From 1993 to 1999, Monique Trujillo swam as a member of the Sedona Swim Team. Now, more than two decades later, she’s back with the team, just in a different role. This time, Trujillo is the head coach.
The head coaching position had been vacant since December, when Dan Morse — who coached the team for three years — left Sedona to take a job with a swim club in Germany. Trujillo is excited to be the coach, returning to the same team she used to swim with.
“My aquatic journey started with the Sedona Swim Team,” Trujillo said. “And it gives me great pleasure to come full circle as the head coach and at the same pool.”
Trujillo has a deep background in swimming. Her first job was as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Sedona Community Pool. She then moved to Brooklyn, where she served as a private swim instructor for residents of the Ritz Plaza in Times Square and ran a swimming program for a school in Brooklyn.
From there, she moved to Bellevue, Washington, becoming a lifeguard instructor trainer and swim instructor trainer for pools and open water. Trujillo also served as the head instructor for the Bellevue Club, where she developed a “Learn to Swim” program, taught over 200 private lessons per month and hosted weekly lifeguard courses.
“I am excited to share my training and insights I’ve acquired throughout the years by working with incredible mentors from across the nation,” she said. “I have always loved working with individuals of all ages and abilities, as an introduction into water or to work on technique for a competitive edge.”
One of Trujillo’s main goals with the Sedona Swim Team is to change how she feels it’s perceived.
She noted that “most people assume our team is only for school-age competitive swimmers,” which is a perception she hopes to change.
“My hope is that we are able to grow the team by informing the community of all the wonderful programs we offer regardless of age or ability or goals,” Trujillo said. “My goal is to help the community recognize the swim team as a place of opportunity to accomplish any individual goal [safety, fitness, training, rehabilitation, leisure].”
“The pool is a great place for individuals with special needs or physical disabilities, too,” she added. “My hope is that the swim team is able to become recognized as a competitive team throughout Arizona, providing our community the opportunity to achieve as many aquatic opportunities as they desire.”
One of the advantages that the Sedona Swim Team has is that the dues are monthly. So, if someone is trying to get in shape for another sport or doesn’t wish to swim during the winter months, he or she wouldn’t be committed for the entire season.
“Swimming is a zero gravity sport which means your body gets all the benefits of training without the harshness of impact,” Trujillo said. “Swimming requires breath control, focusing the mind with the body, truly a full body workout.”
More information on Trujillo and the Sedona Swim Team can be found online at teamunify.com/Home.jsp?team=azsst, Facebook.com/SedonaSwordfish or twitter.com/sedonaswimteam.
