Suburban Swim Center Plans To Reopen Doors in September For Swimmers and Seahawks

NEWTOWN SQUARE–It's confirmed. Suburban Swim Center officially announced on Monday that the once thriving turned defunct swim club will once again reopen its doors to the public and members in September.

"We are very excited to be back in our Newtown Square facility," said Terri Rhodes, president of Suburban Swim Center. "We’re thankful for the incredible support that Suburban has received from its members, alumni and sponsors."

Last month, but the Suburban Swim Center plans to have its swim team, the Suburban Seahawks, in their pool by the start of the season on Sept. 12. The swim team has been practicing at Swarthmore College and Widener University since the swim center had closed its doors in December of 2008.

"This gives them more of a sense of identity," said Rhodes. "The older kids have been here and started off here, so to them it would be like coming home."

An incident that occurred in late 2008 involving one of the swim center's managers, who had embezzled over $100,000 from the facility, left the beloved swim center in debt and eventually defunct.

"It was a really hard time," recounts Rhodes, who has been with the swim center for approximately seven years now.

But despite the huge obstacle the members and swimmers had to face, the Suburban Seahawks remained in tact and continued to practice and compete as a team together.

"They adapted and they had a great deal to work with but with this [reopening], it gives them a sense of accomplishment and security, and now they're being rewarded of their hard work," said Rhodes.

With the help of members, parents and the community, Rhodes said the Suburban Swim Center was able to really start planning for the reopening in the spring by gaining the facility back from the bank. The swim center has now established itself as a non-profit 501(c)(3).

Although the water is back in the pool, Rhodes said the building still needs cosmetic work done, from plastering the walls to renovating the fitness/weight training/physical therapy room upstairs.

Regardless of the work that still needs to be done by September, Rhodes said "everyone's happy" with the grand reopening of the Suburban Swim Center.

Years ago when the swim center was flourishing with members, they provided a home to more than 300 swimmers. They currently now have 140 swimmers but Rhodes hopes to regain those swimmers in the fall.

In the fall, swimmers and members can expect new programs and activities, including: swimming lessons for all levels of swimmers, a master’s swimming program, rehabilitation and aerobics as well as lifeguard and CPR certification.

According to the Suburban Swim Center, the facility first opened its doors more than 60 years ago and has trained dozens of world class swimmers and hundreds of competitive swimmers who have gone on to excel in college. For the past two years, the swim center's Seahawk team has used Swarthmore College as their base, and the team has continued to thrive under the leadership of Head Coach Charlie Kennedy.

"The entire coaching staff is very pleased to be back at our much-loved facility and to welcome new and old members alike," said Kennedy in a press release. "As always, our program strives to develop the whole swimmer, both in skill and character. I am excited about the potential to expand our SSC community and to bring new talent to the world of swimming."

Registrations for the fall with the Suburban Seahawks are currently being taken. To register or for additional information, visit their website at http://www.sscwswim.org or contact Diane Mastrangelo, the swim center's general manager, at 610-325-3175.