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The Dayton
Raiders have one of the top coaching staffs in the Midwest.
They work hard to bring out the best in every child and each
group has coaches for their special needs. Our coaches are
highly educated with college degrees and many have or are
working towards advanced
degrees. They have been recognized as Ohio Age Group
Coach and Senior Coach of the Year eight times
since 1990. The coaches are ASCA (American Swim
Coaches Association) certified and attend national and
international coaching clinics annually. |
The Dayton Raiders emphasize
a high level technique-based program for all groups.
Our groups are have more lane space and the best
swimmer-to-coach ratio in the Miami Valley. Swimmers are introduced to the latest and most effective
techniques available in the sport of swimming today.
Practices are designed so that swimmers can learn in a
stimulating environment. Our age group
swimmers (14-unders) are introduced to mastery of balance,
core development, propulsion, technique, starts, and
turns. These critical areas are further developed in
the senior groups (15-overs) so that swimmers can achieve
the highest level of performance at the high school and
collegiate level. Dayton Raider swimmers achieve some
of the highest rates of continuous improvement over the
career of swimmers found anywhere in the country today. The Raider coaches strongly feel
that swimming is a long-term sport where development at the
age group level greatly influences performance at the senior
level.
Download coaches hourly timesheet (XLS)
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coaches
2nd Year Coaches On-Line Test (Required)
USA-Swimming Background Check
(Required)
Reimbursement Form
for Travel, Equipment, etc
Kevin Weldon
Head Coach, CEO
kweldon@woh.rr.com
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Kevin
Weldon became the Head Coach of the Raiders in May,
1989 after working 4 years as Head Coach of the
Sunkist Swim Team in Jackson, Mississippi. Prior to
that, Kevin was an assistant coach of the University
of Nebraska men's and women's swim teams. Kevin
received a Bachelor's Degree from North Carolina
State University, where he competed on the Wolfpack
Swim Team. He received a Master's Degree in Sport
Studies from the University of Nebraska. Kevin
is a Level 5 Swim Coach, which is the highest level
of certification offered by the American Swim
Coaches Association. Since Kevin's arrival, Raider
swimmers have achieved junior and senior national
level status, won state high school championships,
and placed top-16 in state high school
championships. Kevin has also coached swimmers to a 1990
world ranking, a 1993 American Record, and an 8th & 12th
place finish at the 1996 Olympic Trials in Indianapolis,
IN and an 8th place finish at the 2004 Olympic Trials in
Long Beach (CA). Kevin was awarded Ohio Senior Coach of the Year in
2004, 2003, 2001, 1993, and 1991. Kevin
implements a strong conditioning program with strict
attention to technique within the senior groups.
Kevin and his staff apply a monthly plan, season plan,
3-year cycle, and high school & collegiate career plan within the 7 levels of the
Raiders that allow swimmers to reach full potential. In
addition to team success, individual Raider swimmers
maintain some of the highest continual improvement rates
in the United States throughout each individual's career.
Coach Kevin has
been gracefully honored with several coaching positions at
national camps and at the Olympic Training Center in
Colorado Springs (CO) and is a member of the
USA National Team Coaching Staff. Kevin is the primary coach of
the Gold and Silver groups and oversees all other groups.
Kevin resides in Beavercreek with his wife, Lana, and two
children, Kylie and Mackenzie.
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Brent Peaden
Head Age Group Coach
bpeaden@woh.rr.com
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Brent Peaden became the Dayton Raiders Head Age Group
Coach in September 1999 following three years
(1996-1999) as the
Raiders Senior Assistant. From 1989-1996, Brent was
the Head Age Group Coach for the Wright-Patterson
Flying Fish at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Brent has
coached National Junior Qualifiers, National Age
Group Top 16 swimmers, state record holders, Zone
Qualifiers and record holders, and Ohio Junior
Olympic State Champions. Brent has coached swimmers
to more than 200 National "Top 16" times.
