The coaching team at DMSF are our athletes' teachers, counselors and biggest cheerleaders over the course of their career in the pool. Meet the DMSF coaching staff!
Gwen Sorensen, Head Coach
Email: [email protected]
What is your swimming experience?
I’ve always loved the water. I started competitively swimming at the age of 10 at the Ankeny YMCA, then swam at CIA when I was in my teens.
After high school, I swam at Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) in many different events. I had multiple records while I was there, and currently hold the record for the 1000 and 1650 free. I attended the NJCAA Nationals and placed 2nd in 1650 free, 5th in the 400 IM, 7th in the 200 Breast, and top 7 in the relays (backstroke).
What is your coaching experience?
I started my coaching career at the Ankeny YMCA as an assistant coach in my teens. While swimming at ICCC, I was an assistant coach for the Fort Dodge Rec Team (we got first that year at state). After coaching in Fort Dodge, I continued coaching the Ankeny Aquahawks (we placed first and second at YMCA state). The five years before coming to DMSF, I coached at Riptide.
Do you have additional experience with DMSF?
I competed against many of my friends that swam for DMSF and my brother swam for DMSF for a few years.
What is your coaching philosophy?
Athlete-oriented. I strive to help athletes reach their potential while having fun. Also, I know that we can’t all be IMers (we may not all be the fastest in all four strokes), but I believe everyone should know how to swim all four strokes.
What is your favorite swimming stroke?
All of them! I loved the 400 IM when I was swimming and enjoy coaching all the strokes. If you make me pick one to be my favorite, it would probably be the breaststroke because of how aggressive and beautiful it can be.
What do you do for fun?
I enjoy swimming and working on my artwork. I also like hanging out with friends and family.
Who is your support system?
I’d like to mention my mom and dad, Al and Nicki Sorensen because without them I would have never found the sport I love (swimming). My brother Adric, who was a distance swimmer up until his senior year of high school when he changed to sprinter, went to college for swimming.
Ethan Johnston, National Team & Distance Coach
Email: [email protected]
What is your swimming experience?
I swam for DMAC (now DMSF), DMSF and Lincoln High School throughout high school. I played water polo at the University of Iowa and with Des Moines Water Polo Club. I was mostly a sprinter (anything but breaststroke) until I got to high school. In high school, I was an all-state backstroke swimmer and top-10 butterfly swimmer.
What is your coaching experience?
I have been a coach for 15+ years at multiple clubs and most levels of swimming, including assistant coach at Central Iowa Aquatics and DMSF and head coach at the Ankeny YMCA, Dowling Catholic Riptide, Roosevelt High School and Echo Valley Country Club.
I have coached multiple high school All-American swimmers, Junior National and National qualifiers and an Olympic Trials qualifier. All the swimmers I have coached that wanted to swim in college are currently swimming at either the D1, D2 or D3 levels in college.
Do you have additional experience with DMSF?
My parents were part of a group of families that started DMAC (now DMSF) in 1982. The team became the most dominant team this state has ever seen for about the first 20 years in existence. My goal is to get the team back to that position in Iowa and nationally. I coached at DMSF for two years before becoming the head coach at Riptide. I was on the DMSF staff that won the Iowa Swimming coaching staff of the year.
What is your coaching philosophy?
If I am forced to label my coaching style, I would say it is athlete-centered and relationship-based coaching. Every bit of success I’ve had as a coach has come from believing that swimmers can achieve more than they believe. Give swimmers the tools, teach them how to work and watch them grow beyond everyone’s expectations. I believe most great swimming is the result of great preparation, a great attitude and a belief that nothing is out of reach if you put in the effort.
What is your favorite swimming stroke?
I like all the strokes. Backstroke is probably my favorite stroke because I swam it fairly well and have coached many really good backstroke swimmers. I love that backstroke can be both beautiful and violent at the same time.
What do you do for fun?
I dabble in quiet a few hobbies…I make a pretty mean beef jerky. I play really bad guitar. I love to grow and make things out of really hot peppers. I enjoy grilling and smoking meat. I still love to play water polo when time allows.
Who is your support system?
I have been married to my lovely wife Maya for almost 25 years. We have three kids: Maddie, Lydia and Hayden. All have been, or continue to be, swimmers. We have two dogs (Louie and Molly) and a cat (Abby).
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Arkady Lichinsky, Lead Sprint Coach
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Julie Seckington, Assistant Coach
Email: [email protected]
What is your swimming experience?
I started swimming competitively when I was six years old. I swam at Hyperion, the YMCA and DMSF (one year) until high school. I swam varsity for Dowling all four years, went to state as a relay swimmer and was captain my senior year. I’ve always loved the relationships that are built around the swimming world.
What is your coaching experience?
I started coaching in my teens at Hyperion for six years and then continued in Wisconsin while in college. I have been an assistant coach at DMSF since 2017.
