THUNDER COAST AQUATICS
Mission Statement
Thunder Coast Aquatics (TCA) is committed to providing a platform where individuals can pursue their personal goals within a structured and supportive environment. The competitive swim team at TCA is dedicated to attracting and retaining swimmers who possess both talent and a strong desire to enhance their physical conditioning as well as their technical swimming skills.
TCA emphasizes a quality-controlled teaching and coaching environment, which is designed to foster athletes' aspirations to compete at higher levels. By providing a safe and caring atmosphere, TCA offers swimming programs that are easy to join and leave, making them accessible for beginners and developmental swimmers.
A central focus of TCA's instruction is teaching proficiency in the four basic strokes, which is considered essential for the development of young swimmers. The organization is committed to continually improving and refining competitive preparation and racing techniques for all its athletes.
TCA strives to deliver a competitive team experience with minimal pressure, allowing swimmers to grow and succeed in an encouraging environment that supports both their personal and athletic development.
Summary and History of the TCA Program
Founding and Early Operations
Thunder Coast Aquatics (TCA) was established during the COVID pandemic in 2020. Despite the challenging circumstances, TCA distinguished itself as one of the first swim programs in Northern California to conduct practices safely, adhering to the necessary guidelines and is recognized by USA Swimming as a Safe Sport Certified Club. The organization operates as a non-profit and is recognized by USA Swimming. TCA is a member of the Pacific Swimming Local Swimming Committee (LSC), which encompasses four zones stretching from the Oregon and Nevada borders to Monterey County. Pacific Swimming is widely regarded as one of the fastest and largest swimming LSCs in the United States.
TCA Swim School
In 2022, TCA launched its swim school, offering structured swim lessons under the guidance of a Site Supervisor and trained coaches. The program focuses on teaching lifesaving and developmental swim skills, maintaining a student-to-coach ratio of 3:1 to ensure optimal learning conditions. Lessons are available in the spring on Saturdays, and during a six-week summer session held on weekdays.
Swim Team Structure
The TCA swim team includes athletes ranging from beginners to college-level swimmers, ages 5 to 19. The Age Group program, designed for swimmers aged 5 to 14 (or kindergarten through eighth grade), averages nearly 100 participants at the start of each swim season in September. Team groups include Thunderbolt 1’s, 2’s, 3’s, TBlue, and Pre Seniors. The SR Gold group is composed of the most dedicated athletes, with 25 to 40 students from 10 different High Schools, and returning college swimmers. This group trains in the water up to eight times per week, supplemented by dry land training twice weekly.
Coaching Staff
The TCA coaching staff is led by me, Tom Evers with over 30 years of USA coaching experience. The lead assistant, Victor Wales, also brings more than 30 years of expertise and previously served as a Division I Head Swimming Coach at the University of Hawaii and UC Santa Barbara. Eric Whitten, the Head Age Group Coach, has over 30 years of coaching experience and has led other USA Clubs in the past. Supporting the core coaches are five additional assistant coaches, along with a lead administrator and a bookkeeper.
Team and Athlete Accomplishments
Team Performance and Recognition
TCA consistently ranks as one of the top three performing teams within Zone 3 and is recognized annually among the top 20 USA Swimming clubs in Pacific Swimming. Since its founding in 2020, the club has received multiple accolades from USA Swimming for outstanding team achievements.
Age Group Success
TCA’s age group athletes are regularly ranked in the top 25 for individual event times within Pacific Swimming. The team boasts numerous current and former champions at both the Age Group and Far Western Championships, which are regarded as some of the premier age group swim meets in the country.
Senior Gold Achievements and College Advancement
Senior Gold-level swimmers at TCA have produced multiple Junior National and Futures Championship competitors and winners in addition to more than 50 Sectional qualifiers. Since the team’s inception, TCA has supported 50 athletes in continuing their swimming and water polo careers at the collegiate level.
Collegiate Placements
TCA alumni have gone on to attend and compete for a variety of prestigious colleges and universities, including Duke University, NYU, USC, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State East Bay, UC Santa Cruz, Cal Poly, University of Arizona, Chapman University, UC San Diego, Brown University, UCLA, and Syracuse University.
