The Los Alamos Aquatomics Team on July 5 presented Tom McLaughlin with the Dale Berg Award for Outstanding Service from New Mexico Swimming. From left, New Mexico Swimming Officials Chair Lance Sanchez, long-time swim official and Aquatomics supporter Tom McLaughlin and Aquatomics Head Coach Maribeth Englert.  Courtesy/Aquatomics

Tom McLaughlin was joined at the July 5 award ceremony by several of his children and grandchildren. Deb Hinkle, Heath and Stacy McLaughlin live locally with their children. Patrick McLaughlin was in town from El Paso, Texas with his children. Courtesy/Aquatomics

Los Alamos Aquatomics News:

The Los Alamos Aquatomics Swim Team presented Tom McLaughlin on July 5 with the Dale Berg Outstanding Service Award. McLaughlin has been a long-time official in New Mexico Swimming, and also with NMAA High School Swimming.

The Dale Berg Award is given to those who exemplify service to the swimming community and is voted on by the House of Delegates for New Mexico Swimming.

At the Aquatomics event honoring McLaughlin, several of his children (both local and out of town) with their families were able to attend. There were also local officials (past and present) along with officials from Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

McLaughlin began officiating in the early 1980s when two of his children joined the Aquatomics. He continued with both club and high school officiating for more than a decade, including at a national meet in California where his son Pat was attempting to attain Olympic Trials qualifying times.

His grandchildren began swimming in the early 2000s and McLaughlin once again answered the need for officials at club and high school meets. His grandchildren Emily, Owen, Joshua and Ashley have all swum on the Aquatomics, and Ashley continues to swim with the team.

McLaughlin’s service spans several decades, and there is none deemed more deserving of the Dale Berg Outstanding Service Award.

New Mexico Swimming Officials Chair Lance Sanchez also presented McLaughlin with a framed certificate honoring him for his contributions to high school swimming. Aquatomics Athlete Representative Madalyn Baily gave McLaughlin a handmade card signed by many of the swimmers thanking him for all his work on their behalf.

“We are so honored to have Tom and all of his family as part of the Aquatomics Family,” Los Alamos Aquatomics Head Coach Maribeth Engler said.

The Aquatomics Swim Team was founded in 1963 and continues with a rich history of swimming in Los Alamos. For information, visit https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/nmlaa/page/home.

Tom McLaughlin served as a swim official for several decades. During the July 5 award ceremony, he removed his Official’s shirt to reveal an Aquatomics T-shirt from the early 1980s which he still proudly sports!  Courtesy/Aquatomics