The reputation he established with the New York team allowed Bernal to hold tryouts immediately upon his arrival in Cambridge from which he selected 35 swimmers. Some 25 of those athletes are still with the program.

For the first year. Bernal maintained both clubs. Much of the actual coaching of the New York Club was done by three assistants. After a while the nightly phone calls between Cambridge and New York to iron out the finer points of workouts coupled with the commute Bernal made on the shuttle flight every Saturday and Sunday throughout the first season grew tiresome and the New York Club was disbanded with most swimmers moving to Badger.

"That pace never would have been possible without the dedication and organization we have within the Gator program. Not only can I delegate responsibility to my assistants, but also to the parents of team members. We get an invaluable amount of support from the families," Bernal says.

Bernal's assistant with the Harvard squad and the newly formed Cambridge division of the Gators was Steve Berizzi. Proof that Berizzi learned his lessons well was his selection as meet director for the recently held NCAAs. The present staff includes Jack Ryan, who also assists with the Harvard men, Brian Gordon and Joe Drolett.

Currently, Bernal's Gator Swim Club includes 75 to 80 members. Since the conception of the present club three-and-a-half years ago, the squad has built up membership with semi-annual tryouts.

"We accept anyone who can handle the workouts. If a kid does all four strokes and makes an honest attempt for two hours then we will accept them. Usually they realize for themselves if they are in over their heads. We almost never have to cut a swimmer: he or she will ordinarily do that without being told," Gordon says.

Competitive swimming in New England is growing rapidly but must vie with the traditional winter sports for the attention of ambitious athletes.

The New England Barracudas, which left Harvard after the Ray Essick era, operate on a satellite basis using as many as seven pools during the summer season. Unfortunately, the implementation of Proposition 2 1/2 may force some of the pools they use to close.

Drew Donavan and Charlie Johnson will represent the Barracudas at the meet this year. Johnson, a freshman at Stanford and a native of Lexington, Mass., will compete in the 100 and 200 Fly. Donavan, a distance freestyler in his final year at North Andover H.S., is bound for Texas next year.

One of the major differences between Gators and its New England rivals is the degree to which the coaches seek out competition. While setting back slightly the number of invitationals attended, Bernal tries to fit in dual meets with some of the country's top clubs each year. The schedule has included the Cincinnati Pepsi Marlins and Dad's Club (Houston, Texas), among others.

"We schedule meets with the top clubs if we can because we want our swimmers exposed to the top competition. We don't want them to fear the stronger teams or laugh at the weaker ones, but instead look upon each and every meet as a challenge, the opportunity to improve. Our entire staff and the parents of team members are dedicated to providing the swimmers with the chance to become first-class swimmers." Bernal says