Another Arizona Merger: Arizona Gold, Swim Neptune Creating Superteam

Mark Jurek Arizona Gold
Photo Courtesy: Angus Smith

Two more USA Swimming clubs in Arizona are merging talents, as Arizona Gold Swimming and Swim Neptune are joining forces to create a new team, tentatively named Swim Neptune Gold.

The merger is the third to take place in the Phoenix area in the past 12 months. Phoenix Swim Club and Arizona Marlins officially merged last year when PSC lost its longtime training base and moved into the new Phoenix Country Day School digs, where the Marlins train. Sun Devil Aquatics was absorbed by Mesa Aquatic Club early last year when Sun Devil left the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center on the Arizona State University campus.

Neither Arizona Gold nor Swim Neptune are losing facilities, which sets their decision to merge apart from the previous two. Both head coaches – Gold’s Jerry Olszewski and Neptune’s Joe Zemaitis – began discussing the possibility last December as a way to create what will in essence be a superteam that marries Neptune’s strong age-group program with Gold’s talented senior group.

“It just made sense to put two programs together like this,” Olszewski said.

The two teams will begin training together in May, Olszewski said. The official name change might happen a few months later as logistics continue to be ironed out between the two teams, and each team competes separately for one more long course season. Olszewski and Zemaitis will be co-head coaches of the new program, with Olszewski focusing on the 15-and-over athletes and Zemaitis concentrating on the younger swimmers.

One of the advantages of the merger will be a wealth of pool space for the hundreds of swimmers under the combined Swim Neptune Gold. According to Zemaitis, the program will have about 12 facilities across the Phoenix Valley.

“It’s a merger of addition, not subtraction,” Zemaitis said. “We’ll have more swimmers, more sets of eyes on deck. I always said to never just grow for the sake of growth, but (welcome) growth that will enhance the mission of the team.”

Arizona Gold and Swim Neptune separately completed successful short course seasons. Athletes from Arizona Gold won multiple titles at the USA Swimming sectional meet in Austin last month and won the men’s team title. Neptune’s age-group squad won the boys’ division and was second in the women’s meet and was second overall at the Arizona age group state championships.

Zemaitis said he’s excited for his senior-level athletes to begin working with Gold’s talented swimmers that include Mark Jurek, Ben Olszewski and Adriana Palomino.

“Most of the kids on the (Swim Neptune senior) team aren’t going to see a dramatic change,” Zemaitis said. “The kids are very excited.”

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ray House
8 years ago

Clear the way! I believe I can see the hand writing on the wall, LOL :-).

Shanna Reidhead
8 years ago

My daughter is on AZ Gold pre-senior team with Jerry! He is amazing coach. This will be a great merger for both teams!

3
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x