Excel Aquatics
Excel Coaches
Head Coach|
Mark Walker headcoach@excelaquatics.org Bio |
Office: 615-429-8553 ISC Excel Office: 615-370-3471 x 23 Fax: 615-730-5426 |
Team Coaches
|
Gretchen Bates grettle@gmail.com Bio |
Mike Ballard Labitty@aol.com Bio |
Peter Browne pbrowne6@gmail.com Bio |
|
Gina Carbone jgcarbone@comcast.net Bio |
Jim Chapman |
Kate Chronic chronicks@aol.com Bio |
|
Amanda Crawford
|
Allen Curtis
|
Cissy Fleet
|
|
Andreea Ianoli-Mitrofan coachandreea@excelaquatics.org Bio |
Dennis McEwan
|
Marli McIntire |
|
Ellen Mincey ellencrosby910@gmail.com |
Steven Murry sjmurry@yahoo.com Bio |
Chris Pickerill cpp2p@mtmail.mtsu.edu |
|
Sarah Sargent
|
Will Shelton
|
Norm Tripp
|
|
Dawn VanRyckeghem coachdawn@excelaquatics.org Bio |
Ashley Whitney coachashley@excelaquatics.org Bio |
Sheree Zobl sbzobl@comcast.net Bio |
Coach Mark Walker is in his twenty-seventh year as Head Coach and CEO of Excel Aquatics, the team he founded in 1983. Beginning as Stones River Aquatic Racers (STAR), Coach Walker’s team has grown from 18 members to the largest team in Southeastern Swimming with over 400 members. Under his direction, Excel Aquatics has fostered swimming at every level. Besides the age group team, Coach Walker founded the Excel Swim School which teaches young and old how to swim. In addition, Excel Aquatics boasts impressive adult competitive programs. The Excel masters team fosters healthy fitness swimming as well as training for elite adult competitors. The Excel adult Triathlete program aids novice to iron man Tris in aquatic training. The Excel Home School program provides aquatic learning for local home-schooled students.Coach Walker has led Excel Aquatics athletes to Olympic Team Selection Trials in 2000, 2004,and 2008. Under Coach Walker’s direction, Excel has been successful at every level of competition, from the local level to the national championships. He is a ASCA Level 5, Age Group certified swimming coach.
Coach Walker is a leader in the dry side of competitive swimming and has a vast amount of professional experience. He is currently serving as Technical Chairman Southeastern Swimming. He has served on the Southeastern Board of Directors since 1987, having served three terms as General Chairman and three terms as President. He has also served as Administrative Vice-Chairman, Technical Chairman, and Chairman of Laws and Legislation. Coach Walker has served as an annual delegate to the USA Swimming Aquatics Convention since the 1987 and has served on USA Swimming’s Counselor’s Committee. Coach Walker is a member of the American Swim Coaches Association, Tennessee Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association and Middle Tennessee High School Swimming Association.
Coach Mark Walker received a Bachelor of Arts in Business from the University of Tennessee in 1981 and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the Nashville School of Law in 1985. He is married to Laura Williams, and they are the parents of four children.
Williamson County Xtreme/Gold Groups
Coach Kate Chronic
Chronicks@aol.com
Coach Kate Chronic returned to Excel Aquatics in 2007 after a ten year absence. She is a full time Assistant Coach assisting Coach Walker in training Gold I and Xtreme swimmers at the Williamson County Indoor Sports Complex and assisting in team management.
Coach Chronic was most recently the Head Swim Coach for CATS Aquatic Team in Libertyville, Illinois just outside of Chicago since April 2002. She was also the Head Swim Coach, Men’s Varsity Team at Libertyville High School, Libertyville, Illinois. While at CATS, Kate was responsible for all aspects of competitive swimming team, daily development and implementation of workouts, stroke development, weight training, dryland exercises for approximately 250 athletes age 5 to post collegiate and Masters level.
