We Have a Lane for You!
About Us
Don't let the name "Masters" keep you away. Our team has coaches who specialize in training all kinds of swimmers. Marin Aquatic Masters is for everyone: those of you who have been out of the water since childhood and want to get back in shape, triathletes wanting to master the "hardest leg" of an Ironman, competitive swimmers who are training for meets, or athletes who are recovering from injuries. No matter what your goals are, we will meet them and you will have fun and make new gutter buddies!
Meet The Coaches
Shari is the head coach of the Marin Aquatic Masters and is now in her 10th year of coaching for our team. She is a USMS Certified Level 3 Coach and Certified Adult Learn to Swim Instructor. Shari is dedicated to the success of every swimmer on our team and fosters a welcoming, non-competitive and inclusive swimming environment for everyone. Coach Shari always puts the same energy into the success of her swimmers whether they are training for Nationals, haven’t been in the pool for 20 years, or are just learning to swim for the first time.
Shari is always on deck and doesn’t get much time to swim herself, but she is an Ironman 70.3 finisher and loves trail running, having run two 50k trail races so far. Shari and her husband Bryce have been married for 33 years. Their son is our team’s Coach Nick, and their daughter Claire is a senior swimming for UC Santa Cruz. When not coaching our team, Shari is an estate planning attorney in her 21st year of practicing law.
Nick is a USMS Certified Level 3 Coach with over 5 years of experience, is an Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor, and a USA Swim Coach. His love for all things swimming has kept him in and around the pool for his whole life. During his time as a competitive swimmer, he excelled in distance freestyle, and competed at the 2015 Open Water Nationals in Florida. He began coaching at age 11 for The Special Olympics, and has since coached for the Marin Pirates, Thunder Coast Aquatics, Riptide, and Marin Aquatic Masters. With skills in coaching many different types of swimmers, Coach Nick can make anyone feel comfortable and confident in the water.
Marin Aquatic Masters 2024 Letter from the President of our Board
I wanted to take a moment to share with you the several important awards that Coach Shari has won/received this year. In May, Shari was presented with the Pacific Masters Swimming 2024 Coach of the Year Award. This award recognizes not only excellence in coaching, but her Pacific Masters Swimming committee work - as VP of Clubs and Coaches and a member of both the ALTS and the Diversity and Inclusion committees - for her professional contributions at local and national swim clinics, and her article for Swimmer Magazine. This award also recognizes the tremendous work Shari has done for Marin Aquatic Masters in team recruitment, meet participation by our swimmers, and for her role as Meet Director for three Pacific Masters championship swim meets and the addition of a new Short and Sweet meet. Well deserved, Coach!
Shari was also recently the recipient of two national USMS awards. The Kerry O’Brien Coaching Award. This national award was given to Coach Shari for her grassroots efforts in building our team over recent years; keeping our team running and securing highly coveted pool space through the pandemic, for consolidating three workout groups into one cohesive team, and for her unwavering spirit and knowledge she shares while on the pool deck. Shari was also recognized for her work out in the community, volunteering as a coach at National meets, teaching swim classes at COM as well as coaching San Rafael High School, and, of course, the Adult Learn to Swim (ALTS) program each spring which has taught hundreds of adults to swim for free.
The Dorothy Donnelly Service Award recognizes individuals whose volunteer service has contributed to the growth, improvement, or success of US Masters Swimming. Shari was recognized for this award for her innovation and dedication to the Adult Learn To Swim program. Fine-tuning this program each year, Shari has now been asked to offer her experience nationally, to share her methods and strategies that she has honed over the years which help to make adult swimmers safe and confident in the water. She has also developed a Bridge to Masters Swimming program that matriculates ALTS swimmers into our beginning masters program for those who want to continue swimming regularly.
Please congratulate our coach when you see her next. We are so fortunate to have her leadership.
See you at the pool!
Terry Powers
MAQ Board President
Marin Aquatic Masters Code of Conduct
Marin Aquatic Masters, a USMS team, welcomes and fully supports team members with all levels of swimming background and ability. “Masters” refers to athletes ages 18 and over, not expert level swimming. Our coaches and volunteers recognize the dignity of each person and refrain from behaviors or words that are disrespectful of any one or any group.
It is a team priority to provide a rewarding experience to the entire swim community. Marin Aquatic Masters welcomes and fully supports team members of all sexual and gender identities, socioeconomic status, national origin, and religion. We offer our members, and potential members, a team practice environment which seeks to ensure the safety and inclusion of all members and any athletes and/or spectators who attend our team sponsored events.
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Marin Aquatic Masters Team Record
Prow scuttle parrel provost Sail ho shrouds spirits boom mizzenmast yardarm. Pinnace holystone mizzenmast quarter crow's nest nipperkin grog yardarm hempen halter furl. Swab barque interloper chantey doubloon starboard grog black jack gangway rutters.
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