Brent also helped guide the Dayton Raiders Age Group
program to an Ohio State Championship title in 2004,
2006, 2007, and 2008 - the only time a swim program outside of greater Cincinnati
has won the state title since AAU and USA-Swimming
began in the middle 20th century. The former Ohio Age Group
"Coach of the Year", Brent was
also the Head Coach of the Ohio ZONE Team in 1999, helping Ohio
win its only Central Zone Championship to date. Brent was
also on the coaching staff during the 2000 through
2008 Ohio Zone teams, and a member of the Ohio All-Star QUAD
coaching staff in 2002. Brent mixes creativity,
enthusiasm, and innovative technique ideas into a
comprehensive program that is both stimulating and
challenging for swimmers. Additionally, Brent was
the head coach at Fairborn High School 1991-2001. Brent
was also the Head Coach for the Wayne Swim Club in Huber
Heights (OH) 1994-1999, winning two Miami Valley Swim
Association (MVSA) titles after the team finished last in
the league in 1993. Brent began his swimming career
in San Pedro, CA in 1979 and in 1983-1986, he swam at
Torrejon AB, Spain in the European Forces Swim League (EFSL).
Brent is the primary coach of the Bronze and Blue groups,
assists with the Silver group, and oversees the Red,
White, and Mini groups. Brent earned a BS in Human Factors Engineering from Wright State
University and is employed by TYBRIN Corporation as a
government contractor. Brent was married in 2000 to his wife, Ann,
and had their first child, Connor, in Aug. 2003;
they reside in Beavercreek (OH). Brent's favorite
hobby is surf and deep sea fishing.
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Manoj Abeysinghe
Assistant Senior Coach
mabeysin@sbcglobal.net
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Coach Manoj began
coaching in Dayton during the summer of 2004. He is
currently the Assistant Senior Coach with the Dayton
Raiders and is responsible for the second senior
group. Manoj has swum competitively for 13 years:
first at Royal College Sri Lanka for 9 years and at
Otters Aquatic Club for 4 years until 1989. His
coaching career started at The Otters Aquatic Club
where he coached the senior team from 1989-1991.
Prior to Dayton, his coaching assignment was at the
Miami County YMCA north of Dayton, where he was an
assistant coach for the Marlins Swim Team. In
2005 he was the visiting head coach of the Rainbow Aquatic Club in Sri
Lanka and led them to 2 National Championships, 5 National Records and
many National Champions in the summer of 2005.
Coach Manoj
has coached National Swimmers,
National Top 16 Swimmers, State Record Holders, State
Champions, Sri Lankan National Record Holders and Age
Group Champions during his career. In addition to
swimming, Coach Manoj has played Rugby Football, Track
and Field and Cricket at national and international
level competition. He took part in the Rugby 7s World
Cup held in Hong Kong in 1987. Coach Manoj and
wife Laura have 4 children Andrew, Matthew, Dillon and
Kyle. Andrew, Matthew and Dillon are currently
competitive swimmers and Kyle just began with the
Raiders this past winter. He enjoys cycling and canoeing
in his spare time: whenever that happens. Coach Manoj is
the primary coach of the Silver group and assists with the Gold, Bronze,
and Blue groups.
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John Matzen
Assistant Age Group Coach
New Swimmer Developmt
Aquadelmar45@yahoo.com
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Coach John, a
former All-American High School swimmer, joined the
Raider staff in the fall of 2004. John is coming
off a successful Wright State University career where
he was a part Horizon League Champion teams and
record-setting relays is a sprint freestyler.
John is also a member of 200 & 400 Free Relay school &
WSU Pool records. John was a transfer from the
University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in his Junior year.
