John Fedena - Program Director and Head Coach
Coach John was named Head Coach in July 2021. He brings over 27 years of coaching experience from all over the country. Currently, John serves on the Middle Atlantic LSC Senior Committee and was named a coach for the 2022 Tri-State Cup All Star Team. He was very honored to be selected as the Head Manager for the USA Swimming Western Zone Select Camp in San Diego in June 2022.
Coaching Career -
John's first coaching job was with DST from 1996 to 1998!
John has coached multiple NCAA Division One All-Americans, served on USA Swimming Select Camps throughout the country, and countless swimmers who have achieved Sectional, Futures, Junior National, National, and Olympic Trials standards.
He is an ASCA Level 4 coach and has extensive experience with dryland and strength conditioning with swimmers of all ages. He was a member of the North Carolina LSC Board of Directors and the USA Swimming Southern Zone as the Age Group Chair.
In 2016, John was a nominee for National Age Group Coach of the Year by ASCA. John has coached with four Gold Medal USA Swimming Clubs and has spent eight years coaching at the collegiate level.
His coaching stops include Florida State University, New Mexico State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Georgia, where the woman’s team won two national championships. He spent five years as a division lead coach with SwimMAC Carolina, a club that has produced multiple Olympians. While in Charlotte, the 11-12 boys broke two (2) National Age Group Records in the 400 Medley and 400 Free Relays. The club also earned a Junior National Team Championship.
Prior to coming to DST, John served as the Head Age Group Coach at Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics (AGUA) in Manhattan, New York. Multiple swimmers John worked with were top JO finishers and USA Swimming Zone Select Camps participants.
Personal -
He is a native of New Castle, Delaware, learning to swim at the Western YMCA, racing with the Penn Acres Swim Club in the Suburban Swim League, and graduating from William Penn High School. He was a four-year varsity swimmer for the University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Coaching Science. In 2001, he completed a Masters degree in Exercise Science and Biomechanics at the University of Georgia.
Matthew Aungst - Assistant Head Coach and Meet Director
Coaching Career –
Coach Matt began coaching with DST in 2009. During his career, he has coached every age group and swim lessons. Currently, Coach Matt serves as Meet Director and Lead Site Coach at Pike Creek. Coach Matt earned his ASCA Level 3 certification, which only 20% of all coaches achieve.
He started coaching in 2002 with Team Delaware. Coach Matt swam for Skyline Swim Club in the Suburban Swim League and coached there in the early 2000’s. He attended the University of Delaware, where is swam from 2000-2004, earning both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.
Personal –
Coach Matt loves to travel when not on the pool deck. He is a Wilmington native and graduated from Aquinas Academy.
Chris Burslem - Coach
Coaching Career –
Coach Chris began coaching with DST in 2000. He coaches at the PS DuPont and New Castle locations. During his career, he has coached summer league and high school. He helped the Charter School of Wilmington earn a State Championship in 2016. Coach Chris has coached the River Road Swim Club and Arden Swim Club in the North Brandywine Swim League since 2000. Coach Chris earned his ASCA Level 3 certification, which only 20% of all coaches achieve.
Personal –
Coach Chris was born and raised in Arden. He is a graduate of Mount Pleasant High School and the University of Delaware. He loves hiking and spending time with his family and has 2 swimmers on DST!
Kelsey McNamara - Coach
Coaching Career:
Coach Kelsey started coaching with DST in 2024 with the Dawgs group at our New Castle location. She coached and taught swim lessons at Wenonah Swim Club in New Jersey, where she grew up swimming. Coach Kelsey also swam for the Greater Philadelphia Aquatic Club (now a part of Jersey Wahoos) and for the University of Delaware’s Club Swim Team.
Personal:
Coach Kelsey graduated from the University of Delaware in 2023 as a biochemistry major and currently works in a lab in Newark. Outside of coaching, Kelsey loves training for triathlons, open water swims, and marathons.
Ren Lynch - Coach
Coaching Career-
Coach Ren has been coaching for over four years. He coaches at both P.S. DuPont and New Castle locations and has been coaching Mini Mutts, Splash, Dash, and Dawg groups. He has coached for five years in the Suburban Swim League, two years with Western YMCA, and the other two years with Maple Valley Swim Club. Ren just finished his first season as head coach of the Yorklyn Yellowjacket’s.
Personal-
Coach Ren is a University of Delaware sophomore working toward a Bachelor’s in Special Education and K-8 Elementary Education.
Brian Drysdale - Coach
Coaching Career –
Coach Brian swam for DST while in high school and started coaching in 2020. He primarily works at New Castle location with our Senior groups. His coaching career began in 1999 at Westminster Swim Club in the Suburban Swim League. Coach Brian graduated from AI DuPont High School. Then, attended Babson College in Boston, where he swam, was named team captain, and held several records in the Backstroke events. In 2005, Coach Brian returned to his alma mater, AI DuPont High School. He coached alongside Coach Kathy for 12 years. He also served as a coach at the Brandywine Y Barracudas for 3 years.
Personal –
Coach Brian is originally from Fayetteville, NC and moved to Delaware in 1997. When not at the pool, he loves to do triathlons and looks for opportunities to serve his community. Coach Brian also has TWO swimmers enrolled in the Delaware Swim School.
