Highlights

See also the Somerset All Time Historical Records

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Somerset Supersonics, 1976

1975 A Swimming Pool Advisory Committee report was issued in February. It was agreed to sponsor a swim team. Then in June, $400 is appropriated for swim team equipment — stop watches, lane ropes, and back-stroke warning flags. In August Coach Daniel Hirsch reports on the success of the swimming team – 65 swimmers from 32 families were participating. Mr. Hirsch would move to Somerset in 1992, and later his daughter would swim for the team in the new millennium.

1976 There is a Resolution that the Town support a swim team program and authorization of $950 for purchase of pool equipment. But Swim League dues, honorariums paid to coaches, cost of team parties, etc. were to be raised by charging a small fee for participation. The team was called theSomerset Supersonics in the summer of 76 and officially became the 61st team to join the Montgomery County Swim League (MCSL).

Somerset Dolphins 1978

1977 On the initiative of the Swim Team, Council member Mr. Meerkreebs made a motion that the Town pay $125 membership fee for the 1977 season to the Montgomery County Swimming League and assume payment of the annual membership fee in the future.

Captain Purple

Captain Purple Appears David De Grazia (class of 1982) becomes the first to don the purple costume and jump off the high dive before meets. In the 1980′s the tradition is continued by Andy Abdeselem and Jamie Barse. Over the years there has been a continuous stream of 15-18 year old boys and girls who proudly wear the purple outfit, lead cheers, and intimidate the other teams.

Early 1980′s Lorrie Barse and Pat Silbert serve as Swim Team Reps.

Somerset Dolphins 1985 Note the high dive.

Somerset Magic Water Unhappy with their results at away meets, the older swimmers begin bringing a flask of water from the Somerset pool. Amid a special cheer/incantation, the magic liquid is poured into the offending pool before each meet to bring luck to the Dolphins. This tradition continues for several years, but eventually dries out.

1986-1993 Gayley Knight serves as Swim Team Representative (the “Rep”).

1994-1995 Debbie Heller and Elaine Bloomfield are Swim Team Reps. The swim team had an active season with over 100 young residents participating, a very big year.

1996 Swim Team Reps are Joanne Steller and Mark Palchick. There are 70 swim team members. The MCSL switches to computers to score meets. Prior to this teams used a 5-part form to seed and score events by hand. Not every team has a computer; Somerset dads Gerry Helfgott and Jerry McDougal bring a desktop computer (plus monitor and keyboard) to many away meets.

1997 The Town drops annual membership fees for use of the pool. This is expected to have an impact on pool usage and swim team membership. Sarah Morse begins a 14 year run as Swim Team Rep.

1998 The swim team had been pushing for a water heater for the pool, which is installed in 1998. A developmental team, The Minis, is created for younger swimmers not quite ready for the regular team.

1999 Our first Wednesday night “B” Meet is scheduled, down the road at Little Falls.

2001 The Dolphins tie for 1st Place in Division M, the only top finish over (at least) an 18 year span. Co-Head coaches are Tara Zimmerman and Ben Graham.

Somerset Dolphins, 2002

2002-2006 The team continues to grow and is more competitive. The Dolphins rise to Divisions K, J, I, and G. This is the highest in Dolphin history. As the team grows, Wednesday night “B” meets become more important; several are scheduled each year. We enjoy continuity: Ben Graham serves as Head Coach for 3 years, followed by Dario Fuentes for 4 years.

2006 Alas, in the high altitude of Division G the Dolphins lose all their meets and fall back to Division I. The first Annual Somerset B Relay Carnival is held.

Somerset Dolphins, 2009

2009 New Head Coach is Kirby Weldon. There are over 130 swimmers on regular team and 40 on Minis; both are records. The team now routinely schedules four Wednesday night B Dual Meets and hosts a B Relay Carnival.

2010 New Head Coach is Michal Morris. Former quadruple-record holder from the 1980′s Giulia Bisconti has moved back to Somerset, and her daughter becomes the first 2nd generation Dolphin. Long-time volunteers Pamela Cox (Treasurer, Referee) and Jim Berry (Automation, Webmaster) pass their spreadsheets and laptop to a new generation.

2011 was a very challenging year. The construction of the new pool house runs a month late; 3 weeks of practice are held at Landon School; time trials are held at Carderock Springs, and our first 2 home meets are held away. After 14 years, Sarah Morse steps down as rep and passes the reins to Ann Brown, Amy Power, and Maura Vanderzon. Only 99 swimmers are on the team, the lowest in many years. The team shines at Relay Carnival: Eight Somerset relays snatch 1st place, and the Dolphins win the Carnival for the first time in at least 20 years.

2012 Nancy Jardini, mother to four swimmers, joined Ann Brown as co-team rep before taking the solo spot in 2013.  During this time, the Dolphins had an undefeated season, some very memorable dessert contests, and a lot of fun.

2019 was the last season pre-COVID-19 pandemic. Jeff Mascott takes over as Team Rep from Nancy Jardini; Ann Bolten and Kelly Swain take over at A Reps from Maura Vanderzon and Amy Power.

2020 season is canceled by MCSL due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Somerset Dolphins proceed with a season of sorts - mostly dryland training and some swimming. Anything to keep kids in the water and interested in the swim team.

2021 season proceeds with lots of COVID-19 restrictions planned, all of which are lifted by the time the season starts. The only exception: Relay Carnivals are not held and Individual All-Stars are held over two days instead of one. 19-year old swimmers are allowed to compete for 1 season only after missing their final year of swimming. Somerset's pool pump breaks mid-season, causing a scramble to relocate practices and Minis to other area pools. The pump is fixed right before the final home meet against Garrett Park, which the Dolphins win. Dolphins end the season in 3rd place and are moved up to Division I for the 2022 season.

2022 season is the first post-COVID normal season. The Dolphins welcome a new Head Coach, Roger Dent, who is assisted by Catherine Belyakov and Jane Umhofer. The Dolphins win only 1 of 5 meets but place 3rd at Relay Carnival and 2nd at Divisionals. At season end, the Dolphins are re-seeded to Division I for the 2023 season. Jeff Mascott steps down as Team Rep for personal health reasons.

MCSL Division Record

Many thanks to former Council Member Leslie Simmons who organized much of the material on this page and to former Somerset Dolphin Asher Lewis who in 2023 did extensive research in the MCSL archives to fill in many blanks.