At UNI, John was the most improved freshman and won
MVP honors as a sophomore. As an age group
swimmer, John broke the YMCA state record in the 50
Back. Coach John's coaching resume is filled with
experience. Coach John was a member of the Ohio
All-Star Zone Staff in the summer of 2007. He also
was the Head Coach for two summers for the Wayne Wahoos Swim Club in Huber Heights
(OH), John also coached at the University Texas Swim
Camp, the Meadow Dolphins in Orlando (FL), and club
swimming for 3 years. John also coached the Chaminade Julienne
Falcons H.S. Swim Team in 2004-2005. Just ask any of
his swimmers, and they will tell of all kinds of
interesting stories and factoids about swimming and life
in general that John has introduced to the groups. Coach
John graduated from Wright State University with a
degree in Early Childhood Education and is teaching in
the Dayton area. John is the primary coach for the Red,
White, and Mini groups, and assists with all other
groups.
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Ann Brewer
Assistant Coach
Masters Lead
ABREWER5@woh.rr.com
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Coach Ann joined the Raider program in the
fall of 2006 after recently moving to the Dayton area
from San Antonio, Texas where she was very involved in
coaching for several years. In 2005 and 2006, Ann was
an Assistant Coach at Triple X where she gained valuable
experience coaching year-round age group swimmers with a
strong emphasis on technique and seasonal training
plans. From 2003-2005, Ann was the Head Novice Team
Coach of the large Alamo Area Aquatics Association (AAAA)
program in San Antonio. Her responsibilities
were very dynamic as she was responsible for
specific instruction of over 100 swimmers in proper
technique in all four strokes, and introducing them
to competitive swimming through novice meets. Her teachings also included emphasis on
core strength and overall health, wellness, and nutrition
education. Since 2001, Ann has also been coaching
Masters and Triathlon programs in various head coach and
assistant coaching roles in Texas and before that at
Vacaville Swim Club in California. Her most recent masters
coaching stint was with the Master’s of South Texas (MOST)
where she organized planned and conducted masters’ practices
with responsibilities that include stroke technique,
monitoring aerobic/anaerobic systems, and cross-training &
nutritional consultation. As a current Masters swimmer, Ann
is an All-American and “Top 10” Nationally ranked swimmer in
multiple events. Ann is the lead coach for the Dayton
Raiders Masters Team, as well as assist with the Mini,
White, Red, Blue, and Bronze groups. Coach Ann has a BS in
Health and Fitness & Education and is a USA Level 2
Certified Swim Coach. She has three children on the Raiders,
Sarah, Thomas, and Madison.
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Gary
Galbreath
Assistant Coach
garygalbreath@hotmail.com
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Gary is a
certified Level 4 coach, certified through The American
Swim Coaches Association. He's been a swim coach for
over 20 years and was a swimmer from age 10 through
colleges where he swam WVU. Gary was the 1998 YMCA
National Coach of the Year and a two time Southwest Ohio
YMCA Coach of the Year. Many of his swimmers have become
High School All-Americans and gone on to qualify for and
place at the USA Nationals and Olympic Trials.
Gary’s swimmers have
achieved junior and senior national level status, won
state high school championships, and placed top-16 in
state high school championships. Gary has also coached
swimmers to world rankings. Gary has helped his swimmers
find a place to continue their swimming careers in
college from small D-III schools to high powered D-I
schools. One of the things Gary is most proud of is that
he gives them the tools to continue to improve as the
swim in college. Gary like to play golf in his spare
time although admits he’s not very good. Gary lives in
Kettering with his family. Gary is married to wife
Debbie of 22 years. Gary has 3 children, sons Justin
(swims at WVU), Noah and daughter Abby.
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Heather Moeller
Assistant Coach
hezmoeller@sbcglobal.net
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Coach Heather is originally from Huber Heights, Ohio
and began her career with the the Raiders in 2002.
For 6 summers Heather coached Wayne Swim Team in
Huber Heights and she also swam 4 years for Wayne
High School. She formerly swam for the Dayton
Raiders and Wright Patterson Flying Fish.
Coach Heather was a coach member of the 2005 Ohio
All-Star Zone Team that traveled to Ann Arbor (MI).
Heather graduated from Miami University in 2001. Coach Heather
currently is employed by Unified Health Solutions as
a Site Coordinator for After-School Programs in the
Dayton area.
