Welcome to Longhorn Aquatics!
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Longhorn Aquatics provides instruction for swimmers and divers of all ages and abilities, ranging from beginners to Olympians. Our beginner swimming program, Junior Longhorn, serves as a basis for new members to the sport, and our other programs require varying levels of experience. To learn more, read the information below about our age group swimming, master’s swimming, college swimming and diving programs.
Vision / Mission :
To provide the University and Austin communities with a world class, self-funded competitive swimming and diving program that also addresses a wide range of ages and abilities, and promotes lifelong health and wellbeing.
Swimming
Junior Longhorn
Coach: Nate Drummond and Bridgette Rhoades
Goal: To participate in 3-4 Longhorn Aquatics home meets per year
Attendance: Regular attendance is encouraged, but not mandatory
Our Junior Longhorn group is a beginning swimming program, and holds practices at several locations. The group’s swimmers practicing at The University of Texas at Austin location range from 7-14 years of age, and swimmers practicing at a satellite location may be able to start at the age of five depending upon the swimmers’ maturity and ability levels. This group is designed to help introduce young swimmers to competitive swimming. The Junior Longhorn group emphasizes learning and developing the four competitive strokes through kicking, drills, demonstrations of the strokes, starts and turns. We want to provide each swimmer with a solid swimming foundation while building confidence and having FUN! Though swimmers are not required to compete, we encourage our members to participate in some home meets.
Entry into the Junior Longhorn program requires an invitation following tryouts with Longhorn Aquatics staff.
Longhorn
Coach: Bridgette Rhoades at the Dick Nichols Facility and at the UT Facility
Goal: To prepare for competitive swimming and participation in qualification meets
Attendance: Some Saturdays up to 90 minutes with 3-5 workouts during weeknights
Our Longhorn group consists of swimmers ages 8-14. This is an advanced-beginner program designed to help young swimmers get a solid base for competitive swimming. Instruction emphasizes stroke technique, training skills, how to compete in races and having FUN! Our Longhorn group is a developmental group with exposure to dry-land training, interval training, clock use, stroke technique, drills, kicking, starts, turns and aerobic training. We highly encourage regular attendance, but it is not mandatory.
Entry into the Longhorn group requires recommendation of the Longhorn and Junior Longhorn coaches.
Senior III
Coaches: Tom Andrew and Neil Walker
Goal: To prepare its swimmers for higher level age group and senior level swimming
Our Senior III group consists of swimmers ages 10 -18. The group emphasizes serious, competitive training and the total development of competitive swimmers. Senior III swimmers will continue to develop the four competitive strokes through kicking, drills, aerobic and anaerobic training. Senior III swimmers will also build mental and physical endurance for a positive commitment to training and racing. The Senior III group is a total swim training program, including, but not limited to, dry-land training, weight training, goal setting and the fine tuning of stroke techniques. Senior III swimmers will compete in an annually selected sequence of meets, appropriate for the swimmer’s ability.
Entry into the Senior III group is based on recommendations from the head coach and group coaches.
Senior II
Coach: Dave Kalange
Goal: To compete in State (TAGS) and Senior Circuit level meets
Our Senior II group consists of swimmers ages 11-18. They have demonstrated the willingness and consistency for demanding dry land, weight and water training. Senior II swimmers must have strong technique and the emotional and physical maturity to participate in all aspects of training. Individuals must also demonstrate the goal-oriented behavior needed to compete at the elite Senior Circuit level with a focus on achieving National-level times. Senior II training closely resembles Senior I and is set up to prepare its members for the move to Senior I. Senior II swimmers must meet the coach’s attendance requirements to remain in the group.
Entry into the Senior II group is based on recommendations from the head coach and group coaches.
Senior I
Coach: Randy Reese
Goal: To compete in Olympic Trials and National Championships
Our Senior I group is made up of the team’s elite swimmers who demonstrate the willingness and consistency for demanding dry-land, weight and water training. Senior I swimmers must have strong technique, demonstrate goal-oriented behavior, and show emotional and physical maturity to participate in all aspects of the training needed to compete at the Sectional and National levels of competition. The Senior I practice group focuses on reaching the highest level of USA Club swimming. Attendance in Senior I group is mandatory.
Entry into the Senior I group requires recommendation of Head Coach Randy Reese.
Please complete the forms in the Swimming Registration Packet.
Master’s Swimming and Diving
Coach: Whitney Hedgepeth
Goal: To improve a swimmer’s ability by working on endurance, fitness and proper technique
The Longhorn Aquatics Masters Swimming and Diving teams are The University of Texas at Austin’s adult fitness-swimming programs. Masters team members range in age from 18 to 90. Ability levels vary from swimmers who have college swimming experience to athletes learning the competitive strokes, flip turns and more technical aspects of the sport. Several members are tri-athletes who want to improve their skills. Members are grouped by ability and experience for workouts. There is a friendly, helpful and competitive environment at all workouts.
Workouts focus on:
- Fitness and endurance
- Proper form and technique.
- Maintaining race-paced swimming, kicking, drill work, pulling, and fin work
Entry into our Masters Swimming program requires you to attend a trial-session workout with the team to determine if the program is right for you.
Please complete the forms in the Masters Swimming Registration Packet.
College Swimming
We offer a college swimming program that runs during university summer and winter breaks. This serves our former Longhorn Aquatics members who want to continue training when their teams are not holding regular practices. It is also available to other visiting college swimmers, but only on a special basis. Each swimmer must receive approval from the current coaches.
Please complete the forms in the College Swimming Registration Packet.
Diving
Coach: George Perdue
Requirement: At least 7 years of age and recommendation of Coach Perdue
The Longhorn Aquatics Diving program offers quality instruction in Olympic-style diving for ages seven and up at all skill levels. Our members range from beginners to National and Olympic caliber divers. All diving groups have access to three different overhead spotting stations, a bubble machine, dry diving board, and two trampolines.
Longhorn Aquatics offers a developmental program for new divers:
- Group B: This group focuses on developing strength, balance and flexibility. The classes serve as an entry level to the Texas Aquatics Diving program and provide a SAFE and FUN introduction to the sport of diving. The goal of this program is to prepare your diver for entry into the competitive program. Novice competitions are held during the year for beginner-level divers.
Our competitive diving program is divided into two groups:
- Group A-2: Divers in Group A-2 practice three times per week or less. Workout designs include strength flexibility exercises and dry-land drills. The goal in Group A-2 is to prepare for Group A-1 and to compete in out-of-town meets.
- Group A-1: Divers in this group make a substantial commitment in time and effort to be accomplished competitive divers. Group A-1 members come in at least four times per week for two hours of practice. Practice focuses on strength flexibility and dry-land drills. Many divers in this group compete in out-of-town meets, with higher-end goals of qualifying for national championships and college diving.
Entry into any of the three diving programs requires invitation by the head diving coach.
Please complete the forms in the Diving Registration Packet.
