The Fins Aquatics Club

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.

History of the Fins

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).

Our Coaches (click to expand)

Bob Ryan (Head Coach)

Hello All, After a thorough search, the search committee would like to announce our new Head Coach, Bob Ryan. Bob has over 35 years of competitive swimming experience at all levels, from age group through college and USMS. He also has several years of USS coaching experience. In addition to this, he has 16 years experience with the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics association, 9 of which were as a FINS team member. We are excited for the skills and talent Bob will be bringing to the position

Tom Uybarreta

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.

Lily Cavanagh

I love swimming. I began swimming before I remember, and have been swimming competitively for the past 18 years. I was the captain of my high school team for two years and also of my college swim team. I swim sprint and middle distance freestyle, and have been known to throw in some butterfly now and again. After graduating from Dickinson College I was an assistant coach for a USS team in Northampton, MA. I'm committed to finding a way to make swim practice fun and fulfilling for everyone on the FINS. I look forward to helping everyone become more skilled and enthusiastic swimmers.

Marty Henry

Marty began his swimming career in Pittsburgh when he was six years old. He swam AAU, country club and for his Middle and Senior School. During the summers he was the swim coach for the Rolling Rock Club and The Pittsburgh Golf Club. Upon graduation from college he moved to New York and swam for Team New York until he relocated to Philadelphia in the mid 1990’s. He joined the Fins in 1997 and has been with them ever since except for a two year stint with the Nadadores in Miami. His swimming philosophy is, "Work hard and have fun".

Board Officers

President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Members at Large
Head Coach

Name:

Jan Elsasser

Position:

President

eMail:

finspresident@gmail.com

Lane:

I started swimming for fitness about 10 years ago. After a few years of swimming laps at a gym, I decided to join a team in order to improve my swimming skills and to learn additional strokes. It was the best thing I have ever done. Not only did I ensure that I get to have a good workout, but I found the people who have become my core group of friends. I started competing 2 years ago and have participated in local meets

and swam at the Gay Games in Cologne in 2010. Swimming with the Fins makes me a better swimmer and puts me in the pool with some of the best people you’ll ever meet.

Name:

David La Fontaine

Position:

Vice president

eMail:

finsvicepresident@gmail.com

Lane:

Content coming soon...

Name:

Catherine Guidi

Position:

Treasurer

eMail:

finstreasurer@gmail.com

Lane:

Name:

Kris Slay

Position:

Secretary

eMail:

finssecretary@gmail.com

Lane:

I began swimming competitively at 7 years old in a little town south of Wichita, Kansas. I continued to swim all through high school and into college. After graduating, I stopped swimming for several years and it wasn’t until I moved to Kansas City that I started swimming again. I swam with a gay and lesbian team in Kansas City, MO called the Waves. This was my first experience swimming with a masters team and this is were I realized how much I really missed the sport. I began swimming with the Fins in 2003 and have participated in

several meets as well as the "Swim for Life" in Provincetown. Swimming with the Fins has been a great experience. I get to hang out with a great group of people who share that same fondness for swimming.

Name:

Matt Kozusko

Position:

Member at Large 1

eMail:

finsmemberatlarge1@gmail.com

Lane:

I started swimming competitively at age 8 and swam with USS and masters teams through college. I joined the FINS in the summer of 2009, after a 15-year break in any serious training. Though I recently started competing again, I swim mostly for the exercise and community. I also have an odd fondness for reeking of chlorine. I think I associate the smell with the glowing calm that settles in after good workout.

Name:

Jean Voigtsberger

Position:

Member at Large 2

eMail:

finsmemberatlarge2@gmail.com

Lane:

Content coming soon...

Name:

Bob Ryan

Position:

Head Coach

eMail:

finsheadcoach@gmail.com

Lane:

Bob has over 35 years of competitive swimming experience at all levels, from age group through college and USMS. He also has several years of USS coaching experience. In addition to this, he has 16 years experience with the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics association, 9 of which were as a FINS team member. We are excited for the skills and talent Bob will be bringing to the position