Alberta Development Coach of the year (2011-2012) - Awarded by Swim Alberta

Dr Jeno Tihanyi Memorial Bursary 2021-2022 (Coach & Swimmer) - Awarded by Swim Canada

Emma enters her 20th year with the club for the 2025-2026 season, having progressed from an assistant coach in 2007 to her current role as Head Coach.    Emma is a former competitive swimming of 11 years in the United Kingdom and British National Age Group Champion in multi-sport (Swim, Run, Shoot) and British Nationals age group competitior in cross-country and 1500m Track.

Emma has coached athletes from the Junior levels to the International stage including serving as Zone 2 coach for the Alberta Summer Games in 2012 and 2014. 

Emma also has almost 2 decades of involvement with Okotoks Masters Swim Club as President, Head Coach and Swimmer.

Emma is passionate about creating a fun, challenging and supportive environment that develops technical excellence, powerful underwater skills, strength & flexibility, nutrition and mental readiness - preparing swimmers for competition and lifelong sucess in sport and beyond.

For the 2025-2026 Season, Emma will be coaching the Performance group aswell as overseeing the entire program.

Abby’s love for competitive swimming began at the age of 8 when she joined the local swim club with her twin sister, Emma Hesterman and it wasn’t long before swimming became a huge part of their life. Abby has many fond memories of travelling all over the UK and to Europe for competitions while forming friendships that have lasted a lifetime. In her teens, Abby was a national age group swimmer and went on to swim for the varsity team at Loughborough University (UK). Abby was also a successful multi-sport athlete and won both the British Triathlon (swim/run/shoot) and Biathlon (swim/run) Championships and competed for Great Britain in Biathlon. After graduating university, Abby’s love for swimming continued and she swims with Masters to this day.

Abby holds a bachelor’s degree with honours in Human Biological Sciences and a postgraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. She worked in clinical paediatrics in the UK, but her love for sport led her to specialize in sports nutrition and she has spent the past 15 years helping athletes fuel correctly for optimum performance. She is the author of the book  Eat Right, Swim Faster  and is the Sports Nutrition Instructor for the International Swim Coaches Association (ISCA).

Abby is the proud mother of 2024 World Champion and double Olympian Finlay Knox.  Fin swam for Okotoks Mavericks Swimming from the age of 7 until he moved to the National Training Centre in Toronto at the age of 18.

Abby will be returning for her 10th season with Okotoks Mavericks Swimming. Her focus is excellence in stroke technique, and she strives to bring out the very best in her athletes by encouraging good work ethic, fun, and great team spirit.

Abby is the author of 'Eat Right, Swim Faster' and she will provide regular nutrition sessions for the top groups and prepare all the nutrition plans for team travel meets and training camps.

Abby will be coaching the Mavericks Provincials & Mavericks Development Groups for the 2025-2026 season.

Emilia brings 16 years of competitive swimming experience, having spent her age group career with Okotoks Mavericks Swimming and then going onto compete at the varsity level with the University of Lethbridge.   A five-time USports National Finalist, she raced at the National level throughout her career and capped it off by competing at the 2022 Canadian World Championship and Commonwealth Games Trials.   Emilia was proud to finish her varsity career as Team Captain and MVP of the UofL Pronghorns swim team.   Her passion for swimming extends beyond competition, Emilia has coached across multiple clubs and age groups, including LASC in Lethbridge and Okotoks Stingrays Summer Swim Club and most recently worked as Assistant Head Coach for the University of Lethbridge Varsity Swim Team following her graduation and retirement from competitive swimming.

By day, Emilia is the Aquatic Supervisor in High River where she applies her deep knowledge of aquatic safety and her training as a certified lifeguard and instructor.

As a coach, Emilia takes a holistic approach, focusing on stroke development, physical literacy and the mental skills needed to thrive in both training and competition.   Emilia is excited to return to coaching and looks forwad to helping young swimmings grow in and out of the pool. 

 
Emilia will be coaching and leading the Senior Mavs group for the 2025-2026 season.

Robyns’ love of the pool and competitive swimming started at age 9, when she joined her local club in her hometown of Kelowna, BC. She continued swimming into high school, until she had to focus on a different sport that took her on a path to playing at the collegiate level during her studies at Camosun College in Victoria, BC.

Robyn returned to the pool and started competing as a masters swimmer, and continues that journey to this day. She loves any sport to do with water, most notably, off tune karaoke wakesurfing during the Kelowna summer months. She is the mom of two young girls, one of whom is still with the club.

She is an organized natural leader, who is eager to learn, and sharpen her skills in the coaching world.  A crucial component for Robyn, is that the kids have fun, while developing a love for the sport of swimming. She believes this is an essential and basic building block for their future development. She is excited to celebrate and guide the young swimmers towards their potential improvements and successes in the upcoming season.

Robyn will be coaching the Rogues and Jaws groups for the 2025-2026 season.

Julia swam for several years in BC and when she moved to Okotoks, she finished up her age group swimming with Okotoks Mavericks Swimming.  Julia also works as a Lifeguard and swim instructor for the Okotoks Recreation Centre.    Julia continues to practice her love for swimming by competing in Lifesaving sport. 

Julia will be coaching the Breakers and Junior Mavs groups for the 2025-2026 season.

Sofiya has been involved in competitive swimming for over 10 years with her passion for the sport  continuing to grow throughout her career.  After moving to Okotoks in 2022, she competed an exciting additional season with Okotoks Mavericks Swimming.   In 2023 Sofiya proudly represented her zone at the Alberta Summer Games, earning multiple podium finishes.   

