KING History
Established in 1966, King Aquatic Club (KING) is the premier youth sports program in the Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia Metropolitan area. KING is a USA Swimming year-round competitive swim team offering high quality professional coaching and technique instruction for swimmers of all ages and abilities. As a member club of Pacific Northwest Swimming and USA Swimming the goal of KING is to provide every member an opportunity to improve swimming skills and achieve success at his or her level of ability. From beginners to Olympians and everyone in between, we create an environment where excellence is inevitable and fun!
The 1960s
In 1965: West Seattle YMCA is formed by coaches Milt Orphan & Earl Mckinney
In 1966: Highline YMCA – Milt and Earl split from West Seattle YMCA to open a pool in Burien. Some of you might remember the pool with the bubble off Ambaum Blvd. Swimming alumni Scott Lautman and Mark Prothero go with them
In 1967: Highline Swim Club, a coach owned club in Burien. The Burien pool was purchased by Earl and Milt and renamed to the Highline Swim School. The Highline Swim Club (HSC) was created.
The 1970s
In 1970: Highline College opened it’s pool, a 25 yd x 25 yd, 11 lane pool. Highline Swim Club expanded its program there. The pool was lost to fire in 2002 set by vagrant
In 1972: In June the Kent Area Dolphins (KAD) is created, by coach Mike Bemis. Mike talks about their first meet and receiving a 27 page letter of all the things they did wrong in the first meet. Mike Bemis later is coaching at Columbia River Swim Team and Camas High School.
In 1973: Milt and Earl hired a new head coach, a young man named Andy Hathaway. As of 2006, Andy is the Western Section Chairman, Pacific Northwest Swimming (PNS) Chairman, and an attorney supporting maritime shipping on the west coast.
In 1979: Highline wins its first Senior Regional Swim meet at Tualitin Hills Swim Club (THSC) Pool in Beaverton, Oregon.
The 1980s
In 1985: Ron Van Pool was the Highline President.
The 1990s
In 1996:
- Highline Swim Club athlete Kenny Roberts (Age 17) competes in 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games for Seychelles in 100-meter butterfly.
- Kent Area Dolphins Swim Team and Highline Swim Club merge to become KING, Rob Munsch – KAD President, Dave Silver – HSC President, Jerry Olszewski – Head Coach; KING website is launched.
In 1998: KING wins Western Junior National Championship for women and combined team.
The 2000s
In 2000: Alumnus of both Highline and KING, Chris Thompson swims for USA at 2000 Sydney Olympic games, wins a bronze medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle and sets the American record.
In 2002: KING hires a young Sean Hutchison from The Tualitin Hills Thunderbolts as its new CEO & Head Coach. KING quickly becomes a national power with Sean’s leadership.
In 2008:
- KING becomes a coach owned club with a separate 501(c)3 non profit parent booster organization.
- For the first time, not one but two KING swimmers (Margaret Hoelzer & Megan Jendrick) and their coach (Sean Hutchison) earn a spot on the USA Olympic Swim Team. World Record set for the first time by a KING swimmer (Hoelzer) in the 200-meter backstroke.
- KING athletes Heather Brand (Zimbabwe) and Svetlana Karpeeva (Russia) also competed in the Olympics for their respective countries.
- At the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, Margaret Hoelzer won bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke, silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke, and silver medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay (after swimming in the qualifying heats).
- The KING women win the U.S. Short Course Nation Championship at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 2009: The KING women win the U.S. Long Course National Championship at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The 2010s
In 2012: Tommy Hannan becomes head coach.
In 2014: Ash Milad & Doug Djang become co-head coaches.
In 2016: Tommy Cunningham is named PNS Age Group Coach of the Year.
In 2017: Michael Brooks becomes head coach.
In 2018: KING is no longer a coach owned club with ownership purchased by the Terry Yen family. The new KING is freshly re-booted with the hiring of nationally renowned head coach Jay Benner. Together, Terry & Jay are building KING with new dynamic coaches.
In 2019: Milo Cavic becomes head coach.
The 2020s
In 2020: Alex Reed becomes head coach and co-owner.
