Noelle Minck and student Libby Cohen
Julie Adamen
For many adults, learning to swim can be a deeply personal and transformative experience, and at SaddleBrooke Swim Club, the Adult Learn-to-Swim (ALTS) program is helping students make confident strides in the water with coaches Noelle Minck, Larry John, Rick Fey, Peggy Leirzapf, Julie Adamen, Allison Lehman, Rick Fey, and Theresa Ashton.
John Harris joined the class with one clear goal: to master proper strokes and breathing techniques so he could enjoy swimming as a lifelong form of exercise. “I’ve got the basic crawl stroke down, but I’m still working on the breathing—drinking a lot of pool water,” he joked. Having grown up around lakes, John wasn’t afraid of water but was blown away by the dedication of the volunteer instructors. “Their individual attention and advice really stood out. I’ll definitely keep working and watching for the next session.”
For Carl Fox, swimming represented a long-postponed dream. “I grew up on a dairy farm, so summers were busy. Swimming lessons didn’t fit into our schedule,” he explained. Retirement provided the perfect opportunity to dive in. Initially fearful of deep water, Carl wanted to gain confidence for boating and other water activities. “I made significant progress,” he shared. “While I’m not quite there yet, my best skill is the new desire to keep swimming and build on the foundation ALTS gave me.” His highlight? “The caring and encouragement from all the coaches. They’re amazing people.”
Libby Cohen also came into the program with no prior swimming experience and a fear of drowning. But that changed. “I no longer am afraid—I can tread water,” she said. “The more I relax, the better my strokes and breathing get.” She credits her instructor Noell for her progress. “She was so patient and encouraging.”
The common thread across all three stories is the supportive environment created by SaddleBrooke Swim Club’s volunteers. Their commitment and compassion help students of all backgrounds take the plunge—many for the first time—with newfound confidence and joy.
As the program wraps up, one thing is clear: It’s never too late to learn to swim, and the journey can be just as rewarding as the destination.