Quance Helped Coach Reardon Come of Age

When Steve Reardon took over the Valley Aquatic Swim Team in the spring of 1983, he had only four beginner swimmers to coach. The rest had been pulled from the program by parents who feared that Reardon, 20, was too young and inexperienced to be a head coach.

But within three years, Reardon began getting better reviews. When the Los Angeles Valley Aquatic team dissolved, its coach recommended Reardon to Sandy and David Quance, who placed daughters Kristine, Keri and Julie in the program.

Reardon, now 27, and Kristine Quance, 15, grew up together. Last summer, Quance became Reardon’s first national qualifier, and today she is headed for the Legion of European Nations Cup in Rome.