Piedmont Swim Team Hires New Head Coach

Piedmont Swim Team has hired a new head coach, J.K. (John) Kramer, team officials announced Monday. Aug. 10 was Kramer's first official day on the job.

The team will host a "meet the coach" potluck on Aug. 28, the same day that the first round of evaluations for potential new team members will be held.

Kramer replaces former head coach Helen Garcia, who resigned (along with the assistant coaches) to form at the Albany High School Aquatics Center.

Kramer has coached all levels of swimming over the course of a 28-year career, PST officials said. Most recently he spent part of the summer at the  learn-to-swim program run by the South Bay's Osprey Aquatics. Prior to that he was an assistant coach, interim head coach and head coach with the Morgan Hill Swim Club. In his college years, he was a scholarship swimmer at the University of Tennessee.

Team officials said the next steps in reconfiguring PST under new leadership will be to recruit and hire a new assistant coach and to update workout schedules to fit Kramer's coaching style.

Kramer said he hopes to provide swimmers with a dynamic and positive training atmosphere dedicated to developing the whole athlete, no matter what his or her talent level.

The team's potluck BBQ on Tuesday, Aug. 28, will kick off about 5:30 p.m. at the picnic tables between the and the Piedmont Community Pool.

Burgers and hot dogs will be dished up about 6 p.m., with a formal meet-the-coach and parent information session from 7 to 8 p.m. To RSVP or for more information, email piedmontswimteam@gmail.com.

The team expects to start the fall season Sept. 4. All workouts will be at the Piedmont Community Pool. The team hopes to add about 20 new swimmers this fall, for a slightly smaller team of about 80 swimmers total.

The first round of evaluations will be held on Aug. 28. To schedule an evaluation on that date, pemail piedmontswimteam@gmail.com, including the name, gender, age and swim experience /abilities of your child.

The team will also hold evaluations during the first week of practice. You may email the team with the information above about your child, plus times and dates when your child would be available, to schedule an evaluation during the week of Sept. 3. Spots are on a first come, first served basis, based on qualification. Check the team website at www.piedmontswimteam.org for evaluation dates.

For more information, contact the PST board president at llfennell@gmail.com.

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