Lakewood Aquatics Coaches
Head Coach
Coach Darren is a certified ASCA Level 5 Coach, helping to train our swimmers to the Junior National, Senior National, and Olympic Trial level.
Coach Darren Sandvig began his aquatics career early teaching swim lessons when he was 14 and was coaching competitive aquatics by age 16.
He moved on to swim in Division 1 NCAA for four years at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, O'ahu, where he swam sprint freestyle and backstroke events. He stayed in Hawaii another year and helped to coach the team with his coach and mentor, the world-renowned Sam Freas. During his tenure in Hawaii, Coach Sandvig worked as a Hawaiian Monk Seal trainer at the Waikiki Aquarium and a diving safety technician for University of Hawaii training scientific scuba divers. Darren earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Zoology with an emphasis in Marine Biology. He also has a Master’s Degree in Education.
Coach Darren returned to Southern California in 2001 where he was the Head Aquatics Coach and biology teacher at Cypress High School. To date, Sandvig boasts 19 Empire League Championships for swimming and water polo, a host of new school records, and has been awarded teacher of the year twice. In the spring of 2019, he retired from coaching at the high school so he could dedicate time to Golden West Swim Club where his two boys, Aiden and Caleb compete.
When not on a pool deck, you will likely find Sandvig and his family at the beach or in the ocean. He absolutely loves all aquatic sports, and is an avid surfer and body surfer. Darren has been an ocean lifeguard for the city of Seal Beach since 1996, and was voted Unit Lifeguard of the year in 2012. He also is a SCUBA Instructor for NAUI and specializes in training lifeguards.
Coach Darren Sandvig believes that we can always be working on becoming better people and uses his passion for aquatics and competition as his modus operandi for teaching those pathways towards self improvement. His driving force for success is an understanding that in order to win you have to have fun, and in order to have fun you need to try to win. Sandvig wants his swimmers to push themselves beyond their conceived limits, not just in aquatics, but in life. He says, “The moment you don’t think you can improve, you are right.” His cheerful disposition is an added plus for Lakewood.
Age Group Coach
Erik Sandvig joins Lakewood Aquatics after six years as an Age Group Coach with Golden West Swim Club in Huntington Beach, where he worked with swimmers across all levels of the program. His primary focus was on developing athletes between the ages of 7–14, helping them grow in both skill and confidence. During his time at Golden West, Erik coached swimmers who broke multiple club records, competed at Southern California Age Group Championships, advanced to Elite Championships, and recently raced at the Speedo Grand Challenge in May.
Erik is a graduate of Chapman University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in movement and exercise science with an emphasis in exercise physiology. As a student-athlete, he played water polo for four years and swam for two, earning ACWPC All-American honors in water polo while setting several school scoring records along the way. He later earned a master’s degree in Public Health from California State University, Long Beach in 2010.
Beyond club coaching, Erik has over 23 years of combined coaching experience at the high school, collegiate, and age group levels. He coached swimming and water polo at Cypress High School for more than 15 years, where his teams won 11 league titles and broke over 10 school records. From 2017–2023, he also served on the coaching staff at Chapman University, where his athletes set 17 new school records in his first season alone. He coached several SCIAC champions and was a part of the SCIAC Conference Coaching Staff of the Year.
Aquatics has been part of Erik’s life since he began swimming competitively at age six, and he’s excited to bring his passion for developing age group swimmers to Lakewood. Two of his sons now swim with Lakewood Aquatics, and he looks forward to sharing the pool deck with his brother, Head Coach Darren Sandvig. The two have coached together for more than 20 years, continuing their shared dedication to building strong athletes and teams.
He currently is a Lieutenant Commander for the United State Public Health Service and is a Supervisory Consumer Safety Officer with the United States Food and Drug Administration.
Age Group Coach
Coach Matt brings 13 years of organizational swim experience to Lakewood Aquatics, having competed at the Junior Olympics, Western Zones, and Junior Nationals levels. He emphasizes accountability, confidence, and excitement as the cornerstones of his coaching philosophy. A strong believer in leading by example, Coach Matt strives to be a role model both in and out of the pool, helping swimmers succeed not only in competition but also in life. With a genuine passion for swimming, he fosters a safe, supportive environment where young athletes can develop their skills and fall in love with the sport. Both of his children proudly swim for Lakewood Aquatics.
In 2024, Coach Matt etched his name into Mayfair High School history by guiding the Monsoons’ girls team to their first-ever CIF Southern Section Swimming Championship. A program long known for its grit and determination, Mayfair had chased the elusive title for years — and under Price’s leadership, that dream became a reality. His efforts earned him the honor of 2024 Coach of the Year, further solidifying his place among the most impactful coaches in Mayfair’s athletic legacy.
With vision, preparation, and heart, Coach Matt Price continues to inspire swimmers to reach their full potential — in the pool and beyond
Developmental Coach
Coach Rebecca brings a lifetime of swimming experience and a deep passion for the sport to Lakewood Aquatics. She began her swimming journey in club swimming for seven years, including four with Lakewood Aquatics. She was a four-year varsity swimmer at Warren High School and continued her swimming career at Fresno State, where she competed for three years until the program was discontinued. During her time at Fresno State, she earned Academic All-Conference honors each year.
With over 25 years of experience teaching swim lessons—starting with the City of Downey—she has helped countless swimmers develop strong fundamentals and confidence in the water. She also brings club coaching experience and a strong commitment to athlete development at various levels.
In addition to her coaching, she is a dedicated educator, currently in her 20th year of teaching.
She is also a proud swim mom to three boys who swim with Lakewood Aquatics, continuing the family’s strong connection to the sport.
Coach Rebecca is passionate about fostering a positive and supportive environment for young athletes to grow both in and out of the water.
