STARTING Labor Day, SEPTEMBER 7
Practices Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 7:30 - 8:30 PM at Maine East high school except the following dates 10/22, 11/26, 12/17, 12/24, 12/31, 3/11/10, 4/8/10 and additional dates to be announced when the pool is needed for school activities: 11/23. We will swim on school holidays other than those listed above.

Contact Elizabeth to get on her email list for schedule updates. Team members may contact Coach Jerry directly at COACHJERTHEBEAR@aol.com Non-team members should contact Meet Director Barry.

About the Penguins

Coach Jerry

Penguins and Gray Sharks swim the USMS National long course championship meet at Indianapolis, August 2009 The Park Ridge Penguins came together in the winter of 1982 under the auspices of the now defunct Park Ridge YMCA. Management had noticed several Y members working out in the pool in preparation for meets and decided it was better to isolate us in one group rather than let us continue to terrorize the other swimmers. Our original coach, Jerry Christian, continues to coach us to this day. When the Y closed we were informally adopted by the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District which has arranged pool time for us at Maine East High School, presumably to keep us, as much as possible, out of district pools. Throughout our history the team has taken the position that swimming is first of all fun with competition and fitness secondary considerations. Our principal function has been to give local masters swimmers a place to hang out together with others with similar interests. Our social activities have been as important as our athletic pursuits. We have also tried to be as inclusive as possible with swimmers of all ages, genders, political persuasions and, most of all, body types, welcome. Still, Masters Swimming is about competition, whether serious pursuit of a National championship, friendly rivalry with our old enemies or just empirical proof that we're not dead yet. Team members must be registered with USMS and are expected to compete in meets, either for the Penguins or another team such as the Gray Sharks. Runners and triathletes are welcome as long as they are willing to sacrifice their bodies in a few masters meets during their off season. We work out during the indoor season (September through April) at Maine East High School most Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings (school holidays and events do take priority). We generally have practices indoors and outdoors during the summer, with a group informally practicing at Oakton pool in the mornings Memorial day through Labor day. Our rates can't be beat. For more information about times or rates contact Barry Dayton or call Mark at 847-506-9277