In her free time, Heather plays
rugby for the Dayton Area Rugby Club. Heather
assists with the Mini, White, Red, Blue, Bronze, and
Silver
groups.
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Amy Cron
Assistant Coach
cron.4@wright.edu
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Coach Amy comes to the Raiders in the fall
of 2006 after a very successful campaign on the
Wright State University swim team. Before finishing
her final year at WSU, Amy left her name behind in
the team and Horizon League record books as a member
of the 200 and 400 medley relays. At her final
Horizon League Championships in 2006, Amy led the
WSU women’s team by winning gold in the 100 Fly and
100 Back, as well as silver in the 200 Back. These
titles earned her Women’s Team MVP in 2006. Amy
also earned the very special 2006 “Peggy Wynkoop
Female Athlete of the Year” at WSU. In addition to
Amy’s teaching swim lessons at WSU for the last 4
years, she also was an Assistant Coach for the St.
Mary’s Seahawks (2 years) and the Fairborn Green
Acres Sea Dragons (2 years). In high school, Amy was a 3-year
YMCA National Qualifier and 2-year All Ohio at Memorial High
School. Amy swam for the Auglaize-Mercer Family YMCA for 13
years before coming to WSU. Amy’s major is Childhood
Education with concentration in Math and Science. Amy
is excited about being part of the Raider coaching staff and
will work primarily with the Mini, White, and Red groups.
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Justin Stepp
Assistant Coach
stepp.5@wright.edu
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Coach Justin
began coaching with the Raiders in the fall on 2008.
Previously coaching on the YMCA circuit in Kettering
(OH), Justin was a head age group coach.
Justin also was the Head Coach the previous 3 years
for the Greene Valley Gators Summer League team in
Beavercreek (OH), and 1 year before then as co-Head
Coach for the Cardinal Hill Recreation Club. In High
School, Justin was a swimmer for the Beavercreek
YMCA and stand out swimmer at Beavercreek High
School, receiving honors as an All-American
Consideration. Justin qualified for the High School
State Championships and was a multi-year YMCA
National Qualifier. Justin continued his swimming at
Wright State University in Dayton (OH) for the
2004-2005 school year specializing in the
breaststroke and freestyle events. Justin plans to
graduate from Wright State in the spring of 2009
with honors and a degree in Finance and Accounting.
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Jenny
Sparks
Assistant Coach
Jmjenkins23@aol.com
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Coach Jenny
joined the coaching staff in the fall of 2005.
She began swimming at the age of 9 at the Beavercreek
YMCA and joined the Dayton Raiders when she was 12.
Throughout her high school swimming career at
Beavercreek High School, she was a 4-year varsity
letterman, 4-year district qualifier and a 3-year
state qualifier.. Jenny continued her swimming career
at the College of Wooster for 4 years, where she
specialized in backstroke and distance freestyle
events. While in college, Jenny had the opportunity to
help host two NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving
Championships. Jenny
coached for three years at Woodhaven Swim Club in
Beavercreek, Ohio, leading them to 3 consecutive league
championships. In 2004, Jenny graduated from The College of
Wooster with a degree in Communication Studies and is
employed at The Ohio Periodontal and Dental Implant
Center. Coach Jenny works with the White, Red, Blue, and
Bronze groups.
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Rick Kroll
Assistant Coach
rick.kroll@sportssc.com
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Coach Rick joined the
Raider staff in the fall of 2005. His love of
teaching and being involved has come from many years
of technical training experience courtesy of the Air
Force in both classroom and field environments and
participation with other volunteer run
organizations. Coach Rick is a retired military
engineer and earned his BS in Electrical Engineering
at the Georgia Institute of Technology and later his
MS in Electrical Engineering right here at the Air
Force Institute of Technology. Coach Rick became a
USA Swimming Official a couple of years after his
son joined the Raiders and is now an Ohio LSC Level
1-Referee and a National N2-Stroke and Turn judge.
Rick and his wife Kim have three children: former
Raider Nick, current Raider Jasmine, and Judith and
works primarily with the Red group.