Sofiya has also served as an assistant coach with both Okotoks Mavericks Swimming and the Okotoks Stingrays Summer Swim Club.    Sofiya is passionate about inspiring young athletes and striving to guide swimmers toward their goals while keeping the joy of the sport at the heart of their journey.

Sofiya will be assisting with the Senior Mavs group for the 2025-2026 season.

Cora has been a Okotoks Mavericks competive swimmer for 11 years.   Cora has also been volunteer coaching for the last several years with our club and more recently with the Okotoks Stingrays Summer Club this past season. Cora will continue to swim in the Performance group for her Grade 12 school season before she ventures to University next year.   Cora has completed all her neccessary coaching certifications, NCCP 101 and ICS programs and will be starting as her 1st year of coaching. 

Cora will be coaching the Waves 1 group for the 2025-2026 season. 

Rylee started swimming in 2018 with the Okotoks Stingrays Summer Swim Club and has swam with Okotoks Mavericks Swimming since 2021.  Swimming has been one of Rylees favourite activities since she was very young.   Swimming has taught Rylee the skill of dedication, discipline & patience to get results.   Rylee quickly came through the groups and is now in the top group (Performance)  Unfortunately Rylee has been taught how patience has had a big role to play while she heals from a shoulder injury and surgery to continue her love of competitive swimming.     

Rylee will continue to swim in the Performance group for her last year of age group swimming while completing her Grade 12 education.   Rylee has volunteered for several years including this past season with the Okotoks Stingrays Summer Swim Club.   Rylie has completed all her coaching certifications, NCCP 101 and ICS programs.

Rylee will be coaching the Waves 1 group for the 2025-2026 season.

Leah has been swimming competitively for 11 years.   Leah graduated her swimming career in 2024 and has successfully finished her 1st year in Engineering at the University of Calgary.  She has a love and passion for the swimming community and is honoured that she will returning to coach for her 2nd season for Mavericks.   Leah is a qualifed and certified NCCP 101 coach and ICS (ICanSwim) teacher.

For the 2025-2026 Season.  Leah will be coaching the Rookies 1 & 2 Groups and Waves 2 group.

Ellie began swimming competitively at the age of 6 with the Alberta Marlins Aquatics Club (AMAC) in Medicine Hat.  In 2018, she joined  Okotoks Mavericks Swimming after moving to Okotoks.

Last year, Ellie volunteered as  Junior Coach with the Okotoks Stingrays Summer Swim Club and went on to coach for the club during the 2025 summer season.   Ellie is passionate about coaching and inspriring a lifelong love of swimming in young athletes.    Ellie is also a qualfied Lifeguard as well as a certified Lifesaving and Swimming instructor/Examiner.    Ellie has also completed all our necessary Coaching certifications.  NCCP 101 and ICS programs.  

Ellie will be coaching the Rookies 1 and 2 and Waves 2 groups for the 2025-2026 season.

The President is accountable for effective club governance and MAVS Board and membership adherence to the club's bylaws.  The President chairs the Board of Directors meetings and casts a vote on board member motions only in the event of a tie. The President has overall responsibility to ensure that MAVS has the personnel and processes in place to deliver a highly effective competitive swimming program to the community.

This is an elected position with a two-year term as per Club Bylaws.

The Vice-President is accountable for effective Club governance and MAVS Board and Membership adherence to the Club's By-laws. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President chairs the Board of Directors meetings and casts a vote on Board Member motions only in the event of a tie.

This is an elected position with a two-year term as per Club Bylaws.

The Treasurer is accountable for the administration of the financial affairs of the club. The Treasurer is an executive member of the MAVS Board of Directors and is responsible to produce accurate financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

This is an elected position with a two-year term as per the Club Bylaws.

The Secretary is responsible for ensuring that accurate and sufficient documentation of all club business exists to meet legal requirements, and to enable authorized persons to determine when, how, and by whom the board's business was conducted. The Secretary is the official record keeper for the club.

The Membership Director is accountable for the planning and execution of membership registration which includes the registering of coaches and swimmers with Swim Alberta and other applicable governing bodies. The Membership Director also acts as the main club contact for Swim Alberta on all issues related to swimmer and club registration.

This is an elected position with a two year term as per the club bylaws.

The Fundraising Director works in consultation with the Board of Directors who sets the annual fundraising strategy and financial goals for the club and is accountable for the organization and execution of club fundraisers.  

This is an elected position with a two-year term as per the Club Bylaws.

The Meet Manager is accountable for the clubs home hosted meets as competitive opportunites for the club's swimmers and to achieve fundraising goals. The Meet Manager is accountable for planning and coordinating home meets, including listing meet dates, sanctions and posting results from Swim Canada.  The meet Manager also ensures our meets have qualified Senior Officials and promotes the training of club officials in association with the Officials Director.

This is an elected postion with a two-year term as per the Club Bylaws.

The Equipment Manager is accountable for our vendor relationships and is responsible for the procurement and distribution of team equipment. In particular this role is the key contact for team uniforms, other team apparel, training equipment, awards and medals.

This is an elected position with a two-year term as per the Club Bylaws.

The Aquatic Sports Advocate is responsible for government and public relations for Okotoks Mavericks Swimming.  As the Safe Sport Officer, this person is charged with promoting an enviroment where all Mavericks feel safe and respected as a community by following the principles outlined in the Safe Sporting Enviroment Guiding Principle Statement as outlined by Swim Alberta.

This is an electeed postion with a two-year term as per the club bylaws.