program left off when Lui was there. The kids, the people and history were there.” The popular program has mushroomed from a handful of swimmers to 170 kids and 40 masters. Berean Christian School, Palm Beach Central High School and Wellington High School also train there during the high school season, which gets underway in September. “We have grown a whole bunch over the years,” Whalen said. The 2012 London Olympics, with
headliners Missy Franklin, Rebecca Soni, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, also helped promote the popularity of swimming in the area.
Woodhead and Olympic coach David Marsh swim at the pool.
“Every Olympic year there is a bump in numbers, and we did have one in the summer,” Whalen said. “The bump lasted through the winter, where we had 140 to 150 kids.”
The Wellington program has produced its share of top swimmers, including 1988 Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder Matt Cetlinski. He lives in Gainesville but annually returns to give clinics to the young swimmers.
During the equestrian season from January through April, Whalen usually takes on a few additional swimmers when family members are showing at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Nieces of Olympic swimmer Cynthia (Sippy)
The program also has its share of honor students, including American Heritage 2012 valedictorian Matthew Romanelli and several others in advanced classes. “We are starting to develop swimmers who come in
Cody Cline pushes through the water at the Wellington Aquatics Complex, home of the Wellington Wahoos. (Above) Swimmers dive into the pool.
|wellington |wellington the the magazine| magazine| August August 2013 2013
33 33