The History of the Brookside Recreation and Swim Club:
Brookside Recreation and Swim Club opened in 1958, accompanied by Tom Priddy, the Dolphins first head coach. The legendary Leon Gajecki followed Priddy. Leon's dedication to the team did not stop when he ended his six year run as head coach. He continued to help the team for almost twenty five years. Due to his dedication and hard work with the Dolphins, he was honored by having the Brookside Mini Meet dedicated in his name. The Mini Meet began in 1978 and was enjoyed by all swimmers nine and under until recently, in 2004, it was transformed into the Master's Meet at Brookside for all swimmers nineteen and over.
After Leon Gajecki, there was a long run of Brookside alumni as head coaches. These graduates included Lynn Tyler, Paula Gajecki, Paul Ponter, and Mark Clark. Brookside's current coach Paul Ponter made his debut as head coach of the Dolphins in 1976 and coached until 1980. While swimming for Brookside, Mark Clark and his 9-10 boys freestyle relay broke the Tri-County record at the time and currently hold this record for the Dolphins. As a swimmer at Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, Mark was an All American. Returning for a second run, Paula Gajecki was the Dolphins head coach from 1983 until 1992. Moving further into the 1990's Brookside swimmers were coached by Miki Lambert from 1993 through 1995 and Bill Fulton from 1997 thought 1999. In 2000, graduate Joey Molle became head coach of the Dolphins. Joey led the Dolphins to an "E" Division victory. He currently holds four records at Brookside that include three individual and one relay.
Two of Brookside's most prestigious alumni include Sheli Bower-Burgess and Andy Gill. Sheli Bower-Burgess swam breaststroke in the Olympic trials at the age of fifteen. She currently holds three individual Brookside records including the 13-14 girls freestyle and breaststroke and the 11-12 girls breaststroke. She is currently one of the Brookside coaches and shares her experience and knowledge with the young Dolphin swimmers in weekly Stroke and Turn Clinics. Andy Gill would have been in the 1980 Olympics had we not boycotted the Olympic Games. He did however go on to swim in the Pan Am games. Andy currently holds eleven of the Brookside boys records which span the years of 1975 to 1982, his last record achieved at the age of fifteen. He also held tri county records during his swimming career at Brookside. Brookside's most recent claim to fame has been through 2002 graduate Matt Enuco. During the 2006 swimming pre-season Matt had been hired to help coach little Dolphin swimmers. His coaching career was cut short when Matt was drafted to play baseball for the Chicago White Sox. Also in 2006, the Brookside roster contained five families of second generation Dolphins. These families include Steven and Dan Bower, Brittany, Courtney, and Alexa Branco, Lauren Clark, Abby, Colleen, and Maggie Grehlinger, and Sherry and Thomas Stanek.
The year 2001 marked the return of Coach Paul Ponter. Paul brought with him current assistant coach Brooke Woodlock. This duo has proven to be an unstoppable pair. During Paul's combined years of coaching the Dolphins, his swimmers have broken 55% of Brookside's pool records. With Paul and Brooke leading the way, and the assistance of Sheli's Stroke and Turn, the Brookside Dolphins have had six memorable seasons. Brookside has come in third place in the Gloucester County Championships, Peach Bowl, four times in the past five years; 2002, 2004 -2006. Also under their leadership the Dolphins conquered "D" Division in 2002 and "C" Division in 2004. With Paul, Brooke, and Sheli in charge, the Brookside Dolphins have good times both in and out of the pool. Swimmers and parents alike couldn't ask for better coaches. It is with pride that we say, "Woo Hoo … Yay Swimming!"