It is with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes that I write this about my friend Matt. I am a coach for Ripon Aquatics and I have coached in the Central Valley for nearly ten years. Matt and I forged a friendship on the pool deck as fellow coaches. He and I would see each other at swim meets and we would talk about swimming, we would laugh, and we would boast about our respective glory days. Today was the first day that I was informed that my friend has been taken from me and m...

I can speak for Valley High School when I say how deeply shocked and saddened we are to hear of the passing of Coach Matt.  Matt was an excellent coach and person.  I am sure that his swimmers will take and pass forward all of the swimming and life skills Coach Matt shared with them.  Our hearts go out to his swimmers, friends, and family.  Coach Scott

'Casto the Coach'...Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and friends and athletes. We didn't know each other well but emailed a lot during the SOS efforts. You were such a positive person...I don't think I ever saw you without a smile on your face. You were too young to go....and you will be missed. God bless.

Matt was taken far too soon. Some things you may not know about Coach Matt. He swam at Sac City College and was an incredible swimmer and more importantly person. He then transferred to UCD becoming one of the best swimmers of all time at UCD while training with Pete. Matt Crawford and Matt Casto were teammates, friends, and began coaching the AQM at the same time. Many coaches also know Matt Casto from training with him, seeing him at swim meets, racing him (yes he sti...

We did not know Matt Casto but wish to express our deepest condolences from one swim team to another. We swim for Wolverine Aquatics and understand the value of a good coach to our swimming family and recognize what a horrific loss it is to lose that person. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family both immediate and extended.

We are from the Sierra Marlins and received the email today. Such a shock to hear. We just saw Matt 2 weeks ago at the Summer Sanders meet. He was up and down the pool, timing his swimmers. I did not know him but noticed him a long time ago. It was easy to see what a great coach he was and what a great person he must have been. Who couldnt notice him? The young coach in his swimsuit at the meets. In the pool with his swimmers being a hands on coach. His swimmers were gr...

I am so sad to hear that Coach Matt passed away. I just heard about it today. Coach Matt was a great coach and was so nice and heartwarming to everyone. I don't even get how he passed away because he was so young and healthy. God bless the Casto family and I hope you guys are doing okay. Kylie Satter and family

We are so sorry about Coach Casto. Our hearts and prayers go out to the CRA Gators and to the Casto Family. Matt had such a huge impact on so many swimmers lives. Swimming has definitely lost a great one. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time, the Elk Grove Piranhas

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition. As I reflect upon the countless hours we spent together, both as swimmer and as coach of my boys, the most profound would have to be how he made everyone feel. It didn’t take long in Matt’s presence to experience his genuine, affable, and congenial nature. Matt’s iteration of how we get to choose how to use the interval between now and then provides us with a learning opportunity and a reminder of the significant rol...

coach Matt was a very good coach. from the day I was promoted to the senior group I have excelled in swimming greatly. a great time that proved that he had helped me was when I went to my first finals at long course J.O.s doing a 400 I.m. It took a long time to get there. he knew what we could accomplish and always said that if you try, you will get there.there is no other coach like and I am sad that he has to leave at such a young age. It will take a while to get used to his abs...