Coach Kate Chronic’s has served many roles with USA Swimming, Illinois Swimming, and Southeastern Swimming. She currently serves as the USA Swimming Central Zone Championship Meet Coordinator, as a USA Swimming National Board of Review Member, and member of the USA Swimming Sports Medicine Network. She has also served on the USA Swimming Club Development Committee, USA Swimming Age Group Planning Committee, and USA Swimming Central Zone Board of Directors. She has served on the Illinois Swimming Board of Directors as Illinois Swimming Safety Coordinator, Illinois Swimming Rules & Regulations Chairperson, Illinois Swimming Age Group Vice-Chairperson, and Illinois Swimming Website Coordinator. She has served on the Southeastern Swimming Board of Directors as Southeastern Swimming Adaptive Aquatics Chairperson and Southeastern Swimming Safety Chairperson.
Coach Chronic received her BA in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee in 1987. She was a member of the Lady Vols swim team from 1982-1984 where she was an All-American. She also has completed Master of Arts courses in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in assessment, psychological testing, motivation, and cognitive-behavior therapy at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Chronicks@aol.com
Coach Kate Chronic returned to Excel Aquatics in 2007 after a ten year absence. She is a full time Assistant Coach assisting Coach Walker in training Gold I and Xtreme swimmers at the Williamson County Indoor Sports Complex and assisting in team management.Coach Chronic was most recently the Head Swim Coach for CATS Aquatic Team in Libertyville, Illinois just outside of Chicago since April 2002. She was also the Head Swim Coach, Men’s Varsity Team at Libertyville High School, Libertyville, Illinois. While at CATS, Kate was responsible for all aspects of competitive swimming team, daily development and implementation of workouts, stroke development, weight training, dryland exercises for approximately 250 athletes age 5 to post collegiate and Masters level.
Coach Kate Chronic’s has served many roles with USA Swimming, Illinois Swimming, and Southeastern Swimming. She currently serves as the USA Swimming Central Zone Championship Meet Coordinator, as a USA Swimming National Board of Review Member, and member of the USA Swimming Sports Medicine Network. She has also served on the USA Swimming Club Development Committee, USA Swimming Age Group Planning Committee, and USA Swimming Central Zone Board of Directors. She has served on the Illinois Swimming Board of Directors as Illinois Swimming Safety Coordinator, Illinois Swimming Rules & Regulations Chairperson, Illinois Swimming Age Group Vice-Chairperson, and Illinois Swimming Website Coordinator. She has served on the Southeastern Swimming Board of Directors as Southeastern Swimming Adaptive Aquatics Chairperson and Southeastern Swimming Safety Chairperson.
Coach Chronic received her BA in Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee in 1987. She was a member of the Lady Vols swim team from 1982-1984 where she was an All-American. She also has completed Master of Arts courses in Clinical Psychology with emphasis in assessment, psychological testing, motivation, and cognitive-behavior therapy at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Williamson County Gold Group
Coach Dennis McEwan
rhsswimcoach@comcast.net
Coach Dennis McEwan has over twenty years of swimming experience as an age group, high school, college and masters swimmer. He has ten years of coaching swimming, two years assisting a local YMCA team in San Dimas, California, five years with Ravenwood High School, and one year as Head Coach for Centennial High School. Coach Dennis coached the Excel Master's team for three years before retiring in 2010. He is entering his second year as the Excel Gold II coach.
Coach Dennis McEwan has 14 years of coaching children 5-16 years of age in soccer and baseball. Dennis is a soccer referee for the YMCA and local area middle schools and high schools. He also worked with area Boy Scout troops as a merit badge counselor.
Coach Dennis has three Bachelor of Science degrees from Ferris State College in Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry Technology, and Applied Biology. He has 26 years experience as an R & D chemist. He has 15 patents to his credit for dental applications, enzyme applications, and us of enzymes in cleaning compounds.
Coach Dennis has been married to his wife for 28 years old and has two children, ages 18 and 21.
Coach Dennis coaches the Gold II swimmers in Brentwood.
rhsswimcoach@comcast.net
Coach Dennis McEwan has over twenty years of swimming experience as an age group, high school, college and masters swimmer. He has ten years of coaching swimming, two years assisting a local YMCA team in San Dimas, California, five years with Ravenwood High School, and one year as Head Coach for Centennial High School. Coach Dennis coached the Excel Master's team for three years before retiring in 2010. He is entering his second year as the Excel Gold II coach.Coach Dennis McEwan has 14 years of coaching children 5-16 years of age in soccer and baseball. Dennis is a soccer referee for the YMCA and local area middle schools and high schools. He also worked with area Boy Scout troops as a merit badge counselor.
