Laurelwood Cabana Club &
Dolphin Swim Team History

by Bob and Carol Cruzen on June 15, 1992 and updated on June 29, 2005

Laurelwood Cabana Club pool was built in 1961 as part of the Laurelwood Homes by builder Mackay Homes. The home owners were automatic members as the pool was part of the home owners deed to their home. As members they were expected to maintain the pool, via a board of directors. The pool operated in this fashion until 1965. On August 1, 1964 Mackay Homes turned the entire pool complex over to the Board of Directors. This was when the last Laurelwood home was sold. Up until that time Mackay Homes had two representatives on the Board.

As membership interest declined and home owners did not want to maintain their interest in the pool, in 1965 the membership voted to include non-resident members. These new members paid more per year, did not have voting rights and could not hold office on the Laurelwood Cabana Club Board of Directors.

The Laurelwood Swim Team started close to the time the pool opened, April 1962. Jack Rowley and Shirley Ewen were the first managers, lifeguards and started the swim team. They were followed by Ken Smith, a teacher from Santa Clara High, for the '64-'65 season. Ken was manager, swim teacher and the team coach with the help of Jeff Reeder, a student and George Dan Ayala, a board member. Swim meets were arranged by the coaches with Laurelwood swimming against Killarney Farms, Forest Park and St. Lawrence. Usually the meets were held on a week night.

In 1966 the Laurelwood Swim Team joined the Peninsula Athletic League. This league was made up of: Ad James, Cherry Chase, Eichler, Saratoga Woods and perhaps two more teams. Finding the year around swimmer too much competition, on September 16, 1968 Laurelwood, Green meadows, Eichler, and Saratoga Woods formed a new league, Junipero Serra Swim League for non AAU summer swimmers. The league added Brookside Swim and Tennis Club and Los Gatos Swim and Tennis Club. Los Gatos pulled out and was replaced by Belwood Swim Club. When Belwood pulled out Cupertino Hills joined the league.

In 2009, both pools were completely rebuilt and modernized to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker act.

Coaches: