WHO WE ARE
The Weehawken Swim Association is a nonprofit founded with the goal of promoting water safety & growing a robust swimming community in the Township of Weehawken.
Our management team maintains extensive experience in water safety and aquatic programing. Our team is responsible for pool operations and aquatic programming of the Rutherford Community Aquatic Center since 2019. We aim to bring our passion and energy for swimming into Weehawken. Our strategic plan to launch a series of swimming programs, teams and clubs as well as enliven the facility & grow the sport of swimming in the Weehawken community.
Our dream is to give back to every swimmer the experiences that shaped their lifelong love of swimming and the support of an inclusive, welcoming community swimmers of any age and athletic ability can discover the competitor within.
Our Leadership Team
“We want to create a great aquatics program and be a guiding light for kids who want to swim to motivate and push them to be the best they can be.” – Mike Lazzara, Co-founder Weehawken Swim Association
Mike Lazzara is President and Chief Executive Officer of Weehawken Swim Association (WSA) & Rutherford Swim Association (RSA).
Mike co-founded the WSA & RSA with longtime friend and former teammate Chris Dunn. The pair have a long history of success participating in and growing aquatic based programing. During his tenure at Rutherford Swim Association. Mike has lead a transformation in the Rutherford Community Aquatic Center. Presently the RSA, administers a robust swim academy, swim team and other aquatic based programs. Mike and Chris are eager to bring their experience and passion for swimming to the Township of Weehawken.
Mike has worked with children his entire career. He’s a former English teacher for St. Nicholas School in Jersey City, New Jersey and Science Teacher for Corpus Christi School in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. He also worked as an assistant swim coach for Wyckoff Family YMCA and Montclair YMCA. He’s a certified USA swimming coach and has led practices and dry land groups for the national team.
Mike is a Certified Pool Operator and Certified Lifeguard and Lifeguard Management Instructor. Mike received a Bachelor of Arts in Child Advocacy and Policy from Montclair State University and a Master of Arts in Education from Saint Peters University. He is a certified child advocate and has experience teaching children with behavioral and educational deficiencies.
“Life is about balance. Swimming is good practice” – Chris Dunn, Co-founder Weehawken Swim Association
Chris Dunn is Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Weehawken Swim Association (WSA).
A life-long swimmer and athlete, Chris believes that swimming is a critical life skill and is eager to help build a swimming community in Weehawken. For him, WSA’s mission is to bring the love of swimming to every child who wants to learn. It’s that love for swimming that will help to successfully shape the WSA's mission moving into the future.
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Prior to the WSA, Chris co-founded RSA with longtime friend Mike Lazzara. The two have been swimming together competitively since their youth. Their shared passion led them to starting the RSA, as they matured into their professional careers. At RSA, they have built a swim academy that services 200-300 children in the South Bergen County area annually. They also established a USA Swimming team, Rebel Aquatic Club, that trains over 100 hundred competitive swimmers year round.
In addition to RSA, Chris is a Grant Liaison for the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security. He was previously Assistant Age Group Coach of the Wyckoff YMCA Sharks, where he coordinated and co-managed daily swim practices and dryland sessions for the team’s Junior National Group.
Chris is a Certified Pool Operator. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The College of New Jersey. He also receive a Master of Business Administration from the same institution in 2022.
He started his professional aquatic career as Assistant Head Coach at Pines Lake Association, helping to oversee competitive swim training for 60 athletes ages 7 to 17.
WHy WSA?
At Weehawken Swim Association, every swimmer has an opportunity to discover their competitive spirit. We offer a range of programming that supports every level of aquatic acumen whether you aspire to be a member of our USA swimming team, take private lessons or learn to swim for the first time. At WSA, we believe swimming in a supportive environment with proven training methods builds confidence and self-awareness. Just an importantly, the learned skill teaches life lessons that endure long beyond your pool experience.
We support our swimmers with utilizing a state-of-the-art-facility primed for learn to swim programs and competitive swimming.
