Reston Masters Swim Team places 2nd out of 60 teams in regionals

By Matt Reider, staff writer

Reston Master Swim Team has thrived for 25 years under the leadership of Coach Frank Koval. Photo contributed by Reston Masters Swim Team

The Reston Masters Swim Team brings together about 120 adult swimmers of all ages and abilities for four weekly practices focused on fitness, endurance and technique. Members train year-round at the Reston Community Center and in Reston outdoor pools during the summer.

Founded in the mid-1970s, RMST operates under United States Masters Swimming and competes in local, regional, national and international meets. RMST has a strong record of success and sent 29 swimmers to the regional competition at George Mason University during the weekend of April 10. The team placed second among nearly 60 teams in the Colonies Zone, which stretches from Virginia to upstate New York and Maine. Nationals were held April 30 through May 3 in North Carolina, where the team finished 11th out of more than 250 teams from across the country.

Like many adult sports organizations, RMST relies on experienced leadership. Coach Frank Koval has led the program for more than 25 years and has coached both youth and adult swim programs. Kim Brightwell, a longtime RMST swimmer, has known him for much of that time, dating back to their days swimming on early Reston teams. Brightwell specializes in the backstroke and has earned All-American honors in the 50- and 100-meter events.

Brightwell praised Koval’s ability to unite swimmers of varying backgrounds and abilities. Participants range from triathletes to beginners and span ages 18 to 95. “The coach does a great job creating a team environment from a diverse group,” she said. “Masters swimming is a great place to interact with people across age groups.”

She described meets as reunions where swimmers reconnect with longtime friends.

Rob Stites, a seven-year member, competes on a successful relay team and continues working to improve his butterfly technique. After retiring a few years ago, he said swimming has helped him maintain his health.

Tony Wynes has been with the club for 12 years and jokes that he “isn’t fast,” so he enters multiple events at meets to maximize points. Larry Paulson, a long-distance butterfly specialist, joined the team more than 20 years ago, while Margaret Shapiro competed professionally in triathlons before joining RMST.

In addition to practices and meets, RMST organizes the Jim McDonnell Lake Swim, featuring 1- and 2-mile open-water races held each Memorial Day weekend. Lynn Hazelwood helped organize the first event in 1988 and remains involved today. “It was right around the time when triathlons were becoming popular, and we wanted to do an open-water swim,” she said.

Hazelwood worked with the Reston Association to secure access to Lake Audubon and coordinate the race.

With as many as 300 swimmers participating, safety remains a priority. Nearly 20 lifeguards and what Hazelwood described as “a small armada” of watercraft monitor the course, with assistance from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

The event is divided into categories based on swimsuit type, with Category I requiring specific swimwear and Category II being less restrictive.

This year’s event took place May 24, and drew more than 100 swimmers in the Category II 1-mile race and nearly 100 more in the 2-mile event. Elizabeth Wood of Herndon won the Category I 1-mile race with a chip time of 23:32.2, while Bryan Rivera of Maryland won the Category II 1-mile race in 22:26.2. In the 2-mile races, Thomas Dion of Virginia led the Category I field with a chip time of 44:41.3, and Kempsey Clark of Maryland won the Category II race in 48:07.7.

Although many participants came from Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., the event also attracted swimmers from Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

The program welcomes new members, and interested adults may try two free practices before joining. More information is available through the Reston Masters Swim Team.