Do you have additional experience with DMSF?
I started as a DMSF swimmer when I was 13 for a short time. When I returned to live in Des Moines as a mom, I introduced my daughter Coral to the team.
What is your coaching philosophy?
Swimming is an amazing lifelong sport. It is something that helps strengthen individuals both physically and mentally, and a great way to learn responsibility. I enjoy seeing kids take on challenges and celebrate those accomplishments. I like to work with all kids to help them achieve their goals and have fun doing it.
What is your favorite swimming stroke?
My favorite swimming stroke is freestyle. I was a sprinter, and the 50 free was my favorite. When I was little, I liked backstroke best because I did not have to worry about holding my breath.
What do you do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I like to listen to music, read, knit, and of course, swim when I can.
Who is your support system?
I live with my daughter Coral. She swims in the gold group. My niece has also become a part of our team and is in the silver group. When I am not with my own family or swim family, I am an elementary teacher in Des Moines.
Annie Stec, Assistant Coach
Email: [email protected]
What is your swimming experience?
I grew up swimming at DMSF and swam for Valley High School.
What is your coaching experience?
I have been coaching for DMSF for a little over a year. I love being on the pool deck with such great athletes!
Do you have additional experience with DMSF?
Both of my daughters swim for DMSF, so I get to participate as both a coach and parent.
What is your coaching philosophy?
As a coach, I think it is just as important to tell swimmers what they are doing right as it is to give them technique tips. Encouragement is a powerful tool!
What is your favorite swimming stroke?
Breaststroke!
What do you do for fun?
I love to explore new places, spend time outside, play games and work on creative projects. The best is when I get to do it all with my family.
Who is your support system?
I am married to my best friend, Tony, and we have three amazing kids: Sienna, Weston and Sophia.
Tim Brown, Assistant Coach
Email: [email protected]
What is your swimming experience?
I started swimming competitively for the Northwest Jaycees at age eight. After moving up to a series of AAU teams, Pester Derby, Steelers, etc., I swam for coach Dave Linder at Hoover. In those days we were conference champs over Valley and swam our JV against Dowling. I left Hoover with several records, of which the 100 Fly still remains, perhaps the oldest record at a Des Moines high school. I swam 200 Fly in college for Texas A&M University.
What is your coaching experience?
I started coaching as a 15-year-old, in charge of the 6 and under group at Echo Valley Country Club. Still my favorite job ever. I have coached ever since at many levels, including starting an age group team at Hoover that competed against the Otters. While head coach at Hoover in the 90s, I gave CIA lane space and became their first assistant coach. I coached 20 years for CIA, did a short stint at Lifetime when they first opened, joined Ethan at Riptide, then followed him to DMSF. Three of my Echo Valley swimmers, including Ethan and brothers Eddy and Evan are still coaching swimming today.
Do you have additional experience with DMSF?
Over the summers on my return from college, I swam for the precursor to DMSF, coached then by Mike Burton. One of my prodigies, Gil Squires, was one of the first DMSF coaches. All told, more than 30 of my former swimmers became coaches, including Landon, Gwen and Ethan, and I couldn’t be happier to work with such a great staff.
What is your coaching philosophy?
My coaching philosophy is that every swimmer is different and has a motivation all their own. Finding that is key, and I strive to do that by creating an environment where the pool is a sanctuary where everyone feels safe and welcome. Learning to work together and encourage each other is a powerful skill that can be used in every facet of life.
Who is your support system?
I am grateful for the support of my wife, Melinda, and our boys Blaise and Aidan, as well as my six sisters, two brothers, Dad and Barbara and my extended Des Moines swimming family. Swimmers are winners!
Kelsey Hudson, Assistant Coach
Email: [email protected]
What is your swimming experience?
I started competitively swimming on the DMSF "Metro" team when I was 8 years old, and moved to swim for DMSF a year or two later. My brother and I both swam for DMSF and later for Valley High School until we went to college. I swam at the state meet my sophomore, junior, and senior years, and was lucky to be on the relay team that won the 200 Medley Relay at the High School Girls State Meet in 2002. I tried to walk onto the Truman State University women's team in 2002, but after I didn't make the cut, I jumped into coaching. I've always loved the sport, and I continue to love watching my own children improve!
What is your coaching experience?
I was lucky enough to become a "student assistant coach" at Truman State University for three years. While in Kirksville, I also coached the local club team, the AquaDogs. When I came back to West Des Moines, I coached the Prairie Life Swim Team, had a short stint at DMSF, and then settled into several years as the Junior Varsity coach for the Valley High School Men's Swimming Team. I took a few years off (three children will do that), but the sport always drew me back in.
Do you have additional experience with DMSF?
I swam for DMSF for all of my swimming career, so when my own children started swimming, we came to DMSF. :) My daughter, Natalie, swims with the Silver Group, and my son Thomas is in Super Group. I also completed my Stroke and Turn and Administrative Official certifications, so I can help DMSF in a myriad of ways.
