My high school teams have been very successful because they are like a family.. always working to improve while having a great time together.

My philosophy is that when you have even a bit of success at any task, you will keep trying harder.

 

 

 

 

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Coach Don Cisar

I have been involved in competitive swimming beginning at age 7.  

My junior and senior years of high school, I qualified for the Y Nationals in a total of 11 events.  I swam 4 years at Cleveland State University in the backstroke and IM.  I  earned 3 varsity letters and was co-captain my senior year.  I coached a couple of age group programs while in college. 

In 1986, I became the head boys' coach for Westlake High School.  In 1992, I became the head girls' coach as well.  During my tenure at Westlake, I coached 2 state champions and numerous state qualifiers.  Our teams had won numerous conference titles and my swimmers earned 7 conference coach of the year awards for me.  In 2007, I became the volunteer assistant coach at Amherst Steele High School and the Vermilion Y Torpedoes. 

My philosophy is simple, teach the proper technique, train with purpose, and have fun performing in the meets.  I have found this to be a great recipe for success, which I look forward to sharing with the Killer Whales.

 

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Coach Michael

Michael Mercado has been swimming since 2019 and has developed a deep appreciation for the environment that competitive swimming provides for both young and old. He swam for three years at DeLand High School and regularly participated in the Florida Swimming Senior Championships with our club. Michael is currently pursuing an AA degree at Daytona State College and plans to further his education at a university, aiming to earn a master's degree in exercise physiology.

"Swimming has been my main outlet for life and choice of athletics. Without this sport, I have no idea where I would be."

With over five years of experience and knowledge gained through his commitment to the sport, Michael is now passing on his expertise to the next generation. As a coach, he is passionate about helping swimmers improve, even if it’s just a small amount each day. His goal is to teach swimmers the fundamentals and mechanics of all strokes, build their endurance and racing skills, and prepare them to showcase what they have learned and practiced on meet day.

 

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Coach Noah

Noah Evans, an All-American Swimmer and former state champion, has seamlessly translated his passion for swimming into coaching. 

Noah's coaching journey with us began in 2021, immediately impacting our Junior and Senior groups. With his exceptional achievements in high school, at Jr. Nationals, and as a pivotal member of the Florida Zone's top team, Noah brings invaluable experience to our club. Committed to continuous learning, Noah shapes aspiring swimmers, inspiring them to achieve greatness in and out of the pool. His continued athletic accomplishments since high school, including multiple gold and silver medals in rowing championships, add to his exceptional coaching repertoire.

Noah recently graduated with an Economics degree while rowing for the University of Alabama.

 

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Coach Billy

Billy Price is a Florida native who has been involved in sport from an early age. He has two kids who have competed at high levels in volleyball and swimming, and he has played an active role in their growth.  

 

Billy first began coaching as a triathlon coach 8 years ago. He has coached athletes of all abilities, and his patient and attentive approach allows his athletes to achieve their goals: from running their first 5k to finishing a full Ironman. Prior to becoming an Ironman certified triathlon coach, he ran Seminole County Triathletes for 10 years, where he brought together over 250 local athletes, providing a community for sports enthusiasts ranging from first timers (through his sought-out "couch to sprint triathlon" program) to established triathletes and Kona qualifiers.  

 

Billy currently runs the West Volusia Killer Whales Masters program. He is a US Masters Swimming coach and has found enormous success coaching swimmers of all abilities. Billy has the expertise to guide those with no experience to build efficient and effective strokes in a fun and welcoming environment. At the same time, he can tweak more experienced swimmers' strokes to give them the extra speed they seek. Additionally, he finds creative and fun ways to help the masters swimmers build endurance. As with his triathlon athletes, Billy finds immense joy in seeing the progress and success his masters group has experienced, and he welcomes athletes of all abilities to come try a class with the West Volusia Killer Whales Masters group. 

 

 

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Coach Alexia

Alexia began swimming at a very young age, inspired by her father who shared his passion for the sport with his children. He was a member of the national team in his home country, and as Alexia grew older, she became motivated to pursue swimming as far as she could. Through her time swimming with West Volusia, she built a successful high school career, eventually becoming team captain and finishing her senior year with the goal of competing at a higher level.

She accomplished that goal by committing to swim at the State University of New York at Oswego, where she earned a degree in Wellness Management with minors in Athletic Coaching and Health Science. A proud alumna of Oswego State Swimming and Diving, Alexia was honored to serve as a leader and captain for three years.

Now, she is passionate about sharing her experiences not only through coaching but also by teaching others the joy of being part of a team and contributing to something greater than themselves. She believes swimming teaches valuable life lessons and finds fulfillment in helping both children and adults learn, grow, and discover their potential through the sport.

 

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Coach Summer

Summer is a college student at Daytona State pursuing her surgical technician degree. This is her third year of coaching, and she loves her job. She coaches the Novice and Junior groups.

She was a swimmer throughout high school, and her favorite strokes were breaststroke and freestyle. She was a Killer Whale swimmer as well. She qualified for regionals in two individual events and two relays for three years in high school.

Her favorite swim memories are of her little sister Coral cheering her on. Now, Coach Summer is cheering on Coral who is a swimmer for New Smyrna Beach High School. In her free time, she loves fishing, hunting, and spending time on the beach. She brings pure joy to the pool deck and has such a great rapport with her swimmers. Her coaching future looks so bright!