Head Coach - Shane Esau

Shane is a trained NCCP Level 3 coach and has a master's degree in the Art and Science of Coaching with a specialization in exercise physiology from the University of Calgary. Shane has been around the pool for 50 years, first as a swimmer, who achieved National team member status and was a finalist in numerous National Championships. Following his swimming career, he started his coaching career and worked his way up to becoming the head coach of a small club in Calgary. He went on to coach in Nanaimo, BC, as well as working with the National Paralympic Swim Team as an exercise physiologist. Shane took on the role of lead exercise physiologist for a number of Paralympic teams, including Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Working with Swimming Canada he had the same position for the 2006 IPC Swimming World Championships and the 2007 Para Pan American Games.

"I believe that technique is the cornerstone in competitive swimming mixed in with very specific workouts to develop the physiology of every competitive swimmer."

Competitive Coach - Hannah Johnsen

This is Hannah's inaugural season with APSC! Preview of her experience:

• Trained NCCP Level 1 Coach
• In 4^th Year of Bachelor's of Science in Kinesiology - University of Calgary
• U-Sports Academic All-Canadian Award Recipient

Hannah started swimming at age 8 in Thunder Bay, Ontario and now swims for the University of Calgary Varsity team. She specializes in backstroke, as an individual medallist at both Canada West and USports Championships. Her main events include all backstroke distances. Hannah coached pre-competitive swimmers while living in Thunder Bay, and has been an assistant coach to provincial level swimmers at the University of Calgary Swim Club for two years. She is excited to bring her current knowledge of coaching to APSC and learn new skills to help the APSC swimmers be the best they can be!

"If there is one thing you should bring to the pool every day, it’s a smile. A happy swimmer is a fast swimmer! Work hard and enjoy the process."

Competitive Coach - Liam Dennett

This is Liam's inaugural season with APSC!  Preview of his experience:

• Trained NCCP Level 1 Coach
• In 4^th Year of Bachelor's of Science in Kinesiology - University of Calgary
• U-Sports Academic All-Canadian Award Recipient

This is Liam's 1^st year coaching: however he has been swimming competitively since the age of 7. Liam is a member of the Dinos Varsity Swimming Team at the University of Calgary, making this his 15th year involved in the sport. Born and raised in Calgary, Liam started swimming with UCSC and has participated in several camps with Swimming Canada, including a Canadian youth relay camp held in Vancouver. Additionally, he has competed at numerous national-level meets, where he has finaled and medaled in multiple races. His main events include the 200 Freestyle and the 400 Freestyle, in which he has won medals at both the Provincial and National levels. Swimming has always been a significant part of Liam's life, and he is thrilled to be contributing as a coach in Airdrie.

“Having fun is just as important as swimming fast and with good technique”

Copper Head Coach - Anders Klein

This is Anders' 2^nd season with APSC! Anders, originally from Sedgewick, AB, swam through the age group program with the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club. Anders has numerous club records with EKSC from 2015-16. At 17 years old, he competed at the Junior World Championships in his signature events of 100Bk and 200Bk. He continued to swim competitively for the University of Calgary Dino's Varsity Swim Team. Throughout his University swimming career, he won both individual and relay medals at the Canada West Championships, and at the USport Championships. During the 2018-2019 season, he was ranked 7th in Alberta. Anders is a trained NCCP Level 1 Coach and is a certified I Can Swim Instructor. He strongly believes in the team aspect of swimming and showcases a continually positive attitude, and such qualities match perfectly with those of APSC!

Copper Assistant Coach - Halee Klein

Halee Klein joined APSC in the Fall of 2024. She began her coaching career in Edmonton with Olympian Swim Club, where she taught pre-competitive young swimmers for five years before transitioning to coaching competitive swimmers aged 8-13. She has been a trained NCCP Level 1 Coach, since 2020. Halee completed her Bachelor's degree in Molecular/Cellular Biology in 2021. She is currently attending SAIT for Medical Laboratory Technology, with plans to start a career as a Medical Lab Technologist in the summer of 2025.

Halee's swimming journey began in Summer Club, where she swam from for six years, before competing year-round with Olympian Swim Club (OSC) and Edmonton Keyano Swim Club for another six years. During this time, she competed at multiple Age Group National Championships and a few Senior National Championships, experiences she considers invaluable. She competed and won Bronze in 400 IM at the Western Canada Summer Games in 2015 and qualified and competed at the 2016 Canadian Olympic Trials. In 2024, she embraced a new challenge by competing in cross-country with SAIT. While running is not her strongest skill, she believes in pushing beyond her athletic comfort zone to explore her potential. These opportunities were invaluable and unforgettable.

Her best events were the 200 Fly and 400 IM. She believes these challenging events taught her that no matter what events swimmers take on, a good, consistent work ethic is essential for improvement and meeting goals.

"The ultimate goal doesn't need to be the Olympics, just showing up everyday and putting in your best effort will make you proud and enjoy swimming."

Copper & I Can Swim Coach - Marley Dicastri

Coach Marley's bio will be coming soon for the 2024-2025 season! Stay tuned!

I Can Swim Coach - Lauren Astrom

Coach Lauren's bio will be coming soon for the 2024-2025 season! Stay tuned!