Coach Dennis has three Bachelor of Science degrees from Ferris State College in Biochemistry, Industrial Chemistry Technology, and Applied Biology. He has 26 years experience as an R & D chemist. He has 15 patents to his credit for dental applications, enzyme applications, and us of enzymes in cleaning compounds.
Coach Dennis has been married to his wife for 28 years old and has two children, ages 18 and 21.
Coach Dennis coaches the Gold II swimmers in Brentwood.
Coach Steven Murry
sjmurry@yahoo.com
Coach Steven was an assistant coach with the Longview Sea Dragons of the WCSL, helping leading his team to its first championship title in 2008. Steven joined the Excel Aquatics in 2008 and assumes coaching responsibilities of the Silver I and Gold groups in Murfreesboro. Coach Steven has recently been named the Head Age Goup Coach with direct coaching responsibilities for the Silver I and Sivler II groups in Brentwood. He is also Head Coach of the Excel Masters team.
Amanda Crawford
amanda@denovodahl.com
Coach Amanda began her swimming career as an 8 and under swimmer with Excel Aquatics. While competing with Excel, Coach Amanda was a Southeastern Swimming Champion, Southeastern Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree, and a nationally ranked age group swimmer. She currently holds the Excel Aquatics' 10 and under girls 50 and 100 meter butterfly records. Amanda has worked in recent years with swimmers refining their strokes. She joined the Excel Aquatics' caoching staff as a Silver II coach in 2009. She will also assist Coach Steven Murry with the Silver I group.
Coach Amanda has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Middle Tennessee State University. She is plans to begin graduate school for a Masters in Education.
Coach Gretchen Bates
grettle@gmail.com
Coach Gretchen Bates started her coaching career as an Assistant Coach for the New York City YWCA Masters in 1999. IN 2004 she returned home to Summertown, Tennessee and became the Head Coach of the Maury County YMCA age group team and Head Coach for the Columbia Triathlon Club. She joined Excel Aquatic's coaching staff in 2007 as a Masters Coach. Gretchen has been an assistant coach to Amy Caulkins for the Silver I group since the Spring of 2009.
With the guidance of Coach Steven Murry, Coach Gretchen will be assisting the he Silver I and II groups.
Coach Gretchen has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina. She is currently working towards her ASCA Level 3 certification.
amanda@denovodahl.com
Coach Amanda began her swimming career as an 8 and under swimmer with Excel Aquatics. While competing with Excel, Coach Amanda was a Southeastern Swimming Champion, Southeastern Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree, and a nationally ranked age group swimmer. She currently holds the Excel Aquatics' 10 and under girls 50 and 100 meter butterfly records. Amanda has worked in recent years with swimmers refining their strokes. She joined the Excel Aquatics' caoching staff as a Silver II coach in 2009. She will also assist Coach Steven Murry with the Silver I group.
Coach Amanda has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Middle Tennessee State University. She is plans to begin graduate school for a Masters in Education.
Coach Gretchen Bates
grettle@gmail.com
Coach Gretchen Bates started her coaching career as an Assistant Coach for the New York City YWCA Masters in 1999. IN 2004 she returned home to Summertown, Tennessee and became the Head Coach of the Maury County YMCA age group team and Head Coach for the Columbia Triathlon Club. She joined Excel Aquatic's coaching staff in 2007 as a Masters Coach. Gretchen has been an assistant coach to Amy Caulkins for the Silver I group since the Spring of 2009.
With the guidance of Coach Steven Murry, Coach Gretchen will be assisting the he Silver I and II groups.
Coach Gretchen has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina. She is currently working towards her ASCA Level 3 certification.
Ellen Mincey
ellencrosby910@gmail.com
Coach Ellen coaches the Silver III group in Brentwood.
