Hagatna, Gu. (Nov. 27, 2019) – Manukai Athletics Club is a swim team that was established in 1966. Manukai trains swimmers from ages four to 21, at varying swimming skill levels while establishing bonds between the team mates, coaches and the swim community.
The club practices at the Agana Pool from 4 to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Swimmers at Manukai have the opportunity to excel in the swimming world and participate in various non-aquatic activities.
Kiantae Laguana, 26, a swim coach at Manukai, said that there are four levels in Manukai.
Levels one and two focus on basic water safety skills and swim techniques, while levels three and four focus on developing the skill acquired from the previous level, for competitive swimmers.
The swimmers in levels three and four have opportunities to compete in local swim meets, in competitions at a national level in Saipan and Hawaii, and even have the opportunity to compete at an international level.
Timothy Fedenko, the president of Manukai, 53, is the secretary of the Guam Swimming Federation and a level-two International Swimming Federation certified coach.
Fedenko said swimmers engage in a variety of activities to work different muscles and have a complete training.
Swimmers from levels three and four also do other activities that differ from their usual routine, such as water polo, dry-land training, running and weight training.
Head coach Takamasa Diaz, 26, states that Manukai is currently trying to coordinate with Asahi Onogawa, 25, a top swimmer in Japan, to give the swimmers on Guam the opportunity to train in Japan to reach a higher caliber.
Training can be taken further, to an even higher level.
Fedenko explained that if swimmers above the age of 21 want to further their swimming career, they can do a Master Class, which is offered by the Guam Swimming Federation.
The Master Class allows swimmers to be nominated to compete in FINA competitions, the Olympics, Micronesian Games, Oceania Swimming Championships, and the South Pacific Games, if their swimming times meet the criteria set by the Guam Swimming Federation.
“They have the opportunity to swim under the Guam flag at the Olympics,” Fendenko said. “That’s their goal.”
While one of Manukai’s main goals is to help swimmers advance their athletic abilities, they also want to strengthen the swimmers’ bonds and friendships.
Diaz said after Saturday practices, the kids usually go out and eat pizza together, and the coaches grab something to eat together as well. During the last swim meet of the year, Manukai has a big party to close off the season.
Laguana highly recommends that everyone learns to swim.
“So when you go with friends or family to the beach, you’re safe and aware of how to be in and around the water,” Laguana said.
Swimming is an important skill to have, but water safety is just as important.
“Our goal is to get everyone on Guam to swim,” Fedenko said.
If you would like further information on Manukai Athletics Club, you can go to the Agana Pool from Tuesday to Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. and speak to any of the coaches.
