Coach Laura has been coaching with the YCM Blue Crabs out of the Pasadena Family Y since September of 2018.

Laura was the Head Coach at the Silver Spring YMCA in Silver Spring, MD for the previous 4 seasons. 

Prior to moving to MD Laura was the Head Coach of Norwich University Men's and Women's swimming and diving teams for 9 years, before that she was also an Assistant Coach at Colby-Sawyer College and the Head Assistant Coach for a USA Swimming Team, North Country Aquatic Club. Her first coaching job was with a YMCA in Orrville, Ohio.  

Coach Laura grew up in the sport and was a multiple time Vermont State Record holder and State Champion. She attended the College of Wooster where she was a 13 time All-American and 4 year Varsity Swim Team member for the Fighting Scots.

Coach Brittany has been with YCM for 4 years. Swimming has been apart of her life since she was young. She started off by taking lessons at the same Y she now coaches for, swam on her neighborhood swim league for 13 years, joined competitive/year around swimming for 3 years and then kept her passion alive by taking it a step up and competing in triathlons like Iron Girl & Celebration. Brittany has a Bachelor of Science in Psycholoy and will have a Masters in Early Childhood Education in 2020. Outside of coaching Brittany also works for Howard County Public School Systems. In her free time she loves traveling,  any type of crafting, photography, kayaking and biking. 
 

Words that inspire her:

"We don't say or use the word can't, it is important to go into everything we do with a positive mindset. We can achieve anything with a positive mindset, practice, hard work and dedication. One of my favorite Coaches said to me that word = 5 push-ups haha" 

"What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make"

Coach Cassi has been coaching for 11 years.  Her favorite stroke to coach is Butterfly, as it was her favorite stroke to swim when she competed.   Swimming is more than a sport for Coach Cassi. It was the one sport she could compete in without getting injured! She is a clutz on dry land. She loves helping young swimmers do more than they can imagine and improve. She loves seeing swimmers faces light up with excitement and pride when they know they did a good job or swam a good race. Swimming is also a connection that she shares with her two girls, who both love to swim and are on the YCM team. When not coaching Coach Cassi spends time with her girls reading and doing crafts. Outside of coaching she is a middle school math and science teacher.

Words that inspire her:

"Your athleticism is only temporary, but your character lasts forever. Be compassionate, be grateful, be honest, be humble, be kind."

Coach James is new to the Y in Central Maryland Team. He was previously at Prospect Park Swim Team where he was a junior coach for two years.  To Coach James swimming is a life-long experience. Competitive Swimming has been a part of his life since he was 3 years old. More recently, Swimming has helped him lose 70 lbs. and become a successful triathlete. He believes it is a skill you never forget, and to which you can always return.  He loves helping swimmers reach their goals.  His favorite stroke is Butterfly due to the amount of detail required to learn and master the stroke correctly.  The moment a swimmer achieves the stroke is a fantastic accomplishment that they will never forget. 

Words that inspire him:

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." - Joe Paterno

This is Coach Parker's sixth season of coaching at the Y.  Swimming is one of his favorite activities, he swam for the Y for nine years prior to becoming a coach, and he still looks forward to his time swimming he gets in the water every chance he has. Coach Parker finds that the energy the swimmers brings to practice drives him to be just as energetic as they are. His favorite stroke to teach is Butterfly, he loves seeing swimmers finally understand the rhythm of the stroke. When not coaching Coach Parker enjoys hiking and camping.

Words that inspire him:

"There's always someone out there just as talented and skilled as you. And right now they are working hard to get better".