Waynewood Swim Team: Going Strong After Six Decades

On July 14, 1960, a mere 10 days after the grand opening of Waynewood Pool, Robert Lemmon pitched his idea to the Waynewood Recreation Association (WRA). He wanted to create a swim team. The Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL) was just 4 years old and was growing fast, as suburbs replaced dairy farms in the counties around DC. Lemmon’s proposal was approved and in what would become a Waynewood tradition, a group of parents stepped in to help organize the team. In Spring 1961, John Crumplar (namesake of our lap pool) and William Lesher reported that they had attended an NVSL meeting and had carried out the steps for membership. 

The first season of the Waynewood Swim Team was quickly underway. The WRA appropriated $175 “for the swimming team to purchase lane ropes, two starting guns and two watches.”  In June they authorized an additional $23 to purchase ribbons and proposed a practice meet with Little Hunting Park. The team grew fast in those early years. John Crumplar worked to recruit older swimmers who could not make it to normal practice sessions. In June 1962, the Board approved evening practices from 9-10pm to accommodate them. The hard work paid off. Waynewood put together winning seasons and in 1963, the team had 80 swimmers and had participants in 8 events in the NVSL All Stars Meet. 

Then, as now, coaching was important. According to the June 1964 minutes, the WRA Board authorized the Team leadership “to enter into a reasonable contract with a ceiling of $200.00… This amount was to include all remuneration to the swimming coach and/or any assistants for all activities of the swimming team, including but not limited to coaching after hours in the evening, trips with the swimming team and any other necessary duties.” It’s not surprising that costs have risen over the years, but few people know that “The Waynewood Dolphins” was not the team’s original name. Until the mid-sixties, our swimmers competed for The Waynewood Swim Club (WSC) who were known as the Flying Fish! We haven’t uncovered the source of the name, but perhaps the many pilots who lived in the Waynewood Neighborhood during that period provided the inspiration.

With a sixty-year history in our community, former Waynewood Swim Team members are all around us. They are our neighbors, members of our families, and even parents of current Dolphins. Waynewood neighbor, Paul Skelly has experienced the Waynewood Swim Team as a swimmer (starting as an 11-year-old in the mid 1960s), as an Assistant Coach (1972 & 73), as a Head Coach (1974, 75 & 76) and then as a parent when his kids joined the team.  He remembers Colonel Crumplar arranging the Waynewood Winter Swim program over at Bolling Air Force Base as the Mount Vernon and George Washington RECenters weren’t built until the 1980s. One very memorable activity for Skelly was the 100 mile swim.  This was accomplished as a relay over the course of a weekend with one swimmer in the pool at all times subbing out after each mile or so.  It sounds like the most exhausting sleepover!

Over the years, the Waynewood Swim Team has accumulated 11 Division Championships, developed thousands of swimmers and created lifelong friendships.  To celebrate the 60^th Anniversary of the Waynewood Swim Team, we’ve created a Facebook group to share the photos and stories from former and current swimmers and parents.  If you’d like to participate, you can join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/805477320141952   Go Dolphins!