Celebrating 50+ years of swimming excellence!

On June 23, 1963, a group of Palos area people met at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Wally Cross for the purpose of forming an organization to sponsor competitive swimming. Those present included Harry Stebner (elected President) and Bob Grindley, Carl Sandburg High School Swim Coach (who also served as the Age Group Coach).

Coach Grindley reported an offer from the Castle Acres Motel in Hickory Hills, for use of their pool for workouts, which included suits, towels and warm-up suits. The group accepted and elected to call the club "The Castle Acres Swim Club".  It was stressed at this meeting that the team was being organized for competition, rather than recreational swimming and that the children involved must practice regularly and desire to swim in competition

Thus it happened, the birth of the thriving organization we know today, with many swimmers and active parent participation.

Other information found in old minutes include discussion concerning moving the workouts to the Sandburg pool in 1964. The same year the club took on the new name "The Palos Swim Association".  The formation of a league called the Des Plaines Valley Swimming Conference was also noted.

In 1971, the organization took on its third and present name, "The Palos Orland Swim Association", and was officially incorporated as a not-for-profit tax deductible organization.  The South Suburban Swim Conference eventually replaced the Des Plaines Valley Swimming Conference and three divisions of competitions were created, Red, Blue and White.  In 1998, a fourth division was needed to keep competition at a high level, and the gold division was created. POSA has swam in the gold division ever since.

In 2008, POSA celebrated its 45th Anniversary as a competitive swim organization under that name.  We have a long tradition at POSA.  Not only do we develop and advance the swimming skills of our kids, we develop the enduring traits of integrity, sportsmanship and teamwork.

Go Eagles!