Life-saving Lessons

Sparta’s offerings now include aquatic facility SPARTA - “No other lessons or sport can save your child’s or family member’s life,” said Ed Dellert with confidence. His brochure says so, and his staff believes in it. Dellert is the head coach and CEO of Swim Fitness Center in Sparta, which recently celebrated its grand opening. Many parents who were at the facility to watch their children learn water safety, said they were please Sparta had a swim facility. “I’m so happy to be here, because I used to travel to Pompton Lakes,” Gail Carson said. “It’s so convenient to come here on the way from work,” said Nancy Blide as she waited for her daughter’s lesson to conclude. The location, which was an aqua rehabilitation unit for some 20 years, became available, and Dellert found it suitable to add to his list of business in Blairstown, Asbury Park, and North Rockland in New York. The company is affiliated with the Aquatic Exercise Association, U.S. Swim Schools and U.S. Water Fitness associations, among other organizations. According to Dellert, all the facility’s staff members are qualified instructors. Aileen Donnelly, head instructor, site supervisor and business partner, has 12 years of teaching experience; Saundra Van Stone is a state champion in synchronized swimming; and Susan Schillinger won seven county champions while a student at Newton High School. The staff is trained by SwimAmerica™, a nationwide learn-to-swim program for advanced training, and student to teacher ratio is 4:1. Dellert, who has been working in the aquatic field for 45 years, is also a retired teacher of computer applications. He is on the U.S. Swim Board of Directors, the governing body for swimming in the U.S. that is responsible for all programs from the Olympic swim team to grass roots programs and is president of Jersey Gators competitive swim team. Some of the programs now being offered at the swim center include: pre-natal/post-partum classes, arthritis and cardio classes, personal training, and Windows of Exercise which he explains is an open pool where an individual can work out at his or her own pace. “We do everything from stretching, to toning, to cardiac conditioning,” said Dellert. For those who wish to combine ballet and water exercise, the pool boasts a railing which works as a ballet bar, and a current machine that generates a current 6-8 miles per hour. “We swim against it, we exercise against it, we walk against it, and we run against it,” said Dellert. With 180 students already registered, Dellert expects to add activities in the near future that include kayaking, snorkeling, and SCUBA. A competitive swimming program is scheduled that is designed to the individual’s requirements, with lessons and coaching for the beginner to the master swimmer. Other offerings include special skills training for advanced stroke improvement, boy scout merit badges, and occupational training for lifeguards. There are programs for parent and child from six months to two years. Instruction for water safety rules is emphasized and supported by an activity book distributed to all the children. Dellert, a Sussex County resident for more than 30 years, is now living in the Highland Lakes with wife, Jane, who is a pediatric nurse practitioner and a professor at Seton Hall University. Swim Fitness Center is located at 350 Sparta Avenue, Building A, Sparta 07871. The facility operates from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturdays; Fridays until 8 p.m.; and from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Sundays. The center can be reached by calling 973-729-3737. More information is available at the center’s Web site www.swimfitnesscenter.com.