History

Established in 1966, King Aquatic Club (KING) is the premier youth sports program in the Seattle-Tacoma 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 a USA Swimming Gold Medal Club, 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!

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King Aquatic Club (KING) 

King Aquatic Club is an amalgamation of two clubs, Highline Swim Club & Kent Area Dolphins Swim Team. Both programs – Highline Swim Club & Kent Area Dolphins - were strong programs and decided to merge as one club in 1996. The name chosen for the new club was King Aquatic Club after the county that both teams were located. 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. 

Highline Swim Club (HSC) 

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 Clenter.

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.

Our Heritage

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 to 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 United States Swimming). 

1996   Kent Area Dolphins Swim Team and Highline Swim Club merge to become KING, Rob Munsch – KAD President, Dave Silver – HSC President, Jerry Olszewski – Coach

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 and their coach earn a spot on the USA Olympic Swim Team. World Record set for the first time by a KING swimmer.

If there are any errors or ommissions. please contact marketing@kingaquaticclub.com