A single invitation between brothers in 2017 set something remarkable in motion. What began as a casual call to coach has grown into one of Baguio’s most dedicated swimming communities, the Baguio Tiger Shark Swimming Club, where athletes with determination, camaraderie, and genuine love for the water come together.

The story behind the club is as inspiring as the athletes it produces. Head Coach Russel Cariño once traded the football field for the pool, drawn in by his older brother, Mark Anthony Cariño, a lifelong swimmer who first introduced him to the sport. Side by side, they trained, volunteered as rescuers, and championed water safety through Philippine Life Saving.

Under his brother’s guidance, Russel discovered his calling in coaching and now leads the club with passion. Meanwhile, Mark Anthony’s path took him from coaching and lifeguarding local waters to managing aquatic operations in Dubai. Though their paths diverged, both returned in 2024 with a renewed mission to channel their combined experience, energy, and enthusiasm into mentoring young athletes, instilling hard work, and building a supportive community of swimmers

🧢 Head Coach:

Russel Cariño

• Former football player turned swimming coach (2016)
• Head Coach, Baguio Tiger Sharks Swimming Club (2017)
• Philippine Lifesaving volunteer and city rescuer

🏊‍♂️ Assistant Coaches:

Mark Anthony Cariño

• Competitive swimmer since high school; coaching since 2008
• Assistant Coach, Baguio Tiger Sharks Swimming Club (2024)
• Former lifeguard and Aquatic Operations Supervisor in Dubai

🥇 Zephanaian Ielle Tagara – 12 years old

Batang Pinoy National Championships – General Santos City (2025)

• 200M Individual Medley – 2:50:32
• 50M Backstroke – 36.78
• 50M Butterfly – 33:74
• 50M Freestyle – 32:48
• 100M Butterfly – 1:15:46

Asian Open Schools Invitational (AOSI) Swimming Championship Swimming Championship – Bangkok, Thailand (2024)

• 50M Butterfly (17th out of 70 swimmers)
• 50M Backstroke (18th out of 78 swimmers)
• 50M Freestyle (21st out of 81 swimmers)
• 100M Butterfly (14th out of 34 swimmers)
• 100M Backstroke (7th out of 64 swimmers
• 100M Freestyle (19th out of 76 swimmers)
• 200M Freestyle (4th out of 50 swimmers)
• 200M Individual Medley (16th out of 45 swimmers)
• 400M Freestyle (4th out of 23 swimmers)
• 4x50M Freestyle Relay (Ranked 5th)
• 4x50M Medley Relay (Ranked 8th)
• 4x50M Mix Freestyle Relay (Ranked 8th)

Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) – Luna, Apayao (2025)

• 50M Butterfly – Gold
• 50M Freestyle – Gold
• 50M Backstroke – Gold
• 100M Backstroke – Gold
• 100M Freestyle – Silver
• 200M Medley Relay – Gold
• 200M Freestyle Relay – Gold

Asian Open Schools Invitational Swimming Championship (AOSI) Swimming Championship – Bangkok, Thailand (2025)

• 800M Freestyle (Ranked 4th)
• 50M Freestyle (Ranked 6th) (Prelims)
• 50M Freestyle (Ranked 4th) (Finals)
• 200M Individual Medley (Ranked 3rd)
• 50M Backstroke (Ranked 6th)
• 100M Butterfly (Ranked 4th)
• 400M Freestyle (Ranked 7th)
• 50M Butterfly (Ranked 5th)

Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) – Benguet (2025)

• 50M fly – Silver
• 50M back – Gold
• 50M free – Silver
• 100M Butterfly – Gold
• 200M Individual Medley – Gold
• 400M Freestyle Relay – Gold
• 400M Individual Medley Relay – Gold

Palarong Pambansa – Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (2025)

• Qualifier
• 50M Backstroke (Ranked 15th)
• 100M Butterfly (Ranked 15th)
• 200M Individual Medley (Ranked 15th)

Batang Pinoy National Championships – General Santos City (2025)

• Qualifier
• 200M Individual Medley (13th out of 105 swimmers)
• 50M Backstroke (23rd out of 115 swimmers) 
• 50M Butterfly (13th out of 116 swimmers)
• 50M Freestyle (38th out of 135 swimmers) 
• 100M Butterfly (10th out of 90 swimmers)
  

🥇 Ichiro Gonsadan – 15 years old

Batang Pinoy National Championships – General Santos City (2025)

• 200M Individual Medley – 3:03:00 
• 200M Backstroke – 2:55:76 
• 100M Butterfly 
• 200M Butterfly – 3:22:85