What is your coaching philosophy?
Swimming is a unique, challenging, and rewarding sport. It's mentally and physically demanding, so I feel that it's important to be an encouraging and positive presence on the pool deck. I want swimmers to love the sport, create lasting bonds with their teammates, and have excellent sportsmanship both in and out of the pool. I tend to focus on helping swimmers improve their technique so that they can swim correctly and legally while gaining speed and power in the water.
What is your favorite swimming stroke?
Although I love coaching all four strokes, Breaststroke was "my stroke" growing up, so that is what I love. Some athletes find it challenging to really "race" breaststroke, so it's a fun stroke to coach as well.
What do you do for fun?
I enjoy hanging out, hiking, and playing games with my family. I also love to read. As a World History Teacher, I enjoy traveling both in the United States and internationally to broaden my perspectives.
Who is your support system?
I'm so blessed by my family. My husband, Greg, and three kids are just plain awesome. I'm also lucky to have my mom (a former DMSF board member and swim mom) in the Des Moines area.
Tim Hansen, Assistant Coach
Email: [email protected]
What is your swimming experience?
My competitive swimming began at the Echo Valley Country Club when I was 4 years old. My father was a long-time swim coach and aquatics director, so I spent virtually every summer day at the pool. I swam for the North Side Otters during junior high and went to Hoover High School, where I participated in four sports. I had multiple top-six finishes at the High School State Championships, including a first place and two-time runner-up in the 100 yard breaststroke. I went on to swim at Iowa State University for the next four years. I was a member of the 1994 Big 8 championship winning team and was a three time All-Iowa State Strength and Conditioning Team award winner. In 2012, I was honored to be inducted into the Iowa High School Swimming Hall of Fame.
What is your coaching experience?
I began coaching and teaching swim lessons at Des Moines Golf & Country Club in 1990 and continued coaching/teaching there for 16 years. In 1999, I was hired as an assistant coach with the Iowa State Cyclones. I assisted women's head coach Duane Sorenson with recruiting and I also facilitated dryland/strength workouts and assisted head coach Tripp Hedrick on deck with the men's program until the program was cut in 2001. I have since continued teaching private swim lessons to a wide variety of swimmers from beginners to nationally ranked age group, masters, and triathlete swimmers.
What is your coaching philosophy?
My coaching philosophy is that every single athlete is different. Their goals, their challenges, and their motivations. Honest, straightforward communication is key. Swimming is not an easy sport to compete in. Keeping swimmers excited and motivated to improve is done through ownership of their own experience. Creating a true, team atmosphere makes the hardest workouts more enjoyable.
What is your favorite swimming stroke?
Breastroke. IM.
What do you do for fun?
Anything outdoors. I enjoy kayaking, fishing, hunting and exploring. I enjoy traveling to remote areas, eating local foods and experiencing different cultures.
Who is your support system?
I am blessed to have a supportive family, close friends, former teammates and coaches to rely on.
Brenda Peshak, Assistant Coach
Email: [email protected]
What is your swimming experience?
I swim with US Masters swim team at Lifetime in the mornings. I came to competitive swimming later in life but have done several competitions as part of US Masters Swimming. I have experienced the nerves off the blocks and getting DQ’d for not doing the strokes correctly. I know how hard the kids work at meets and the pressure they feel. I swam one year on the swim team in Ames when I was 12 and then we moved. I didn't keep swimming after the move and I wish I would have. Swimming took a long time to come back into my life, but I am really glad it did. My Masters coach says I have a real feel for the water, and I will say when I do freestyle with paddles it does feel like I could swim it forever.
What is your coaching experience?
I have helped out at meets getting events written on arms or lining up kids to get them to their lanes. I also help every week with the Chess Club at my daughter’s school and teach kids how to play and give suggestions or just observe the play.
Do you have additional experience with DMSF?
My daughter swims for DMSF and my Masters Coach encouraged me to apply to be a coach with DMSF.
What is your coaching philosophy?
Have fun. Learn hard things and work to make them easy. Each kid is different and finding how to talk to them where they are at is what we should do as a coach.
What is your favorite swimming stroke?
I love backstroke. I find it is a fun stroke that allows me to breathe the whole time. I would say a very close second is breaststroke. It is a hard stroke to get right but that's part of the fun of swimming it, plus I get to breathe on every stroke.
What do you do for fun?
I watercolor paint and other art-related projects/crafts. I have been working on my drawing skills and am trying to improve my free-hand drawing so I can watercolor the ideas in my head. I also do some gardening, trying to get native plants into my front yard to help support the pollinators.
Who is your support system?
I have been married for 13 years this year, to my husband Scott. We have one daughter, Fiona who also swims. We also have four cats all named for famous people in Aviation: Orville, Wilbur, Emma and Amelia.
