East Bay Sea Serpents
The East Bay Sea Serpents is a non profit, volunteer-run swim team affiliated with Special Olympics Northern California. We provide fitness, social interaction, and swimming instruction to special needs athletes in the San Francisco East Bay.
A Short Film
Perhaps this is the best way to give you a sense of our program. Our own high school volunteer coach, Caroline Passalacqua, has been filming on deck for the past few seasons. Inspired by the story of helping special needs athletes to become comfortable in the water, and ultimately learn a life skill like swimming. Caroline, a senior at Acalanes High School, was inspired to tell this story through film. While its only a glimpse of the full length film, it so beautifully captures what our program is all about!
In the Beginning
The Sea Serpents Team was founded in March 2001 by Joleen Silverfoote. Long standing volunteers were key in making the program a huge success. Many thanks go to Christine & Lisa Silverfoote (Joleen's daughters), Carol and Hayley Sueoka, Jane, Corrie & Lindsay Allen, and Megan & Carol Kay Lynn. This founding group was instrumental in building the Sea Serpents into the dynamic group that it is today.
Practice
Starting in the spring of 2024, we are moving practice to the Clarke Swim Center at Heather Farms Park in Walnut Creek. Our team consists of 100+ active athletes that range in age from 6 to 50+ Practices are split into two groups - (1) a beginniner/lean-to-swim group where athletes who are learning to swim typically work 1:1 with one of our coach volunteers. This will take place in the shallow end of the pool 3.5 feet deep. (2) our more advanced group for swimmers able to complete multiple laps will swim in the slightly deeper (only 4.5 feet deep) end of the pool. Our coaches will work in the water with the athletes and focus on learning or refining the four swim strokes based on athletes’ individual progress. Practices accommodate a wide range of ability, and swimmers are typically grouped with other athletes with similar abilities.
Program Director & Head Coach
Brian Wentzel joined the Sea Serpents in the spring of 2010 and heads up the current Sea Serpent program. Brian has quite literally spent a lifetime on pool decks with a background of swimming in high school and college at Penn State. He now enjoys swimming masters with Walnut Creek Masters, and has also competed in the occasional open water events like the Trans-Tahoe relay. EBSS has become a family affair for the Wentzels with all three kids volunteering over the years, and his wife, Deanna, volunteering as the team photographer.
Contact Us:
East Bay Sea Serpents
3527 Mt. Diablo Blvd, #228
Lafayette, CA 94549
Program Director: Brian Wentzel
Email: brian @ EBSS . team