Snohomish Aquatic Masters

Coach Tonya, who has overseen the SAM program since 2021, shared that this year’s recent home meet was a milestone. “It was the most swimmers we’ve had from our team competing,” she said. One notable highlight is that the team was able to field three full relay teams, which was a point of pride and a benchmark achievement for the growing program. 

SAM supports a wide variety of adult swimmers. While the team is competitive, not all members choose to compete. Many join for fitness, cross-training, or to complement open-water or triathlon training. It’s not a learn-to-swim program for adults, but rather a place for adults who want structured swim workouts and coaching to take their swimming to the next level. 

The program is supported by three coaches, each leading their own consistent workout group: Coach Felicity coaches at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; Coach Brandon leads evening workouts at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and Coach Tonya coaches at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays while also coordinating communications and meets. Despite training at different times, swimmers regularly come together through meets and events, strengthening a sense of unity across all groups. 

The team’s recent home meet also benefited from a strong volunteer presence. Meets rely heavily on volunteer support, and about 75% of them came directly from Masters swimmers who weren’t competing that day but eager to support their teammates. “We're building a really strong community,” Tonya shared. “Meets are one of the best ways for our three training groups to connect and support each other.” 

At its core, SAM is guided by their three C’s: comradery, conditioning, and competition. Whether swimmers are racing for personal bests, cross-training for other sports, or simply seeing structured workouts and supportive coaching, the program offers a motivating and welcoming place to grow. 

Learn more about our Masters program here. We also have an Intro to Masters starting soon!