Dylan Palma - Coach
Coaching Career –
Coach Dylan began coaching with DST in 2022. He works with our Dawg, Mini Mutts, and Splash and Dash Groups at New Castle and is involved with the Delaware Swim School. Coach Dylan has coached the Oakwood Valley Swim Club in the Suburban Swim League since 2022. Growing up, he swam for the Sharks Swim Team in Hockessin for 8 years in the Suburban Swim League. He is a graduate of the Tower Hill School. During his prep career he ran track and played soccer. Coach Dylan competed at the Penn Relays and won a state championship in soccer. Coach Dylan earned his ASCA Level 3 certification, which only 20% of all coaches achieve.
Personal –
Coach Dylan is originally from Philadelphia. He enjoys surfing in his free time.
Rob Stigler - Coach
Coaching Career -
Coach Rob joined DST in the fall of 2024, working primarily at the P.S. DuPont location. He has served as the head coach at the Arden Swim Club since 2023, following one season as a volunteer assistant coach. A lifelong swimmer, Rob began competing at age 4 with the Arden Sharks and continued through various club teams before swimming for Concord High School. Coaching has been a natural extension of Rob’s passion for the sport, and he’s committed to sharing that enthusiasm with the next generation of athletes.
Personal -
Outside the pool, Rob has worked full-time as a REALTOR® for over 13 years, serving clients across Delaware and Pennsylvania. In his free time, he enjoys woodworking, music, snowboarding, and traveling. Rob and his wife, Tiffany, have been happily married since 2020 and have been together since 2009. Their two-year-old daughter, Renee, is already learning to swim!
Sean Sullivan - Coach
Coaching Career -
Coach Sean has been coaching for the better part of 24 years. Growing up in NJ he swam for the Red Bank Regional Buccaneers in high school. After graduating University of Delaware, he bagan coach summers at the Driftwood Cabana Club, leading them to 3 undefeated seasons. After returning to Delaware, he began coaching year round for Western YMCA, Bear YMCA, and Brandywine YMCA. The past 2 summers he coached for Yorklyn Swim Club where he met multiple DST swimmers, as well as Coach Ren. He is looking forward to being a part of DST this season.
Personal -
Outside of the pool, Coach Sean works as the IT and front of house manager at Catherine Rooneys/Trolley Tap House in Wilmington. He enjoys photography and live music.
Jenn Ring - Coach
Coaching Career -
Coach Jenn Ring brings over 23 years of experience in competitive swim coaching and aquatics instruction. A lifelong swimmer, she began competing at age six and has remained dedicated to the sport ever since. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes consistent improvement, discipline, and helping each athlete reach their full potential. Coach Jenn is also a member of the American Swim Coaches Association(ASCA)Outside of coaching, Coach Jenn serves as a Compliance Administrator at Brandywine Trust Company in Hockessin, Delaware. She is also pursuing her Juris Doctor at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law, with an expected graduation in June 2026.
Personal -
Active in her community, she is involved with Greenbank Church of Christ in Wilmington, where she leads and volunteers in several ministries. Coach Jenn resides in Wilmington, Delaware.
Cheryl Berry - Coach
Coaching Career -
I have been coaching for over 25 years. This is my 5th season with DST. I have taught and coached many swimmers throughout the Delaware area. I coached at Skyline this summer. As well as, many other clubs in the Suburban Swim League and North Brandywine League. My biggest accomplishment [so far...] is teaching and coaching Kaitlyn Jones. She went on to swim at the University of Virginia.
Personal -
As a swimmer, I was Delaware High School State Champ in 50 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly. My children also swam year-round and summer league swimming. I spend my days with my German Shepherd Wilson and being a Nana to my Granddaughter and my Grandson with two more on the way. As I teach and coach these swimmers, I love watching them grow and have the love for swimming that I still have! Looking forward to another amazing year with DST!
Allison James - Coach
Coaching Career -
Coach Allison began coaching with DST in 2024. She is the head coach of the Maple Valley Swim Club in the Suburban Swim League. You can find Coach Allison workng with our 12 and Unders at Pike Creek and New Castle.
Personal -
Coach Allison is a junior at the University of Delaware. She is a Delaware native and swam for DST in high school!
Krista Valla - Coach
Coaching Career -
Coach Krista began coaching with DST in 2025. She has many years of summer league coaching, most recently working with the Drummond Hill Dragons!
Personal -
Coach Krista is a native of Delaware. She graduated from St. Mark's High School and swam for Michael Ramone, our team founder/owner.
Kathy Drysdale - Administrator
Coaching Career –
Coach Kathy has been with DST as either a coach and/or administrator since 1997. She began her coaching career in 1991 in Fayetteville, NC. Coach Kathy was the Head Coach for AI DuPont High School for 19 years.
Personal –
Coach Kathy, or Mrs. D, hails from Cherry Hill, NJ. She is a proud graduate of Cherry Hill East High School and Russell Sage College in Troy, NY. She raised “Three Fish,” all of whom swam and graduated from DST, and continued swimming in college.
Kathy is a BIG Phan of the Philadelphia Phillies. And she loves vacations to Cape Cod with all 7 of her grandkids. AND one of her granddaughters is enrolled in the Delaware Swim School and another has moved on to DST!!
