Streamline Aquatics Club Announces Formation Of New USA Swim Team

Submitted by Karen Johnson.

Recently, Head Coach Brian Greene and Team Administrator Karen Johnson have merged their swimming expertise to create Streamline Aquatics Club. STAC’s goals include providing an opportunity for all swimmers at all levels to reach their highest potential as people and athletes, to instill personal responsibility and sportsmanship in each swimmer and to help them and their families balance family life, swimming, academics and outside activities. STAC will achieve these goals through private lessons, stroke clinics, a competitive swim team and frequent contact with families.

STREAMLINE AQUATICS CLUB announces the formation of a USA competitive swim team in September 2014. Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, NJ will host the competitive team try-outs, and will function as the practice site for the team. Try-out information is listed below. Each swimmer must try out for placement.

WHEN and WHO:

 Thursday, June 26, 11-18 year olds

 Tuesday, July 1, 9-10 year olds

 Thursday, July 10, 8 and unders

 Tuesday, July 15, mixed ages, make up date 

STARTING and ENDING TIMES for PARENTS AND SWIMMERS:

 - Arrive: 5:30 to complete paperwork

 - Tryouts begin 6:30 and end by 8:30

SWIMMER NEEDS: Bathing Cap, Goggles, Towel

VOLUNTEER PARENTS: Need to time during tryouts since everyone knows that swim teams cannot run without great volunteers.

 Any swimmer unable to attend tryouts on the scheduled dates, please contact Karen Johnson, 908-612-8928 to set up another time.

In addition, “Learn to swim” programs, stroke clinics, and private lessons are currently in progress at RVCC, The Wardlaw-Hartridge High School in Edison, NJ, and the Jewish Community Center in Bridgewater. Please check the web site www.swimatstac.com for more detailed information on the complete program as well as biographies of our staff.

Brian Greene (BG), active in aquatics instruction for more than thirty years in New Jersey, has taught all levels, from learn-to-swim programs to YMCA National Champions. 

He began his career at the Berkeley Heights Community Pool in 1982 with beginner classes and as an assistant team coach. Eventually, he became head coach increasing the size of the competitive team from thirty-eight swimmers to more than 250. This early experience led him to an assistant coaching position with the Summit YMCA Seals, under legendary coach Hank Buntin. “He taught me what to look for in each stroke while breaking down a skill and communicating in age appropriate vocabulary how to improve each one.”

 While working as head coach at West Essex and Montclair YMCAs, Brian coached four National “Y” champions and one National Championship relay team. He then moved on to Somerset Valley YMCA, restructuring the Twelve and Under program age group program and participated in winning three State Championships.

During high school, Brian became intrigued with analyzing his own swimming, interrogating himself as to “why I’m not swimming faster.” That factor motivated him to really study body type, patterns in each stroke, consistency in practice and performance while evaluating positive traits in each swimmer, all to provide a solid base to adapt instruction to all.

Brian, the middle child of five, lived most of his life in Berkeley Heights, recently relocating to Basking Ridge. He set two personal goals as a child; first, to be a part of a team; second, to head a team envisioning teaching his way. He employs the “smart yards” method in practice, swimming laps with efficiency and purpose while meeting individual needs. Additionally, BG lives with and teaches “balanced allegiances,” to FAITH, FAMILY, FRIENDS, ACADEMICS AND SWIMMING. He possesses an instinctual ability to spot potential, motivate for its development and predict success.

Creating STREAMLINE AQUATICS CLUB fulfills a dream. BG, who “loves the water,” is thrilled to share his passion of swimming with people of all ages and skill levels.

Karen Johnson, a member of the swimming world for over ten years , began this journey through her son, Sean, who swam on the Hillsborough Hurricanes summer team. 

After a few years, he moved to the Somerset Valley YMCA team. As a swim parent, Karen served as meet entry coordinator, responsible for entries for over 300 swimmers on an annual basis. She maintained the database of results, organized entries of hosted meets for over 1500 swimmers, sat on the SVY Parent Board, worked on the national committee and ran Meet Manager at hosted meets.

 As a result of her experiences, Karen was offered a position as Administrative Assistant for the Rutgers University Swim Team where she has worked for the past seven years. Even after Sean graduated from the SVY program, Karen helped to maintain the team website.

Married for twenty-five years and mother of two sons, Greg, a recent graduate of Clemson University with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and Sean, a junior engineering major at The Ohio State University, Karen brings a synergy to this partnership. Her experiences allow her to relate from a parent perspective about swimming and child-parent interaction while offering her knowledge as a resource to navigate the path of the college admission process.

Loyal to caretaking her family, her two dogs, Odie and Scooter, and her managing the business of STAC, Karen prides herself on availability to respond to clients’ needs. She receives great joy out of seeing others happy.

“STREAMLINE AQUATICS CLUB: WHERE QUALITY PEOPLE AND EFFICIENCY MATTER.”