Williamson County - Bronze I & II Groups
Coach Peter Browne
pbrowne6@gmail.com
Coach Browne grew up swimming in Birmingham, Alabama and at one time held the Alabama YMCA State Record in the 15-18 100 yard freestyle. He swam for the University of Southern Mississippi. Coach Peter Browne coached summer league with the Birmingham Country Club, and he was the Head Coach for the Shades Valley YMCA in Birmingham, Alabama. While attending Auburn University, he was the Head Coach for the Columbus Aquatic Club in Columbus, Georgia, and later the age group coach for Auburn Aquatics.
Coach Browne earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration form Auburn University in 1992 and is currently a Sales Engineer for Turner Medical. Peter and his wife, Christie, are the parents of four Excel swimmers, Hailey, Ethan, Phoebe, and Jake.
Coach Peter Browne will coach the Bronze I and II swimmers in Brentwood.
pbrowne6@gmail.com
Coach Browne grew up swimming in Birmingham, Alabama and at one time held the Alabama YMCA State Record in the 15-18 100 yard freestyle. He swam for the University of Southern Mississippi. Coach Peter Browne coached summer league with the Birmingham Country Club, and he was the Head Coach for the Shades Valley YMCA in Birmingham, Alabama. While attending Auburn University, he was the Head Coach for the Columbus Aquatic Club in Columbus, Georgia, and later the age group coach for Auburn Aquatics.
Coach Browne earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration form Auburn University in 1992 and is currently a Sales Engineer for Turner Medical. Peter and his wife, Christie, are the parents of four Excel swimmers, Hailey, Ethan, Phoebe, and Jake.
Coach Peter Browne will coach the Bronze I and II swimmers in Brentwood.
Coach Gina Carbone
jgcarbone@comcast.net
Coach Gina joined the Excel Aquatics' staff in 2002. She is the current Director of the Excel Swim School at the Williamson County Indoor Sports Complex in Brentwood. Gina's husband and sons also swim completitively for Excel Aquatics. Gina offers a gentle teaching approach that focuses on praise and encouragement. Her goal is to have a happy, safe, and successful swimming experience. When not teaching and coaching, Gina enjoys swimming and taking care of her husband Jim, and their three sons, Christian, Joey, and Anthony.
Coach Gina will coach the Bronze I and II swimmers in Brentwood.
jgcarbone@comcast.net
Coach Gina joined the Excel Aquatics' staff in 2002. She is the current Director of the Excel Swim School at the Williamson County Indoor Sports Complex in Brentwood. Gina's husband and sons also swim completitively for Excel Aquatics. Gina offers a gentle teaching approach that focuses on praise and encouragement. Her goal is to have a happy, safe, and successful swimming experience. When not teaching and coaching, Gina enjoys swimming and taking care of her husband Jim, and their three sons, Christian, Joey, and Anthony.
Coach Gina will coach the Bronze I and II swimmers in Brentwood.
Sumner County Coaches
Andreea Mitrofan
coachandreea@excelaquatics.org
Andreea comes from a long line of swimmers. Both her parents were highly successful, as well as her sister. Her father took part in the 1960 Olympic Games, while her mom was a national champion in the backstroke events. Her sister is a national gold medal holder in the Butterfly and IM events. Andreea first came into contact with a swimming pool at the age of 3 months where she seemed to excel since that time. Since her first introduction to a swimming pool, she began a long journey growing up on the pool deck, learning strokes and learning the technique the technique required to become an excellent swimmer. Never forgetting the two-a-day practice schedule, summer stages at the sea, winter stages on the mountains, she remembers how much fun it was to travel hours on a bus or train to help her team earn many medals at competitions. As a result of her hard work and dedication, "one of the best results as a swimmer was achieving the gold medals in the 400meter IM and 800meter Freestyle.
Andreea later went to college to study Economics. After spending time with a job related to her degree, she found herself not happy with her job. She realized she couldn't stay away from swimming and began to study swimming and coaching. She has since written a thesis on The Training of Female Athletes in the 800 Freestyle, which is published in Romania, her home country.
