State-Journal.com - FAST gets new head coach

Frankfort Area Swim Team (FAST) has named Matt Painter Head Coach of their USA Swim Team. Painter brings five years of USA coaching to the team. He was previously an assistant with Falling Springs and Bluegrass swim teams before becoming the full-time assistant at FAST.

Originally from Akron, Ohio, Painter began competitive swimming in high school. In his senior year, he swam in the Ohio high school state championships and obtained YMCA national standards in both breaststroke events.

After swimming two years at Eastern Kentucky University, Painter took up running and triathlons. After college, he began masters swimming and competed steadily for 20-plus years as an adult athlete.
He swam in numerous national championships, the 1989 Pan-Pacific Masters Aquatic Games and the 1992 World Masters Championships.

Painter achieved many personal best times in his 30s and 40s and credits a better understanding of training, nutrition and a positive spiritual philosophy toward swimming.

He will be implementing new standards for swim levels within the team and in the swim lessons held at KSU Exum Center pool Tuesday evenings from 6-6:30 p.m.

"I believe its important to assess the skills of each swimmer before beginning instruction and as they progress in their mastery of new skills," Painter said. "It helps us provide the best instruction during swim lessons and helps the swimmers develop confidence in their swimming ability. Parents also appreciate having specific feedback on their childs progress."

Levels start with Beginner Level I for children with no previous instruction, through intermediate and advanced levels where swimmers develop proficiency in front and back crawl, elementary back stroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Participants will also learn flip turns and diving.

Frankfort Area Swim Team (FAST) is an incorporated, non-profit, parent run swim club consisting of approximately 40 swimmers. Over the past 40 years, FAST has coached over 400 swimmers to state championships in individual events and team members have consistently placed well in state championships.

For more information about Frankfort Area Swim Team, contact Keith Hawkins, president of the board at 226-5525, or Casey Greer, vice president at 223-2963.

For information about swim lessons, contact Ray Anderson, treasurer at 226-6371. More information is also available on the team website www.fastswimteamky.org.