The SCW Masters Swim Group is pleased to welcome back its winter visitors as we continue our preparations for the fall and winter seasons. Sun City West Masters Swimming is a vibrant and inclusive program for adults aged 55 and over who reside in Sun City West. Our team is led by Barb Sloan, a USMS Level 3 Certified Coach and Certified Adult Learn-to-Swim Instructor. There are two additional Adult Learn-to-Swim (ALTS) Certified Instructors, Beck Ettien and Greg Carter. We’re a growing and supportive community that welcomes fitness swimmers, competitive athletes, and triathletes alike. Practices are held at R.H. Johnson Pool on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. You are welcome to stop by and speak with the coach or email scwsimming@gmail.com if you have questions.
Additionally, several of our swimmers represented the team, participating in swim meets out of the area, maintaining their competitive goals: Congratulations to the following swimmers:
Gynt Clifford: USMS Spring Nationals, San Antonio, TX
Beck Ettien: USMS Pentathlon, Oro Valley, AZ; Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, UT
Liz Scott: USMS Summer Nationals, Federal Way, WA
Terry Stauffer-Schmidt: Nevada Senior Games, Las Vegas, NV
Gini Baker: USMS Summer Nationals, Federal Way, WA; Huntsman World Senior Games, St. George, UT; USMS Pentathlon, Oro Valley, AZ; National Senior Games, Des Moines, IA; La Jolla, Calif., one-mile open-water swims
SCW Masters Swimming
History of the Program
The first swim program in Sun City West was water ballet. It was promoted by Del Webb. A few years later Lois McDonald, a retired boy’s high school swim coach, formed the first master’s swim program. It began with a handful of swimmers who wanted to compete and become better swimmers. When Lois could no longer coach, members of the team obtained their certification, and began creating workouts for everyone. Team members heard about Lee Howard and his coaching career at Southern Oregon, they approached him and that began the final leg of his career with the Sun City West Master Swimmers club. Then in 2019, the team was added to the Sportsman’s Club group roster, which has helped to provide consistent training, pool time and promotion of the swim club program. In 2021 Barb Sloan began coaching with Lee Howard on deck. In October of 2022 Coach Lee Howard retired and the team is solely coached by Coach Barb Sloan.
Sometimes, a group of people will come together in a very special way. It’s a camaraderie and attitude that is shared with each other. It’s a team spirit. It’s cheering for each other’s accomplishments and holding each other accountable by committing to practice and respecting and supporting each other’s abilities.
Snowbirds leave for the summer, and the team thins out, but practice is still held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings from 7-8:30 am at the RH Johnson pool.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Group Leader is Gynt Clifford. Currently, please contact Donna Howard at 541-604-6284 for additional swim team information or email scwswimming@gmail.com.
Adult Learn to Swim
Coach Barb Sloan is a USMS Certified ALTS Instructor. Her certification has created a whole new opportunity for Sun City West residents. The first Adult Learn to Swim class was a huge success!
Class size is 10. You must register in advance and plan to attend all 8 classes. Please email Barb Sloan SCWswimming@gmail.com
For Questions Contact Coach Barb at 623-687-6471
Pictures from Swim Meets in 2025
2023 Events
In April of 2023 3 swimmers from Sun City West Masters Swimming qualified for and competed in the National Swim Meet in Irvine California. Gynt Clifford on the left beat her seed time in all 5 of her events. Liz Scott on the far right swim a total of 3450 yards in her 5 events by swimming the 1650, the 1000 and the 500 to name a few. Beck Ettien beat her seed times in all 5 events with a stunning 8 second drop in the 400 IM. A big congratulations to these amazing women.
Four swimmers from Sun City West went to Las Cruces New Mexico June 8 & 9th to compete in the 2023 New Mexico Senior Olympics. From left to right Mary Mann, Liz Scott, Gynt Clifford, and Barb Gullingsrud. Congratulations to these amazing women representing Sun City West. They came home with big smiles after earning 19 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 2 bronze.
