As the Piedmont Swim Team prepares to start its 50th season this August, the team is hoping a return to the new Piedmont Community Pool will mark more than just a homecoming. It represents the continuation of a program that has shaped generations of swimmers, families, and community members for nearly five decades.
Founded in February 1976, PST operated exclusively out of the private Piedmont Swim Club for decades before the City of Piedmont assumed pool operations in 2011. The team continued training at the Piedmont Pool until the facility closed in 2020, beginning a six-year stretch without a permanent home pool.
Since then, PST swimmers and coaches have pieced together practices throughout the East Bay, from Oakland and Emeryville to Alameda and Hayward, all while maintaining one of the region’s most respected competitive swim programs.
The challenges of operating without a home facility have been significant. Coaches, swimmers, and families have navigated difficult schedules, long commutes, and the constant uncertainty of securing pool space. Team leaders say the lack of a home pool has also made it harder to maintain the close-knit culture that has long defined PST. Yet despite those obstacles, the team has not only survived, it has grown.
PST has expanded to approximately 190 swimmers today, while also increasing its presence at championship and national-level meets. The club has strengthened its developmental pipeline and recently added respected coaches Adrien Downey and Colby Price to lead Developmental and Age Group programming.
Many within the organization credit Head Coach Stefan Bill’s unwavering leadership, along with the dedication of PST families for helping sustain the team through the pool closure years. Many PST families also played a major role in supporting Measure UU, the bond measure that helped fund the new Piedmont Community Pool project. During the early days of the Covid pandemic, parents and supporters canvassed neighborhoods, organized outreach efforts, and rallied community support to help secure the future of swimming in Piedmont. PST also made a significant financial donation in support of the project, demonstrating the organization’s long term commitment to swimming in the community.
Now, with the new community pool open, PST hopes to reestablish the Piedmont pool as its home base and continue building on its momentum.
Team leaders say they are especially excited about welcoming a new generation of swimmers who may discover their love for the water at the new facility.
The upcoming 50th anniversary season will also serve as an opportunity to reconnect with alumni families and celebrate the program’s long history and impact on the community.
Photos by Lisa Chan Carnazzo