Andreea's husband, Murat, his Masters education brought him to the US, which subsequently brought Andreea. Moving to the Nashville area she found Excel Aquatics & began coaching the Gallatin swimmers in the fall of 2004. When asked why she coaches, she says, " I believe my job has the best feedback among all other jobs - the smile of my pupils. It's one of the best feelings to see their smile when I tell them that they are swimming much better than they used to."
coachandreea@excelaquatics.org
Andreea comes from a long line of swimmers. Both her parents were highly successful, as well as her sister. Her father took part in the 1960 Olympic Games, while her mom was a national champion in the backstroke events. Her sister is a national gold medal holder in the Butterfly and IM events. Andreea first came into contact with a swimming pool at the age of 3 months where she seemed to excel since that time. Since her first introduction to a swimming pool, she began a long journey growing up on the pool deck, learning strokes and learning the technique the technique required to become an excellent swimmer. Never forgetting the two-a-day practice schedule, summer stages at the sea, winter stages on the mountains, she remembers how much fun it was to travel hours on a bus or train to help her team earn many medals at competitions. As a result of her hard work and dedication, "one of the best results as a swimmer was achieving the gold medals in the 400meter IM and 800meter Freestyle.Andreea later went to college to study Economics. After spending time with a job related to her degree, she found herself not happy with her job. She realized she couldn't stay away from swimming and began to study swimming and coaching. She has since written a thesis on The Training of Female Athletes in the 800 Freestyle, which is published in Romania, her home country.
Andreea's husband, Murat, his Masters education brought him to the US, which subsequently brought Andreea. Moving to the Nashville area she found Excel Aquatics & began coaching the Gallatin swimmers in the fall of 2004. When asked why she coaches, she says, " I believe my job has the best feedback among all other jobs - the smile of my pupils. It's one of the best feelings to see their smile when I tell them that they are swimming much better than they used to."
Mike Ballard
Labbity@aol.com
Mike Ballard has been a part of USA Swimming as a head coach, assistant coach, summer league coache, and swim school instructor. He is apporaching his 20th year season. He is ASCA certified Level 3. He resides in Franklin, Kentucky with his wife, Annette, and daughter, Leigh. Mike coaches in Gallatin and is dedicated to the EXCEL mission. His motto is "learn, have fun, succeed."
Coach Mike will bring his teaching talents to the Bronze and Silver II groups in Gallatin.
Labbity@aol.com
Mike Ballard has been a part of USA Swimming as a head coach, assistant coach, summer league coache, and swim school instructor. He is apporaching his 20th year season. He is ASCA certified Level 3. He resides in Franklin, Kentucky with his wife, Annette, and daughter, Leigh. Mike coaches in Gallatin and is dedicated to the EXCEL mission. His motto is "learn, have fun, succeed."
Coach Mike will bring his teaching talents to the Bronze and Silver II groups in Gallatin.
Sheree Zobl
sbzobl@comcast.net
Shereé Zobl joined the Excel coaching staff in Gallatin in 2007 after a successful 5 year stint as Sumner Academy’s 7th and 8th grade Girl’s Basketball Coach. Coach Shereé has been involved with Excel Aquatics as a Parent Representative on Excel’s Board of Directors, as well as serving as a USA Swimming Official. Coach Shereé will have primary responsibility of working with Coach Mike and the Silver II and Bronze groups, along with substituting as coach with the other groups as needed.
Sheree’ began her swimming career at the age of 5 for summer league where her mother started the Bluegrass Marlins swim program for Bluegrass Country Club. She continued swimming throughout her school years and a couple of years in college.
Sheree’ lives in Hendersonville, TN with her husband John and two daughters Ann Marie, a freshman at Belmont University, and Brittany, a sophomore at Pope John Paul II. Sheree’ is currently the school librarian at Sumner Academy, as well as the P.E. coach for the 7th and 8th grades. She has a B.S. in Human Services from the University of Phoenix.
sbzobl@comcast.net
Shereé Zobl joined the Excel coaching staff in Gallatin in 2007 after a successful 5 year stint as Sumner Academy’s 7th and 8th grade Girl’s Basketball Coach. Coach Shereé has been involved with Excel Aquatics as a Parent Representative on Excel’s Board of Directors, as well as serving as a USA Swimming Official. Coach Shereé will have primary responsibility of working with Coach Mike and the Silver II and Bronze groups, along with substituting as coach with the other groups as needed.
