Who
ever thought that Masters swimming could make it in the Music
City? Ron Chlasta did. Deep in the heart of country music,
he established the Middle Tennessee Swim Club in Hendersonville,
TN. in 1996. Chlasta, who relocated to Tennessee from the
San Francisco Bay area, was not completely prepared for what
he was about to discover in his new environment. Accustomed
to the fitness-minded attitudes that prevail in northern California
– where everyone seems to be an athlete of one kind or another
– Tennessee proved to be a bit of a challenge.
He quickly realized the odds
were stacked against him! Getting adults interested in the
sport of swimming is a pretty tall order in “Big Orange Country”
since most people here only recognize SEC college football,
NFL football and NASCAR as “real” sports.
With the philosophy “If you
build it – they will come”, he has been able to develop the
premier master’s team in the Mid-State. When the movie “GI
Jane” was released, Chlasta developed a fitness swim class
for young moms who could not even lap swim. The class utilized
fins and kick boards, and while the focus was social (kicking
and talking), he was able to introduce kick sets and eventually
teach the class to actually swim. As the group became more
competent at swimming, they asked for more “swim” workouts,
and that’s how MTSC Masters got its start.
Using a carefully planned
and creative curriculum that incorporates swimming, fitness
and intramural events along with social networking, the team
has grown to over 100 members. We have athletes of every skill
and ability level-- from those who only use swimming for exercise
to those who swam collegiately and continue to compete on
the local, regional and national level.
Positive
group dynamics and a warm, welcoming atmosphere make it an
immediate fit for any adult who wants to swim in a structured
program. MTSC Masters revel in each other’s accomplishments;
engage in a lot of good-natured ribbing; and offer words of
encouragement at moments of frustration. Win or lose, these
swimmers can count on the unanimous support of their teammates.
MTSC Masters is a very diverse group of individuals who are
united by a common goal. They are proving every day that fitness
can be fun!
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