Meet Our Coaches and Board Members

 

 

   

Sarah Bradley, Head Coach - Swim School, Pre-Comp, Bronze, Silver and Masters

Email: [email protected]

Coach Sarah grew up in Gresham, OR as a multi-sport athlete from age 8 (primary sports were swimming, water polo, and softball). She competed at the Jr. National level in water polo, traveling to competitions across the US, Canada, and Brazil. She then swam and played water polo for San Diego State University on a water polo scholarship, winning 3rd at Nationals in 1996 and 1997. Sarah started teaching swimming at age 16 and continued teaching and coaching in various capacities through college. In 2002 she became a certificated elementary school teacher, specializing in early elementary, Reading Specialist, and Special Education.  In 2010, Sarah became a Swim Lesson Coordinator, running a large learn to swim and developmental swim team program for about 10 years. During this time, she became actively involved in American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) and United States Masters Swimming (USMS) certification programs and trainings/clinics. Currently, ASCA Level 5 educated and USMS coach level 3 certified. Member of the ASCA Mentor program 2021-2023 and serving as an ASCA Ambassador in the 23-24 cohort.

Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband, two dogs, and extended family and friends. Her son, who grew up as a competitive swimmer, is now an adult and serves in the US Navy.

 

Candi Eslinger, Assistant Coach - Gold 

Coach Eslinger brings over 30 years of competitive swimming and coaching experience to the Ellensburg Area Swim Team.  Growing up as a competitive swimmer, she swam through the ranks of age-group club swimming, high school swimming, and was a member of the CWU Swim Team from 1986-1988.  

 

Eslinger earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in fashion design from Central Washington University in 1991 and returned to earn a teaching degree in health education and family and consumer sciences education.

 

Before being hired as the Gold group for EAST, Eslinger was head coach of the Ellensburg High School Girls Swim Team from 2017-2021 & 2004-2006, she was the Head Coach for EAST from 1991-1999, 2006-2012, & 2014-2017. From 1999-2003 Eslinger was the Head Women’s & Men’s Swimming Coach at CWU. Eslinger has coached swimmers at all levels from Regionals, Zones, Sectionals, Junior and Senior National competition, and Collegiate Nationals.

 

Laurie Holt, Assistant Coach

Coach Laurie grew up swimming competitively from age 5 through college.  While swimming with CWU she was top three in nationals for the  200, 500 and 1650 freestyle.  She has coached 3 years for EAST and one year as assistant coach for Ellensburg High School.  She is also a certificated high school special education teacher and brings a strong educational background to her coaching practices.
 
Outside of swimming, Laurie has been married 24 wonderful years and stays busy with her 4 children, ages 14 - 21.  She also enjoys being outside in the sunshine for hiking, kayaking and camping and stays in shape with crossfit.
 
 
Mariah Roseman, Assistant Coach - Bronze and Silver
Mariah swam year-round club from the ages of seven to fourteen and then joined Mark Morris High School’s swim team in Longview, WA. In high school, she swam the 100 butterfly and 200 IM in districts! Since high school, Mariah has taught swim lessons and is now coaching on EAST!  She is currently a student at CWU working toward a BS in Child Development and Family Science.
 

Josh Nelson-Ichido, Official Coordinator, Assistant Coach

Josh Nelson-Ichido grew up swimming for the Barracuda Swim Team in the Wenatchee area in the 90s through the early 2000s, swam on the Eastmont Highschool boys team and was team captain his senior year, then joined CWU’s water polo team while completing his undergraduate degree. After his time at CWU, Josh lived in Japan, San Diego, CA, and Lansing, MI while pursuing his professional and graduate educational goals; but no matter where he was, he always found time to be in the water.

Josh is now a Professor of Communication at CWU and the Officials Coordinator for EAST. He also started helping on deck as an assistant coach starting in late 2022 and has worked with swimmers from our Precomp groups all the way through our Gold group. Both Josh and his two children are swimmers for EAST as well; with Josh joining the Masters team in 2022.

 

Jenna Henscheid, Assistant Coach - Swim School

Coach Jenna grew up in Boise, Idaho swimming with the Boise YMCA Swim Team and Centennial High School. In her senior year of high school, she achieved top-three finishes at the Idaho State Swim Championship and the Idaho State Solo Competition on flute.

 

Jenna holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance and Music Education, followed by a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on arts integration. With 14 years of teaching experience, Jenna instructs private flute lessons and serves as an elementary music teacher in the Ellensburg School District.

 

Her love of swimming has brought her back to the water to compete in open water events, triathlons, and most recently, in joining the Ellensburg Masters Swim Team and the coaching staff at EAST.

 

 

Kelly Pritchett, Board President, Substitute Coach

Kelly Pritchett is a former collegiate swimmer for the University of Alabama swimming and diving team and a member of the Southeastern Conference team (1999-2003). She started coaching swimming at age 16 and continued in various capacities through college as a Graduate Assistant for the University of Alabama aquatics. Pritchett is a Professor in Sports Nutrition at Central Washington University and serves as the Director of Sports Nutrition for CWU Athletics. As a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, she has consulted with both elite and collegiate athletes as well as with active individuals. Kelly has a consulting business (TriDimensional Consulting) along with her husband Robert where she provides nutrition education and coaching. She served as a National Media Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for 6 years and has authored multiple pieces for Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine on topics related to nutrition for the female athlete. In her spare time, she enjoys running and spending time with her three active boys who are active members of the EAST swim team.
 

Jaymi Williams, Board Vice President, Assistant Coach

Jaymi grew up swimming competitively in Oregon on the Tualatin Hills Swim Club. She was the anchor of the same "A" relay team for 6 years, ranking top 8-16 nationally each year. They held a few club and state records. Her high school team went on to win state in 1993. Eventually, she dabbled in triathlons and off road triathlons with a few fun achievements sprinkled here and there. She currently enjoys swimming in the mornings with EAST Masters. Jaymi's daughter also swims for EAST. Jaymi recently earned her coach certification to help out the EAST swimmers!

Alicia Burson, Treasurer

Alicia is the business manager and designer of Keigh Design – a local graphic design company founded by her mother. She is the current Treasurer for the board and thrives on streamlining the work processes to improve the bottom line. Alicia joined the EAST board in 2021 to support her two swimmers and a program she believes is important to children’s mental and physical learning and growth.

 

She is married with two beautiful step-children who joined the swim team in 2018.

 

 

 

Megan Dickinson, Safe Sport Coordinator

 

My name is Megan Dickinson, I am married to Jared Dickinson, I have two kids, Lily and Miles, two dogs, Hopper and Talley, one cat, Poe, and I work at CWU in the Law and Justice Department. 
 
I have loved the water since before I can remember, was in the pool before I could walk and joined the Billings, MT YMCA USA Swimming Team at age 5, was captain of my highschool swim team, was a lifeguard for the city pool all the way through highschool, taught swim lessons at the YMCA in Houston, TX and Coached the YMCA Swim Team in Phoenix before moving to Ellensburg where both my kids are on the team and I serve on the board.
 
 

Joylyn Schneider, Fundraising Coordinator