Sheree’ began her swimming career at the age of 5 for summer league where her mother started the Bluegrass Marlins swim program for Bluegrass Country Club. She continued swimming throughout her school years and a couple of years in college.
Sheree’ lives in Hendersonville, TN with her husband John and two daughters Ann Marie, a freshman at Belmont University, and Brittany, a sophomore at Pope John Paul II. Sheree’ is currently the school librarian at Sumner Academy, as well as the P.E. coach for the 7th and 8th grades. She has a B.S. in Human Services from the University of Phoenix.
Murfreesboro
Chris Pickerell- cpp2p@mtmail.mtsu.edu
Chris Pickerell joins the Excel Aquatics' coaching staff from a Valley Area Swim Team in Harrisonburg, Virgina where he was a stroke and technique coach. Chris is a former competitive swimmer and world class triathlete. From 2003, Chris has has won 4 Xterra Off Road Triathlete Awards, 2 cyclocross national titles and 2 All American Off Road Triathlete Awards. In 2007, he was named USA Xterra Triathlon National Champion.
After two years at Lees McCrae College in North Carolina, Chris is now living in Murfreesboro and a Candidate for Aerospace Major in Pro Pilot and Business Communication at Middle Tennessee State University.
Sarah Sargent - sbs3i@mtmail.mtsu.edu
Chris Pickerell joins the Excel Aquatics' coaching staff from a Valley Area Swim Team in Harrisonburg, Virgina where he was a stroke and technique coach. Chris is a former competitive swimmer and world class triathlete. From 2003, Chris has has won 4 Xterra Off Road Triathlete Awards, 2 cyclocross national titles and 2 All American Off Road Triathlete Awards. In 2007, he was named USA Xterra Triathlon National Champion.
After two years at Lees McCrae College in North Carolina, Chris is now living in Murfreesboro and a Candidate for Aerospace Major in Pro Pilot and Business Communication at Middle Tennessee State University.
Sarah Sargent - sbs3i@mtmail.mtsu.edu
Sarah Sargent joins the Excel Aquatics' coaching staff after a phenominal swimming career. During her 12 years as a swimmer with Excel Aquatics, Sarah acheived an Olympic Trial qualifying time in the 50 freestyle. She was a two time Junior National Champion and a National Championship finalist in the 50 freestyle. She is the current Southeastern Swimming record holder in the 50 and 100 yard freestyles and 50 meter freestyle for 13-14 year old girls and was a member of the 15-16 girls 200 and 400 yard freestyle relay that currently holds the Southeastern Swimming record for those events. Sarah is an 8 time National High School All American, and a 5 time Tennessee High School Champion.
After two years at the University of Tennessee, Sarah is now living in Murfreesboro and attending Middle Tennessee State University.
Triathletes
Ashley Whitney coachashley@excelaquatics.org
Ashley Whitney was born and raised in
Ashley has coached since being back in
Home School
Coach Dawn VanRykeghem - coachdawn@excelaquatics.orgCoach Dawn has been passionately involved in the sports and fitness industry for the past 2 decades. She began her swimming career in 2000 when her eldest 3 children started swimming lessons and joined a summer league team. In 2002, she started her coaching career at the Maryland Farms YMCA as an assistant coach. In 2004 ,as Head Coach of the MFY she helped lead the team to a division and county championship. In 2005, she spearheaded the formation of the Brentwood Barracudas summer team, which she has managed and help coached to 4 consecutive championship titles for both dual and county meets. In the same year, she established a High School Home School Swim Team.
Coach Dawn joined Excel Aquatics as lead coach of the Bronze age group and head of the Excel Aquatics home school training group in 2006. In that year her 8 and under girls group won the SES District Championship. She took on the responsibilities of coaching Silver II swimmers in Brentwood in the fall of 2008. In 2009 she will lead the Home School swimmers.
Coach Dawn received her bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice from Culver Stockton College in Missouri. She and her husband Pat are the proud parents of six children.