by Niki Chanel
DeAnne Preyer has lived in Palos Verdes long enough to have attending all the school grades, and has been swimming the entire time!
When DeAnne’s parents were on their honeymoon in Hawaii, they saw babies swimming and had the ‘aha’ to have their children learn early, as well. They lived on the Esplanade in their early married years, and the water safety factor this might afford them a safer childhood for their kids. DeAnne started at the Riviera swim school (long gone) as an infant and was (competitive) swimming like a fish at seven and teaching at twelve. Every house they have had since has had a pool in the backyard.
When they moved to Portuguese Bend they invited a swim teacher to the house to teach DeAnne’s little sister. The teacher saw DeAnne’s talent and suggested she become involved with the San Pedro YMCA’s swim team, and that, says DeAnne, is how it all started.
Swimming was her life. She was on the girls swim team in high school and in 1986 became the first female swimmer awarded the athlete of the year (!), and went on to the University of Minnesota on a swimming scholarship. I asked her about the cold. Her immediate reply was “It was awesome! I loved it!” Her major reflected her desire to share her insights to children and she came back to California with a master’s in Elementary Education. Her dream was to be a pre-school teacher that included swimming.
To that end, she became involved with a rehab program for troubled kids. Being a shy youngster and thereby understanding them better than most, she tried to help build these kids’ confidence through swimming, rather than be part of the state processing system. She wanted to help them reach their best, in and out of the water.
This way of thinking and teaching evolved into ZAP – the Zenith Aquatic Program; “Taking Swimming to a Higher Level”, being 
We got to talking about the need for a community pool on the Hill;, and she confessed, “I want to bring something to the table that enriches our community – not just a plus for PV, but beyond.” She is not alone; key swim coaches in the United States that have been running the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA)see a great need for the next generation to take the reigns in order to preserve what has been built over the last several decades. ‘We can’t do this forever!’ is their outcry. To facilitate this reaching out effort, they are including interested swim club to their collegiate model. Seeking coaches, DeAnne has recently, become an ASCA fellow for the class of 2010.
Everything DeAnne does impressed me and I told her I thought she was a powerhouse. “Working on it.” she humbly replies.
Their main pool is at Miraleste Intermediate on the east side and at the ‘zenith’ of the hill. Miraleste Pool is at 29323 Palos Verdes Drive East, though at the time of this printing is undergoing repairs. Other pools like at Peninsula High and Torrance, but it would be better to contact DeAnne directly if you are interested in her program at 424.901.3703 or email her at zapcoach@yahoo.com .
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