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Coaching Staff
COACHING CAREER (1993 - present): includes the following coaching positions; Masters Coach for Sundevil Aquatics, Head Masters Coach, Phoenix Swim Club / Brophy Prep., Interim Head Coach, Phoenix Swim Club, Assistant Age Group Coach, Phoenix Swim Club, Head Age Group Coach, Las Vegas Gold, Head Water Polo Coach, David Douglas High School (Portland, Or). SWIMMING EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: US National team member, 1984-1992, 3-Time Olympic trial finalist, 1984, 1988,1992 (200-400 IND. MED., 200 FLY). His international competition experience includes the Goodwill Games, Moscow Russia, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, Spain, and Australia. He was the US National Team Captain for the World University Games. He was a National Champion in 1984, 1985 (400 IND. MED.), NCAA Finalist Silver Medalist, 1986, 1987, 1988 (200-400 I.M., 200 FLY). EDUCATION: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, 1985-1989 (EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY, GENERAL BUSINESS). Achievements and Involvement:
Ryan Kent is currently the Head Age Group Coach for the Westside Silver Fins. Ryan began his coaching career as Head Coach for the Goodyear Sharks recreational swim team in the summer of 2000. In only a few short years, Coach Ryan, with the assistance of Coach Melissa, grew the Goodyear Sharks from 97 to 340+ swimmers and captured three consecutive Mar-West Championship titles before transitioning the team to their new coaching staff in the summer of 2005. Ryan started coaching for the Westside Silver Fins in August of 2003. Since then, he has had the opportunity to coach numerous State top-5 finalists, Far-Western top-5 finalists, and Sectional swimmers. Ryan is extremely dedicated to the success of his swimmers and feels they respond to his dedication with enthusiasm and lots of hard work. Ryan believes that 'perfect practice makes perfect' and success in swimming is attributed to consistently applying good technique training. Ryan also feels that if his swimmers can see regular progress in workout sessions and if they are frequently placed in race-type scenarios that they will be much more confident when they step up on the blocks in a meet situation. Coach Ryan has a contagious passion for the sport of swimming which can be observed on a daily basis by his swimmers and colleagues. Ryan swam for the Goodyear Sharks as a youngster and later for the West Valley Aquatics Club (WSF), Glendale Gauchos and Agua Fria High School
COACH - Bob Platt I am a native of Fort Washington, PA and spent the majority of my life living in the Philadelphia area prior to moving to Phoenix, AZ in September of 2004. As a lifelong athlete, I swam and dove from an early age. Upon high school graduation I attended the University of Maryland, College Park before transferring and graduating from Temple University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. During my time at Temple University, I participated in a yearlong marketing internship at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Like most swim coaches, I began my career by teaching swim lessons and as an assistant swim coach at a summer recreational program. As a full time college student I was the head coach of a small community team outside of Philadelphia before being recruited to be an assistant coach for Germantown Academy Aquatic Club/Team Foxcatcher; a program widely regarded as one of the best swim clubs in the world. While an assistant coach at Germantown Academy Aquatic Club I had the pleasure of helping to place 4 men on the 1992 USA Olympic Swim Team. In the fall of 1992 I became the head swim coach of Spirit Swimming located in Newtown, Pennsylvania. During my 12 years as the head coach of Spirit Swimming I had the opportunity to coach athletes to all levels of swimming success including Sectionals, Junior Nationals, Senior Nationals, Olympic Trials and NCAA collegiate competition. After moving to Arizona in 2004 I began working for the Southwest Valley Family YMCA, first as an assistant swim coach with the YMCA Westside Silver Fins, then as the Aquatic Director and finally as the Senior Program Director. Currently I am once again an assistant coach with the Silver Fins and loving it! When I'm not coaching I can be found volunteering my time with Equality Arizona, enjoying sports, working out and traveling as much as possible. My favorite places of travel thus far have been South Africa, Zambia and Iceland!
