The Fins Aquatics Club is Philadelphia's gay and lesbian masters swim team. Our members range from swimmers who have never competed to first time competitors to national record holders. We welcome swimmers of all ages, skill levels, genders and orientations. The team provides challenging, well-organized, coached work-outs. Some members focus on local, regional, national or international swimming competitions and/or triathlons. Others swim to keep fit.
When we aren't working out, we often hang out together just for fun, whether for meals after practice, bike rides, participating at Philadelphia's various gay festivals or for other special events.
The Fins Aquatics Club is affiliated with International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics and US Masters Swimming.
The Philadelphia Fins Aquatics Club was founded in 1988 for GLBT swimmers in the Philadelphia area. We are a member of the United States Masters Swimming (USMS) and the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA).
Jennifer officially stepped into the shoes of Head Coach in February 2007 after acting as interim head coach after the position was vacated by the death James Robles. "I chose to fill his large shoes to help keep a team he loved and believed in alive. I miss him dearly."
She has competed since the age of 4 and has been on numerous teams (Jersey Wahoos, Cherry Hill West, Team Captain for 2 years, Cherry Valley, Washington and Jefferson College, team captain and most valuable player). She came out of retirement to join the Philadelphia Fins Aquatic Club in the spring of 2005 and has used her love of the sport and the passion for equality to help nurture and grow the team.
Her focuses are on individual medley and life long swim goals. Her coaching style has been described as stern but sweet. Her workouts often have anger at her in the water but loving her after. She tries to utilize her years of experience to help swimmers of all skills and levels.
Tom comes to the Fins with over 20 years of competitive swimming and coaching experience. His achievements while in age groups include New Jersey Swimming champion in the 50 Free (11-12 age group), making the Philippine age group national team, and several national top 20 YMCA times. While in high school, Tom swam at the Peddie School where he was co-captain his senior year. While attending Peddie, the Falcons were Eastern Champions (1996 and 1997) and ranked 5th and 12th in the nation in Swimming World's Mythical Championships. After high school, Tom attended the University of Pennsylvania where he was a varsity letter holder in swimming. He made the Quaker's Eastern squad swimming the 200 butterfly and 500 freestyle.
Tom's coaching experience spans a variety of different levels. While living in southern California working in environmental consulting, Tom coached the West Hollywood Aquatics (WH2O). While coaching WH2O, Tom held several technique clinics on turns and starts. In 2002, he came back to Philadelphia and did his Master's work at his Alma mater where he also was also an assistant coach to both Penn's Swimming and Diving team. After graduation from his Master's in 2004, Tom started swimming and coaching with Fins aquatics. His favorite color is blue.
Roger first learned how to swim and dive when he was 3, growing up in Cairo, Egypt. He moved back to Denver, CO at the age of 9 and swam in Summer Clubs, where he broke multiple age group records in I.M. and Fly events. It wasn't until his sophomore year of high school did he start swimming on a U.S.S year-round team. It was after this transition that he discovered his best event, the 200 fly. In high school he was part of an elite high school team who were runner-up at the State Championships despite having only 8 athletes compete. He earned Academic All-American all four years.
He continued his swimming career at Bowdoin College, a division III liberal arts school in Maine. Under the direction of Coach Brad Burnham, Roger continued to excel and improve at his specialty, the 200 fly, following Coach Burnham?s unique swimming philosophy. He set the NESCAC Conference record in the 200 fly in 2004 and then lowered it again his senior year in 2006, while co-captain of the team. He also earned All-American honors three years in a row, placing in the top 8 each year in the 200 Fly at DIII Nationals.
Roger coached a Summer League team in Denver in 2002 and 2003. His focus on swimming technique helped many individuals improve significantly. He also helped Coach Burnham conduct physics research in swimming. He also served as assistant coach and demonstrator at swim clinics. Roger hopes to bring a more technical background in his role as a coach for the Fins.
Roger moved to Philadelphia after graduating to work at a landscape design firm and joined the Fins almost immediately. He knew only one person who lived in the city when he moved (a college teammate) and the Fins were a great outlet to meet people.
Ryan comes to the FINS with almost 20 years of swimming behind him. Starting with summer league swimming at the age of 6, swimming has always been a major part of Ryan's life. After success in multiple sports at an early age, it was at the age of 13 he decided to make a larger commitment to his swimming abilities. As Ryan approached his high school years he made the decision to switch schools and attend Germantown Academy (GA) to swim under former Olympic Coach Richard Shoulberg. It was under his direction that Ryan became a 4-time High School All American and a qualifier for US nationals in both the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 200 IM. Ryan currently holds the GA high school record in the 100 fly, and the club team record in the 100 meter fly.
Upon graduation from high school Ryan attended Harvard University, where he competed for four years earning First Team all Ivy each year. During his time at Harvard Ryan was part of two school record breaking relays in both the 200 and 400 medleys, where he swam butterfly. Also during these four years Ryan qualified for the 2004 US Swimming Olympic Trials, where he competed in the 100 butterfly. As a member of the Harvard Swim Team Ryan regularly participated in Saturday clinics, which strived to teach swimming to a wide range of age and ability levels.
After finishing college and taking a brief hiatus from competing, Ryan took his swimming knowledge to The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr where he was the head coach of the girls swim team during the 2005 season. Shortly thereafter, Ryan realized that he missed being a part of a team, and he missed the competition. It was then in the fall of 2006 that Ryan joined the FINS, and regained the camaraderie and competition that he was missing. After being a team member for almost two years, he is excited to be able to bring his knowledge of swimming to a coaching position.
- President
- Vice President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Members at Large
- Head Coach
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Name: |
Anh Dang |
Position: |
President | |
eMail: |
anhphl@gmail.com | |
Phone: |
610-564-6661 | |
Lane: |
5 |
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Name: |
Kacie King |
Position: |
Vice President | |
Lane: |
4 | |
eMail: |
kaciebee@gmail.com |
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Name: |
Todd Kirkes |
Position: |
Treasurer | |
eMail: |
todd.kirkes@gmail.com | |
Phone: |
215-275-1879 | |
Lane: |
3 |
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Name: |
Jeff Rice |
Position: |
Secretary | |
eMail: |
jeff.rice@gmail.com | |
Phone: |
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Lane: |
1 |
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Name: |
Patrick Rooney |
Position: |
Member at Large | |
eMail: |
patrooney19147@yahoo.com | |
Lane: |
3 | |
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Name: |
Kevin Aldridge |
Position: |
Member at Large | |
eMail: |
kealdridge@verizon.net | |
Lane: |
5 | |
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Name: |
Jen Hensell |
Position: |
Head Coach | |
eMail: |
hensell@mac.com | |
Lane: |
1 |








