For 32 years, Atlanta Swim Academy (ASA) has become the place in East Cobb where local kids and adults have learned how to swim.
Brad Grzelka’s family opened ASA more than three decades ago as a swim and scuba shop. His family grew their swim lesson business over the years, and it’s become a premier swim school and aquatic center with three climate-controlled pools.
The addition of a four-lane junior Olympic pool in 2007 gave ASA the opportunity to start a swim team. In fact, the ASA Swim Team recently competed in the 14 and under Georgia State Meet, and 10 of 21 State qualifiers had started with swim lessons at ASA when they were infants or toddlers.
“Our mission is to develop the skills necessary for a lifetime of swimming in students of all ages, and to create a safe and fun environment in and around water,” says Brad. “It means a lot to us that these kids and their families have been swimming with us for so many years.”
ASA offers private, semi-private or group lessons at all levels. Recently, they started free Baby Splash Classes for infants who are 3-5 months old and their parents. As swimmers expand their skills and get older, they can move up lesson levels all the way to Swim FIT and Swim Team.
The coaches and instructors at ASA are known for being encouraging and firm and work with families to get even the most reluctant child swimming. Parents can watch the lessons in a large glass viewing area or on benches outside each pool. Family, men and women locker rooms provide safe changing areas and work tables give lots of space for parents and siblings to finish homework or study during lessons.
Ten-year-old ASA Swim Team member Julia Hodgson thinks everyone should try swimming. She says, “I think other swimmers should come to ASA for the lessons because they treat you so nicely, and in the future you might become an amazing swimmer.”
ASA’s swim team runs from August through July, but kids can join anytime. ASA also offers a Swim FIT program, which provides coaching and lessons for advanced swimmers in a fun and friendly environment. Swim FIT participants have an opportunity to compete on the ASA Swim Team if they choose.
Assistant Head Swim Coach Owen Sweitzer shares, “We find that many kids like going to competitions because they see if they put in the work, they will get excited. I love watching how excited the kids get, and they progress much faster.”
ASA also offers Camp H2O during the summer. Kids who are 4-12 years old of any swim skill level can attend this full day camp, which includes a 30 minute swim lesson, two hours of fun swim time, crafts and snacks.
Get your family ready for summer swimming and check out Atlanta Swim Academy. For more information about lessons, camp or swim team, go to atlantaswimacademy.com, visit them at 732 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA 30068 or call 770-973-3120.
This article originally appeared in the April issue of the EAST COBBER magazine, on page 19. Click HERE to access the digital edition.
