete
Barry, the group’s head coach. “Prior to the
pool being built, Pine-Richland students
trained with other year-round teams, but
had to swim at the high school level as
independent athletes.”
As part of Pine-Richland’s new
high school building, a six-lane,
25-yard pool was installed for
gym classes, varsity competition
and community programming. In order
to support swimming as a varsity sport,
parents organized a nonprofit 501(c)(3)
swim club now known as Pine-Richland
Aquatics, Inc. “Its focus was competitive
swimming—year-round,” says Barry.
The organization is structured as
a nonprofit, coach-directed, board-
supported team, and is a community-
based aquatics organization not affiliated
with Pine-Richland School District. Pine-
Richland Aquatics, Inc. rents the PRSD
swimming pool and uses it as the primary
base of operations.
The organization’s board consists
of five volunteer members with
several committee chairs. The club’s
mission is to offer and support programs
that allow all its swimmers to strive to be
the best athletes they can be in the sport
of competitive swimming.
“The team started out with five board
members, two coaches and 32 swimmers,”
says Barry. “Today, Pine-Richland
Aquatics, Inc. has 200 swimmers, over
300 swim lesson and pre-team members
annually. We have a staff of seven coaches
and 15 learn-to-swim instructors.”
Pine-Richland Aquatics’ coaching staff
has more than 100 years of combined
experience. Several staff members sit
on the board of directors for the local
governing swimming body, Allegheny
Mountain Swimming, Inc., which is in
charge of competitive age group swimming
for the western half of Pennsylvania.
The organization offers programs for
kids age 5 through college age, including
learn-to-swim, pre-competitive swim
instruction, a competitive team and
Red Cross certifications for an aquatic
environment.
“Our swimmers have gone on to many
D1, D2 and D3 programs,” says Barry. “We
have had swimmers reach the podium as
high up as senior nationals.”
Throughout the year, Pine-Richland
Aquatics, Inc. participates in many events
to give back to the community and
help out local nonprofits. “Our biggest
is the Project Bundle-Up relay swim,
and we’ve been committed to raising
money for the local charity for some
time now,” says Barry. “The relay swim
is held each November, and we present
a check to the organization during their
TV telethon.” Pine-Richland Aquatics’
athletes have also organized several
food drives for North Hills Community
Outreach during locally hosted
swim meets.
Pine-Richland Aquatics, Inc.
consistently ranks in the top 500 USA
Swim teams in the country, according
to USA Swimming Virtual Club
Championships. The organization has
open enrollment for the competitive
team and periodic registration for all
other programs.
For more information, visit
praswim.org or Pine-Richland Aquatics
on Facebook. n
PINE-RICHLAND
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SPRING 2019
39