Aquatics Club Has Impressive List of Champion Swimmers

Helen Salcedo is one of several outstanding swimmers at the Bellflower Aquatics Club, whose pool is in Thompson Park at 14001 S. Bellflower Blvd. The purpose of the club, Coach Don Watkinds said, is to give members the “opportunity to go as far as they want to in swimming.”

There are 60 youngsters in the club who train under Watkinds, who has been coaching for 24 years, and Lionel Hughes, who formerly coached the Lynwood Aqua Knights.

Among the club’s other top swimmers are:

* Brian Jacobson, a junior at Downey High School, who holds the Southern California record in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle for boys ages 13 to 14 and boys 15 to 16. He is on the National Junior Team and competed earlier this year in Europe.

* Beth Bredice, a senior at Paramount High, who was that school’s athlete of the year as a junior. In CIF, she finished fourth in the 100 freestyle and fourth in the 100 individual medley. She has been offered a scholarship to San Jose State.

* Tom Salcedo, Helen’s brother, a junior at Bell High, who won the 200 individual medley and the 100 breast stroke (59:02 seconds) in the CIF city finals.

* Yvette Tristan, a junior at Warren High in Downey, who has won the 100 butterfly at CIF two consecutive years.

* Michelle Brassard, Karen Teitsworth, Sharon Teitsworth and Rebecca Stephens of Bellflower High, who have won the CIF medley relay two consecutive years.