COACH - Sherri Biringer I am kind of what you would consider a native. I've been in Arizona since I was 5 years old and yes, right here in good ol' Litchfield Park. I am an Air Force brat. I was born in Colorado Springs, Colo, and I have lived in California, the Philippines, Oklahoma and Arizona, where my Dad retired. I ran track as a kid, did gymnastics and was a cheerleader. I have always been into the fitness realm, somehow. I am a mother of 5 wonderful kids ages ranging from 25 to 14, 3 boys and 2 girls. Each kid is special in their own way. I love them so much. I have a wonderful family who supports my challenging sport and field of work, CrossFit. I am hoping to go to the CrossFit games next July in Carson, Cal. and become known as one of the "fittest" women on earth. I have been a trainer for over 25 years with the following accomplishments:
COACH - Brian Zabel Hi. My name is Brian Zabel. I grew up in Seattle, WA and spent 13 years swimming for the South Snohomish County Dolphins, starting at the age of 5. My favorite events have always been the butterfly, especially the 200 fly. Here's a quick story about why. When I was just starting in swimming, my family was in Southern California and my parents signed up my older brother and I for a swim camp. A swimmer by the name of Mark Spitz was helping out at the clinic and to make a long story short, Mark actually taught me how to swim the butterfly. Now, is it any wonder why I like fly so much? I still get in the pool from time to time and still love it every time I jump in. One of the great things about the sport of swimming is that it is a lifetime sport. I hope that being a member of the Silverfins is only the start of a lifetime of swimming for our team members. I'm one of the newest members of the Silverfins and very excited to be working with all of our swimmers and coaches. I moved to Goodyear, AZ about 2 ½ years ago with my wife, Amy, and our two children, Jack and Emma. We absolutely love it here and I'm thrilled to live, work and coach right here in Goodyear. COACH - Kristina Campbell Hi, my name is Kristina Campbell. I am 22 years old and I got married 3 months ago. I am a full time student seeking my degree in Tourism and Recreation Management, and I am the Aquatics Coordinator here at the Southwest Valley Regional YMCA. I have worked here for a little over 3 years and have had the opportunity to not only watch this facility grow, but I've been able to watch the YMCA Westside Silver Fins grow, as well. I recently began assisting in coaching the Black Group. Having the swimming background and experience that I have, I feel like I can be a strong asset to this team. I grew up in competitive swimming from 5 yrs old through High School. I was also a part of the Westside Silver Fins for a little over 3 years, when their home pool was at the Litchfield Park Rec Center. Being on this team helped teach me a lot about what completive swimming is, how to keep your body healthy and hydrated in order to do your personal best for both practices and meets and also a lot about teamwork. I hope to put some of these things into coaching and hope everyone can learn and gain something from each and every one of us. COACH - Cindy Mooney I would like to introduce myself to the Westside Silver Fins. I am Coach Cindy and I have recently relocated from Colorado Springs, CO to be near my mom as she ventures further into her 80's and beyond. I enjoy playing golf and share as much time as I can with my nine grandchildren. I was a competitive swimmer in the Northwest for nine years. I had the privilege of competing from Canada to California and reaching my goals of being a state high school champion, qualifying for the Indoor National Swimming Championships, and again qualifying and competing in the Outdoor National Swimming Championships. My love of swimming and past experiences of competition and coaching have once again brought me back to the wonderful sport of swimming. For the past 2 ½ years I was an assistant coach for the Colorado Torpedoes. My focus is on introducing and developing proper breathing, kicking, and stroke technique to our young and/ or new swimmers. You will see me most often in the water with the kids so that there can be hands on instruction. I encourage you as parents to ask me questions, whether it is about your child, my techniques, or anything else. My goal is to give your child self confidence, a taste of being a competitive swimmer, and the opportunity to enjoy the water for the rest of their life. COACH - Reed Ziegler Coach Reed has such passion and respect for swimming, and considers himself a lifelong student of the sport. He believes in focusing on technical aspects of all strokes, and in doing so feels that he gives swimmers all the tools they need to expand their limits as athletes. He believes that swimming success is equally dependent on mental and physical toughness, and therefore focuses on developing each of those components. He has a special understanding of all aspects of breaststroke as well as starts and turns. He is excited to contribute his knowledge and skills to developing the athletes in his new swim family. Currently he is assisting Coach Matt with Senior I Group, and is heading up the Senior II Group as well as a section of the Black Group. COACH - Hannah Hier Hello! My name is Hannah Hier, and I am the new Black Group swim coach! Being one of the first swimmers to join Westside Silver Fins at the age of five, I swam for the team competitively for thirteen years until I stopped after my senior year in high school. I traveled many times with the team for regular Q+, Far Western, and Sectional meets. Swimming for the Silver Fins was one of the best experiences in my life. I also swam four years on the Varsity swim team at Millennium High school. I hold the record in the 100 yard butterfly, and share the team record in the 200 medley relay. I was one of the captains on the team, an All American swimmer, and an eight time state finalist for high school swimming. I love to swim and teach kids how to perfect their strokes so I am very excited to have joined the Silver Fins coaching staff! COACH - Meg Barta Meg started competitive swimming when at the age of 4, swimming in Tucson, Phoenix, and then in college in Texas. She started two high school programs in Ardmore, OK and was also head coach of Ardmore Aquatics. Athletes Meg coached included beginning swimmers to national team swimmers with several state champions and state record holders in age group USA Swimming and YMCA. Zones qualifiers, National YMCA qualifiers and many Oklahoma high school state qualifiers. Meg says "I am a big believer in technique, working hard and making swimming fun! I hope I can give back to swimming what swimming has given to me over the years, a great work ethic, some lasting friendships and wonderful memories. If you see me on deck or in the water, please stop me and say Hi."
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