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About Phoenix

A year-round competitive swim club built on world-class coaching, a supportive team family, and a love of the water.

Our Story

Rise to your full potential

Welcome to Phoenix Aquatic Club (PAC) — a year-round swim club dedicated to providing swimming opportunities to our community across Rockland County, NY and Bergen County, NJ, and to everyone seeking a positive, supportive, and challenging environment in which to learn and train.

PAC is a proud member of USA Swimming and Metropolitan Swimming, and a recognized USA Swimming Bronze Medal Club — ranked #43 in the nation among medium-size clubs by the American Swimming Coaches Association.

Our Mission

"Provide the best possible coaching in a positive, supportive and challenging atmosphere as to inspire swimmers to rise to their full potential."

Phoenix swimmers
The People on Deck

Meet the staff

A collegiate and national-level coaching team, led by the Wagner family, developing every Phoenix swimmer from their first lap to the podium.

Don Wagner
Founder

Don Wagner

Founder & CEO

Sydney 2000 Olympic coach & 6× USA National Team coach. ASCA Level 5. Coached Janet Evans to a world record.

Ryan Wagner

Ryan Wagner

Head Coach / Senior Coach

Former Phoenix record-holder & HS state champ (100 back). Swam at Ohio State & Miami (OH).

Sam Stankivicz

Sam Stankivicz

Head Age Group Coach, Platinum

All-Ohio & Ohio State butterflyer (47.9 / 1:48). Leads the age-group pipeline.

Emre Aydin

Emre Aydin

Age Group Coach, Gold

With Phoenix since 2018. Technique-focused, fun-but-challenging workouts.

Matt Hanson

Matt Hanson

Senior 2 Coach

D1 swimmer at Canisius. Assistant for Platinum, Senior & Senior Elite groups.

Tristan Tirado

Tristan Tirado

Age Group Coach, Bronze / Stroke Dev

D3 swimmer at SUNY Oneonta. Lead Bronze & Stroke Development II coach.

Lisa Balban

Lisa Balban

Assistant Coach, Gold / Stroke Dev

Ivy League swimmer at Columbia; Rockland County Swimmer of the Year.

John Park

John Park

Assistant Coach, Platinum

Phoenix swim dad of three and a Platinum group assistant coach.

Alice Wagner

Alice Wagner

Age Group Coach / LTS Director

10+ years coaching. Directs Learn-to-Swim & the "swim-float-swim" water safety program.

ML

Mary Lange

Team Administrator

Your go-to for accounts, billing & volunteer hours. office@phoenixaquaticclub.com

Ken Henry

Ken Henry

Web Administrator

Longtime Phoenix family; supports admin, website & registration remotely.

Fees & Commitments

2025–2026 tuition

Simple annual tuition with the option to pay monthly. Registration opens August 18th.

Training GroupAnnual TuitionMonthly / Swimmer
Senior Elite$4,450$445
Senior$4,300$430
Senior 2$4,200$420
Platinum$4,100$410
Gold$3,900$390
Silver$3,550$355
Bronze$3,200$320
High School Prep*$2,310$210
Stroke Development*$2,310$210
Masters$900$90

*11 monthly payments (Aug/Sep–July). Monthly payments are offered as a courtesy; members are responsible for full tuition even if withdrawing mid-season. Partial months are billed at the full monthly rate.

Registration Fee

$100 — includes 3 team T-shirts & a cap.

USA Swimming

$82 annual membership. Current members billed through PAC on December 1st.

Pay in Full

Pay by September 15th and receive a 5% discount off annual tuition.

Multi-athlete discount

# of SwimmersDiscount
25%
310%
420%
5+30%

Annual volunteer hours

Each family completes volunteer hours over the season (highest group applies for multi-swimmer families). Unfulfilled hours are billed at $15/hour — short course on April 1st, long course on August 1st.

GroupShort CourseLong Course
Senior Elite / Senior / Senior 22323
Platinum2020
Gold1818
Silver1616
Bronze1212
Stroke Development1010
High School PrepN/AN/A

Swim-a-thon & Fundraising

PAC asks each swimmer to raise at least $200 at fundraising events such as the annual Swim-a-thon. These funds help pay for facilities.

Bylaws & Policies

Team governance

The documents that keep Phoenix safe, fair, and running smoothly for every family.

Meet Opt-Out

Athletes in the "Groups Attending" are opted in by default. Unless you opt out by the deadline, your account is charged the meet fees. To opt out, email office@phoenixaquaticclub.com (CC your coach) with your swimmer's name, meet name, date, and sessions — you'll receive a confirmation email.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Everything new and returning families ask most. Still stuck? Email our team administrator.

Who do I contact with administrative questions?

Mary Lange is our team administrator and can help with your account, billing, volunteer hours and more at office@phoenixaquaticclub.com.

How do I sign up for meets?

You don't need to — all members are automatically entered into any meet their group is attending. The meet schedule lives under Team Events on the website.

Do I need to opt out of meets we won't attend?

Yes. Email office@phoenixaquaticclub.com by the published deadline with your child's name and the dates they'll miss. Emailing the opt-out address is the only way to guarantee you won't be billed meet fees. Please don't just tell your coach.

If my swimmer gets sick and scratches, do I get a refund?

No. Once your swimmer is entered in a meet, we're responsible for the meet fees regardless of a scratch due to illness.

Does PAC host its own meets?

Yes — typically 3 short course and 3 long course meets per season. See the Events page for this season's PAC-hosted invitationals. (Meets are bid through Metro Swimming and dates may change.)

Are there required volunteer hours?

Yes, each family has required hours based on their swimmer's group (see the Fees section). Most hours are earned helping at team-hosted meets. Members are responsible for hours even if their swimmer doesn't compete. Extra hours can't be carried over.

Do I need a credit card or bank account on file?

Yes — a credit card or bank account (ACH) must always be on file, or the account is inactivated and the swimmer won't be entered in meets. Credit card payments include a $0.30 + 3.0% per-transaction fee charged by Team Unify.

Do I need to register my swimmer with USA Swimming?

All swimmers must be USA Swimming registered. Previously-registered members are renewed through PAC (billed December 1st). New-to-USA-Swimming athletes must register directly with USA Swimming.

Can I freeze my account?

Signing up is a season-long commitment (the season runs Aug 25th to the second week of August). Accounts can't be frozen except for a medical issue or moving out of the area. Exceptions: Stroke Development and High School Prep memberships.

What is a Stroke Development membership?

An entry program into competitive swimming or fitness-for-life, billed month-to-month (Sept–July). 9&U register for SD I; 10&O register for SD II. To pause or stop, email Mary Lange by the 15th of your last swimming month to avoid the next month's charge.

What is a High School Prep membership?

For 13&O athletes who want to improve without a year-round commitment — great before a HS season, for lifeguard prep, or for multi-sport athletes. This group doesn't compete and has no mandatory volunteer hours.

How long is the swimming season?

Short Course (25-yard) runs September–March. Long Course (50-meter) runs mid-April–mid-August. PAC breaks about two weeks between seasons and again around August 15th until after Labor Day.

Is there a multi-swimmer discount?

Yes: 2 swimmers 5%, 3 swimmers 10%, 4 swimmers 20%, 5+ swimmers 30%.

Come see what Phoenix is about

Book a free evaluation or reach out with any questions — we'd love to meet your swimmer.