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Katie Boyd
Assistant Coach
bydkt@yahoo.com
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Coach Katie joined the Raider staff in the fall of
2007 after completing her swimming career at
Brookville High School. She began swimming with the
Raiders at age eleven. Katie is still very active
at BHS, where she is Class President, active in many
clubs, and a member of the Varsity Track and Field
team. This past season, Katie broke the school
record in the Girls Discus event. Katie also
attends Sinclair Community College as a
post-secondary education student, earning college
credits simultaneously with high school credits.
Katie enjoys European travel with her family and
participates in mission trips to Central America
with her youth group at Christian Life Center each
summer. Coach Katie's younger brother Jake and
sister Emma also swim for the Dayton Raiders. Katie
plans to attend The Ohio State University to pursue
a career in Secondary Mathematics Education upon
completion of high school. Katie assists with the
Mini, White, and Red groups.
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Lieneke Keihl
Assistant Coach
lieneke@woh.rr.com
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Coach Lieneke Keihl
joined us in the fall of 2007 assisting with the
Mini and White groups. Coach Keihl has over 30
years of aquatic background as an Instructor and
Instructor Trainer for the American Red Cross.
She is currently an adjunct Instructor for
Wright State University, University of Dayton
and Sinclair Community College. Lieneke is also
the Instructor support specialist at the
Northern Miami Valley Chapter of the American
Red Cross in Troy OH where she ensures that
their instructors in CPR/AED/First Aid,
Lifeguarding and Water Safety are up to date and
teaching to the high standards of the ARC. She
has been a technical consultant in local and
state Lifeguard competitions for the last 6
years. Lieneke is a Level 3-R judge in the
sport of Synchronized Swimming since 1985 and
has been a competitor in the Masters division of
Synchronized Swimming since 1978 with the Dayton
Synchronettes: competing the last 2 years in a
trio event with two of her daughters Sarah Lydia
and Laura who both currently live in Orlando
FL. Her third daughter Rachael lives in
Knoxville TN and is an Aquatic Director at
several YMCA’s. Lieneke is also the Secretary
for the Ohio SS Association and has held that
position since the late 80’s. Lieneke was a
former coach of the Dayton Aquanymphs which
disbanded in 1996 but was a highly competitive
synchro team since the late 1950’s. The age
group team will be rejoining the synchro world
late October 2007 as the Dayton YMCA AquaGems.
Lieneke has recently been seen practicing with
the Dayton Raiders Masters group and trying to
mesh the two swimming styles into one: trying
to eliminate all that glide and not pointing her
toes too much! When not working those 4 jobs,
she helps with her husbands business, the
Appliance Doctor as well as reading, camping and
just recently purchased 2 kayaks where once
again, she’s in the water!
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Jessica Weidert
Assistant Coach
weidert.2@wright.edu
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Jessica Weidert joined
the Raider staff in the spring of 2008 following a
stellar career on the Wright State University
Women’s Swim team where she balanced her 4.0 GPA
with several athletic highlights which include an
NCAA qualification, Horizon League conference
titles, and breaking the Horizon League record in
the 200 Breast. The former Peggy Wynkoop WSU Female
Athlete of the Year and WSU Female Student-Athlete
of the Year, Jessica was the team MVP for three
years and also a 2-year team captain that set three
pool records at WSU during her career. At her final
conference championships in 2008, Jessica left it
all in the pool en route to netting 3 league titles
and setting conference records in all three (200IM,
400IM, and 200 Breast), earning her 2008 Horizon
League Swimmer of the Meet, and later 2008 Women
Athlete of the Year. Jessica, who is a former YMCA
National finalist and High School valedictorian
while growing up in Spokane, WA, remains involved in
various activities including serving as
representative for the college Student Athlete
Advisory Council and working as an Adaptive
Recreation swim Coach at WSU. Jessica is working
towards a Masters of Education while being a member
of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Jessica assists primarily with the Mini, White, and
Red groups.
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