Generations in the Water: Reston Swim Team Association Keeps Community Spirit Afloat

by Kaydence Smith, Staff Writer

Sasha Geel, Age Group Coach, with swimmers Grace Steiner and Vivy McFarland of North Hills Hurricanes who swim at Lake Newport Pool. Photo contributed by RSTA.

For more than five decades, the Reston Swim Team Association [RSTA] has been making waves—both literal and metaphorical—throughout the Reston community. What began as a modest summer swim league has grown into a cherished local tradition, connecting families, fostering lifelong friendships, and cultivating a shared love of swimming across generations.

If you’ve ever spent a summer Saturday morning on a Reston pool deck, you know the energy and excitement of an RSTA meet. Children, ages 5 to 18, compete across eight neighborhood pools in a season that runs from the Tuesday after Memorial Day through the end of July. But RSTA is about more than winning races.

“It’s about developing a lifelong love of swimming, building great technique, and learning what it means to be part of a team,” said Nicola Caul Shelley, an RSTA board member.

What sets RSTA apart is its strong sense of community. The league is entirely volunteer run, with parents, guardians, and extended family members making the experience possible. From year-round board planning and team management to officiating meets, running concession stands, and timing races, RSTA thrives thanks to local dedication.

One family in particular exemplifies that spirit. Emily Clark, now a team manager, grew up swimming in the league. Today, all three of her children compete. Her mother, Linda Hill, has been involved with RSTA for more than 35 years and recently became a sponsor, stepping up when the league launched its sponsorship program. This year, Linda’s mother—Clark’s grandmother and the great-grandmother of the current swimmers—also joined as a sponsor. That’s four generations in one league, demonstrating not only decades of involvement but a deep love of swimming nurtured by RSTA.

“Families come back year after year because of the environment,” Shelley said. “It’s fun, welcoming, and genuinely supportive. Our older swimmers mentor the younger ones. Coaches often return from college just to give back. It’s the full package.”

Hill’s roots with RSTA run deep. She began volunteering in 1990 and helped launch the Autumnwood swim team in 1992. She served as team manager for 13 years and was president of the RSTA board in 1993 and 1994.

“She was a foundational part of what’s become a long-lasting organization,” Clark said. “She and Kim Klarman—who now has an RSTA award named in her honor—managed Autumnwood together and helped build something enduring.”

Today, Linda Hill remains a fixture at meets, volunteering as a timer and staying actively engaged with the league she helped shape. Her passion lives on through her family. Emily Clark swam from age 10 through her senior summer and later competed at the collegiate level.

“RSTA kept swimming fun and connected to friends and family, even while I was training seriously,” she said.

Her children, now 12, 10, and 7, carry on the tradition. All three swim every summer, and Clark has served as a team manager for the past five years.

“Summer swim is where we can be a family, be with our favorite people, and continue a tradition that brings so much joy,” she said. “It’s about community, roots, lifelong friends, and gratitude. RSTA created a lifetime of joyful memories for me, and now it’s doing the same for my kids.”

RSTA’s mission extends beyond the pool. With support from generous local sponsors, the league provides scholarships for swimmers in need, purchases equipment, and expands access to more families. The sponsorship process is straightforward and outlined on RSTA’s website at rsta.org. Every dollar goes directly toward keeping the league affordable and accessible.

For swimmers not quite ready for competition, RSTA offers its popular “New Wave” program. Designed for kids ages 5 to 12 with basic swim skills, it helps bridge the gap to team readiness. While not a swim lesson program, New Wave has helped many children progress to competitive swimming since it launched five years ago. Registration opened May 17, and spots are still available.

RSTA’s 2025 season kicked off on June 7 with its first meet. Practices start in the evenings while school is in session and switch to mornings once summer break begins. Registration is already open, and while many teams are filling quickly, some still have space. Now is the perfect time to dive in.

As a nonprofit, RSTA is deeply grateful to its sponsors, whose support helps cover equipment

costs, fund scholarships, and keep participation affordable. The 2025 sponsors include Synergy Design & Construction, The O’Gorman Team, Linda and Peter Hill, Jean McKee, Glory Days Grill at North Point, and Pediatric Dentistry of Reston (Dr. Neda). Sponsors are recognized on the RSTA homepage, where a short video also captures the league’s spirit.

Shelley remains optimistic about the future. “We’re not trying to grow endlessly,” she said. “We want to maintain what makes this league so special. But we’d love to return to pre-COVID participation levels and continue encouraging families to get involved. The league survives and thrives because of this amazing community.”

It may mean early mornings and busy weekends, but once you’re on the pool deck—watching a swimmer set a new personal best or celebrating a relay with teammates—it’s easy to understand why families return year after year. And why new families are always welcome.

To register or learn more, visit rsta.org./ Whether you’re a swimmer, a cheering parent, or a sponsor behind the scenes, there’s a place for you in the RSTA community.