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King Aquatic Club (KING)
King Aquatic Club is an amalgamation of two clubs, Highline Swim Club (founded in 1966) & Kent Area Dolphins Swim Team (founded in 1972). Both programs – Highline Swim Club & Kent Area Dolphins - were strong programs and decided to merge as one club in 1996. The name originally chosen for the new club was South King County Aquatics then became King County Aquatics after the county that both teams were located. Today, the team is now known as King Aquatic Club (KING). In the past, both clubs established a tradition of excellence that continues today. In 1997, KING becomes a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
HEAD COACH YEAR (Season = SEP-AUG) Alex Reed 2020-present Milorad "Milo" Cavic 2019-2020 Jay Benner 2018-2019 Michael Brooks 2017-2018 Ash Milad & Doug Djang 2014-2017 Tommy Hannan 2012-2014 Sean Hutchison 2002-2012 Jerry Olszewski 1996-2002
Highline Swim Club (HSC/HIGH)
Established in 1966 as the Highline YMCA by a group of parents and coaches from the West Seattle YMCA Swim Team. The team founded by Milt Orphan and Earl Mckinney changes to a coach owned club the next year becoming Highline Swim Club. Their first pool was located in Burien. The team later moved to the Highline College Pool. The club later added Mount Rainier Pool and King County Aquatic Center.
HEAD COACH YEAR (Season = SEP-AUG) Jerry Olszewski 1994-1996 Andy Hathaway 1973 Earl McKinney 1966-???
Kent Area Dolphins Swim Team (KAD)
Mike Bemis founded Kent Area Dolphins Swim Team in 1972. Their first pool was the newly built Kent-Meridian Pool and later added the Tahoma Pool in Covington.
HEAD COACH YEAR (Season = SEP-AUG) Tom Anderson ????-1996 ?? ???? ?? ????
Our Heritage
The 1960s
In 1965:West Seattle YMCA – Coaches Milt Orphan, Earl Mckinney
1966 Highline YMCA – Milt and Earl split from West Seattle YMCA to open a pool in Burien. Some of you might remember the pool with the bubble off Ambaum Blvd. Swimming alumni Scott Lautman and Mark Prothero go with them
1967 Highline Swim Club, a coach owned club in Burien. The Burien pool was purchased by Earl and Milt and renamed to the Highline Swim School. The Highline Swim Club (HSC) was created.
1970 Highline College opened it’s pool, a 25 yd x 25 yd, 11 lane pool. Highline Swim Club expanded its program there. The pool was lost to fire in 2002 set by vagrant
1972 In June the Kent Area Dolphins (KAD) is created, by coach Mike Bemis. Mike talks about their first meet and receiving a 27 page letter of all the things they did wrong in the first meet. Currently Mike is coaching at Columbia River Swim Team and Camas High School.
1973 Milt and Earl hired a new head coach, a young man named Andy Hathaway. Today Andy is the Western Section Chairman, Pacific Northwest Swimming (PNS) Chairman, and an attorney supporting maritime shipping on the west coast.
1979 Highline wins its first Sr. Regional Swim meet at Tualitin Hills Swim Club (THSC) Pool in Beaverton, Oregon.
1985+ Ron Van Pool was the Highline President (Ron just retired as the Head of USA Swimming).
1996 Highline Swim Club athlete Kenny Roberts (Age 17) competes in 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games for Seychelles in 100-meter butterfly. Kent Area Dolphins Swim Team and Highline Swim Club merge to become KING, Rob Munsch – KAD President, Dave Silver – HSC President, Jerry Olszewski – Head Coach; KING website is launched.
1998 KING wins Western Junior National Championship for women and combined team.
2000 Alumnus of both Highline and KING, Chris Thompson swims for USA at 2000 Sydney Olympic games, wins a bronze medal in the 1,500-meter freestyle and sets the American record.
2002 KING hires a young Sean Hutchison from The Tualitin Hills Thunderbolts as its new CEO & Head Coach. KING quickly becomes a national power with Sean’s leadership.
2008 KING becomes a coach owned club with a separate 501(c)3 non profit parent booster organization. For the first time, not one but two KING swimmers (Margaret Hoelzer & Megan Jendrick) and their coach earn a spot on the USA Olympic Swim Team. KING athletes Heather Brand (Zimbabwe) and Svetlana Karpeeva (Russia) also competed in the Olympics for their respective countries. World Record set for the first time by a KING swimmer (Hoelzer). The KING women win the Winter National short course championship. KING athlete Margaret Hoelzer won a bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke at 2008 Beijing Olympic games.
2009 The KING women win the USA National long course championship.
2018 KING is no longer a coach owned club with ownership purchased by the Terry Yen family. The new KING is freshly re-booted with the hiring of nationally renowned head coach Jay Benner. Together, Terry & Jay are building KING with new dynamic coaches.
2019 Milo Cavic becomes head coach.
2020 Alex Reed becomes head coach and co-owner.
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