Established in August of 1973 by coach Gene Horne, The Ketchikan Killer Whales Swim Club was formed to promote skill building and competition in the pool. From these beginnings with coach Horne, The Killer Whales have steadily increased their membership. As a USA Swimming Team the Killer Whales are supported by the largest and most developed competitive swimming organization in the world, USA Swimming. Members of the Ketchikan Killer Whales (KKW) are USA swimmers who compete year-round in Alaska and across the United States, representing Ketchikan. The Ketchikan Killer Whales Swim Club is a nonprofit organization open to all swimmers between the ages of 6-18 years of any age interested in bettering themselves in and out of the water. The Killer Whales are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of parents. Killer Whales swimmers are represented in competition from beginning level local meets, state meets, to national level competitions, positively representing themselves and their community.