Current graduating TCA seniors will be attending Bucknell, Claremont McKenna, UCLA, the Air Force Academy, West Point, UC Davis, Boise State University, and San Jose State.
Training Facilities
The College of Marin Indian Valley Campus’s Miwok Aquatic and Fitness Center serves as the home for both the swim team and the swim school. Opened in 2021, this premier facility features an Olympic-size, all-deep competition pool, a six-lane short course pool for laps, warm-ups, and instruction, as well as a dive pool equipped with a full dive tower. Additional amenities include a conference room, classroom, fitness center, several studios, two state-of-the-art scoreboards, and bleacher seating for up to 750 spectators.
Hosting Major Competitions
Since the opening of the Miwok Aquatic and Fitness Center, TCA has hosted a range of high-profile competitions. Notably, TCA brought the CA/NV Sectionals to Marin County for the first time in Pacific Swimming history, attracting up to 800 athletes from California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, with teams from New Hampshire and Vermont participating by special request. The upcoming Sectionals are expected to include college teams from New Zealand and Australia. This event alone generates over $1,000,000 in economic impact for the City of Novato and Marin County.
The facility and TCA also recently hosted the North Coast Section High School Swimming & Diving Championships, one of the fastest high school meets in the world, featuring future college swimmers, Olympic Trials participants, and Olympic hopefuls. This was the first time in more than 35 years that the meet was held in the North Bay, Marin County.
TCA Goals & Expansion
TCA is poised to build upon its strong foundation and move from good to great. Our primary objective is for TCA to become recognized as one of the leading swim programs in California and across the United States. This vision is achievable thanks to our experienced, hardworking, and dedicated coaches, swimmers, families, and volunteers. Although TCA is a relatively young program, our peers already acknowledge us as one of the best event hosts. The facility has become a popular destination for traveling teams, coaches, officials, and families, further reinforcing our reputation.
To continue advancing toward this vision, we aim to attract investors who can help us achieve our goals. Currently, the level of competition we can offer is limited by our meet equipment. With additional support, we hope to expand by hosting higher-level swim meets while maintaining our partnership with and supporting the College of Marin. The swim meet items used by TCA can also benefit junior college athletes and assist the College of Marin in recruiting aquatic athletes.
Maintaining TCA's current standard requires funding for coaches' salaries, bonuses, potential raises, team apparel, USA certifications, and facility rent. Membership fees primarily cover these essential costs.
We also plan to grow our swim school by offering more scholarships to underprivileged families. Improving the TCA brand is a priority, with an emphasis on enhanced marketing, teaching tools, and equipment.
A unique opportunity for team growth is on the horizon with the opening of the new San Rafael High School pool this summer. This brand-new, state-of-the-art facility is located less than ten miles from our current venue, and both myself and Victor Wales serve as the San Rafael High School Swim Coaches. We have eagerly awaited the opening of this $15 million facility, which gives us a chance to bring TCA to Marin's most populated city. Establishing a swim school in this area would be a tremendous resource for local families, particularly given the logistical and economic need for affordable, lifesaving swim lessons.
Expanding the team and swim school will require additional staff and resources. We are seeking improvements to our training equipment, capital upgrades, repairs, and new purchases to support our growth objectives for both the team and swim school.
TCA is committed to thanking and recognizing investors in ways that best suit them. Initial ideas for recognition include:
- Personalized recognition on specific equipment
- Recognition on the team website alongside our sponsors
- Recognition at competition events through announcers or visible platforms
- An individual thank you letter from the team and membership
- Lifelong TCA perks for investors and their families
Preliminary Wishlist
To provide initial momentum for the club, we have developed a preliminary wishlist that includes:
- Starting block tops (16 total)
- Backstroke start ledges (16 total)
- Wave Eater Competition lane lines (20 total)
- Triton Wear Advanced Athlete Technical Gear (subscription for 40 athletes)
- TCA Team New EZ UPs, repair, and swim meet equipment
- Coaches training and travel
- Training equipment (wet and dry)
Swim School Needs
- Training aids, tools, and marketing
- Uniforms and training
- Scholarships for swim team and swim lessons for underprivileged families