122nd CNLCSCA Swimming Competition (2025)

• 100M Freestyle – 1:10:00 (Gold, Class B)
• 100M Backstroke – 1:19:00 (Bronze, Class B)
• 50M Backstroke – 35:00 (Silver)
• 50M Butterfly – 33:77 (Silver, Class A)

Solid North Philippine Aquatic Short Course (2025)

• 100M Freestyle – Silver
• 50M Backstroke – Silver
• 200M Individual Medley – Gold
• 200M Butterfly (Bronze)

🏅 Hailed “Most Outstanding Swimmer” — Class B Division

Asian Open Schools Invitational Swimming Championship (AOSI) Swimming Championship – Bangkok, Thailand (2025)

• 400M Medley Relay (4x50) Freestyle – 7th Place

Baguio District Swim Meet (2025)

• 100M Backstroke – Gold
• 200M Backstroke – Gold

Baguio City Swim Meet (2025)

• 400M Medley Relay (Gold)
• 50M Backstroke (Ranked 3rd)
• 200M Backstroke (Ranked 3rd)
• 100M Backstroke (Ranked 3rd)

1st Philippine Aquatic National Age Group Open Championship 2024

• 200M Freestyle – 2:45:82 (Gold, Class C)
• 100M Freestyle – 1:13:77 (Silver, Class C)

Pangasinan Summer Swim Splash 2024

• 200M Individual Medley – 2:55:36 (Gold) 
• 50M Butterfly – 36:16 (Silver)

🏅 Hailed “Most Outstanding Swimmer” — Class B Division 

116th CNLCSCA Dive Into Greatness 2024

• 100M  Individual Medley – 1:20:33 (Gold, Class C)
• 50M Butterfly – 35:18 (Silver, Class B)
• 100M Freestyle – 1:09:45 (Bronze, Class B)
• 50M Freestyle – 31:35 (Gold, Class B)

🏅 Hailed “Most Outstanding Swimmer” — Class B Division 

CNLCSCA Champions Cup 2024

• 200M Backstroke – Silver (Class C)
• 100M Freestyle – Bronze (Class B)
• 50M Backstroke – Bronze (Class B)
• 200M Freestyle – Silver (Class C)
• 100M Backstroke – Silver (Class C)
• 200M  Individual Medley – Bronze (Class B)

Baguio District Swim Meet 2024

• 400M Freestyle (Ranked 3rd)
• 200M Backstroke (Ranked 1st)
• 100M Backstroke (Ranked 1st)
• 50M Backstroke (Ranked 2nd)

🥇 Czey Lian Dizon – 9 years old

Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet (2025)

• 400M Medley Relay (4x100) – Gold (5-12 Y/O)

Solid North Swimming Coaches Association (SNSCA) Short Course Leg (2025)

• 100M Individual Medley – Bronze
• 50M Breaststroke – Bronze
• 50M Backstroke – Bronze

Baguio Division Meet (2025)

• 200M Medley Relay – Gold
• 400M Medley Relay – Silver
• 100M Backstroke – Bronze
• 100M Breaststroke – Bronze 
• 50M Breaststroke – Bronze

CNLCSCA Centennial Meet – Lingayen Pangasinan (2023)

• 25M Backstroke (Silver) Novice, 7 Y/O

111th CNLCSCA Swim Series (2024)

• 50M Breaststroke – Silver (Class A)
• 50M Backstroke – Bronze (Class A)
• 50M Freestyle – Bronze (Class A)

Pangasinan Summer Swim Splash Invitational Swim Meet 2024

• 100M Individual Medley – Silver (Class A)
• 50M Butterfly – Silver (Class A)
• 50M Breaststroke – Silver (Class A)
• 50M Freestyle – Silver (Class A)

116th CNLCSCA Dive Into Greatness 2024

• 100M Individual Medley – Gold (Class A)
• 50M Backstroke – Gold (Class A)
• 50M Freestyle – Gold (Class A)
• 50M Breaststroke – Gold (Class A)
• 50M Butterfly – Gold (Class A)

🏅 Hailed “Most Outstanding Swimmer” — Class A Division 

1st Solid North Swim Cup (2023)

• 25M Butterfly – Gold (Novice, 7-8 Y/O)
• 25M Backstroke – Gold (Novice, 7-8 Y/O)
• 25M Freestyle – Gold (Novice, 7-8 Y/O)
• 25M Kickboard – Gold (Novice, 7-8 Y/O)
• 25M Breaststroke – Gold (Novice, 7-8 Y/O)
• 100M Freestyle Relay – Bronze

🏅 Hailed “Most Outstanding Swimmer” — Class A Division