Westmont Swim Club to get its own aquatic training facility in Willowbrook

WILLOWBROOK – When members of the Westmont Swim Club head to the pool this summer, they’ll practice in a sparkling new, state-of-the-art aquatic facility with 12 lanes.

The training facility, 7580 S. Quincy St., for the long-heralded age-group swim club representing 10 different high schools is tentatively scheduled to open in July. It will be owned by head coach Adam Cremieux, making it the largest privately owned aquatic facility in Illinois.

The club, which practices at Westmont High School, was looking for a new home, because the school no longer has a swim team and the pool has fallen into disrepair, said Cremieux, who has coached the club for 12 years.

Cremieux declined to reveal the cost of the new facility, which includes a training room, saying only that it is a “multimillion-dollar” project he is financing himself, with generous donations from a number of club parents toward the down payment.

According to Cremieux, of the 250 club families, most are from Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills and Western Springs. The rest come from neighboring communities. The new aquatic center, he said, will likely bring that number to 300.

“I think the biggest benefit we have is we have multiple high schools represented on the team,” Cremieux said. “They train together and push each other. The atmosphere at the club is pretty amazing.”

Cremieux called Westmont’s coaching staff “phenomenal.”

“We have 14 coaches and three to four on deck all the time, so our swimmers get individual attention,” Cremieux said. “Our big success is that our coaching staff is incredibly motivated. They encourage the kids to step up and take training to another level.”

Westmont has a history of producing multiple Olympic trial qualifiers, NCAA Championship finalists and state champions.

Co-head coach Scott Erdman said the biggest advantage of the new aquatic center is offering the ability to provide specific training that might not be available at a high school.

“With our own facility we can make some modifications to have equipment cutting edge,” Erdman said.

For instance, the center will house three four-lane pools, making coaching more effective.

“You don’t have to look across as many lanes when you’re talking to people,” Erdman said. “More deck space gives you a closer look and contact with your swimmers than a six- or eight-lane pool.”

Additionally, Erdman said time flexibility is a big benefit.

“We will be in charge of pool time,” he said. “We’ll have our own weight room. We’ll have exercise and weight equipment tailored more to swimming and triathlon training.”

Erdman said he knows of only five or 10 swim clubs across country that have their own pools.

Cremieux said the new facility will cater not only age-group swimming, but also will offer learn-to-swim classes for younger kids and masters swimming for adults, as well.

“It’s just a very special place to me,” Cremieux said. “Our families have been just incredible and the kids have been a lot of fun to watch grow up. We love swimming and competing, but we’re also a close knit group that enjoys each other even outside the pool.”