John Cadigan- Head Coach, Founder
John began his coaching career in 1980 while still in high school at Loyola Blakefield. John coached at every level of NBAC from 1980 until 2017. John is the second longest tenured coach in that program's history. In addition, he coached four years at Archbishop Curley High School winning two MSA “B” Conference Championships and one MSA Level II meet championship (without a pool). He served as assistant coach at Loyola Blakefield from 1990-1994.
From 2007 until 2017, John directed the NBAC Swim Camp which attracted swimmers from 34 states and 18 foreign countries. He also served as host to 30 national team coaches’ apprenticeships at Meadowbrook for the International Olympic Committee and United States Olympic Committe funded International Coaches Enrichment Certificate Program from 2008 until 2016. He has coached summer league at the Roland Run Club (1983-87) and Meadowbrook Swim Club (2005-6). John is a recipient of the Order of Ikkos medallion, which is a symbol of Excellence in Coaching from the USOC.
John currently coaches masters swimming and the swim team at Meadowbrook, where he is the General Manager and the Director of Aquatics. Since 2008, John has served as chair of the Maryland Swimming Hall of Fame committee.
Deanna Gurri - Age Group Coach
Deanna swam competitively for Badger Swim Club (NY) and comes to Meadowbrook from Annapolis Swim Club where she was an age group coach. Deanna is the lead coach of Susquehanna and enjoys teaching proper technique and the swimmers' enthusiasm for the sport. Deanna also coaches high school swimming at Mt. DeSales Academy in Catonsville.
Julia Martiner - Age Group & Senior Coach
Coach Julia started swimming competitively at the age of 7 and comes to Meadowbrook from Lewes, DE. She attended and swam on the club team for Villanova from 2017 to 2021.
Julia began her coaching career in 2016 where she was an age group and national team coach for her previous team Sussex Family YMCA. She also was head coach for the Lewes Yacht Club’s summer swim team and stroke and technique coach for her alma mater, Sussex Academy.
Julia most recently earned her Masters in Nutrition from John’s Hopkins University and is currently a teacher at St. Timothy’s School. She strives to inspire her swimmers to be confident, intentional, and empowered individuals both in and out of the pool.
Barbara Beidler - Age Group & Senior Coach
Barbara began swimming competitively in high school after having taken lessons her entire life and spending lots of time around pools and lakes. She continued her career at St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame (2008-2010) before transferring to Towson University (2010-2012) for her final 2 years of school where she was a member of the CAA Champion Varsity Swim Team.
After graduation she joined the Meadowbrook Masters Swim Team as a way to continue the sport she loved so much and find community. Professionally, she worked at Under Armour for 8 years before pivoting and starting a career in High School Athletics. She is currently the Director of Athletics at St. Timothy’s School in Stevenson, MD and is still very much involved in the Meadowbrook Masters program-swimming 6 mornings a week consistently.
Barbara believes in the power of sport to teach us valuable life lessons. She credits having an amazing coach who fostered a healthy, fun, competitive, goal oriented and growth centered environment within her team. Barbara is passionate about creating this same opportunity for others which is why she has devoted her professional life to athletics. Having a coach believe in her and show her how strong and capable she was is how she learned to be courageous and confident-in and out of the water. Barbara looks forward to encouraging the next generation and showing them that anything is possible.
Mary Baker - Age Group Coach
Mary began swimming competitively at the age of 6 for the Meadowbrook Tomatoes. She swam year round and in high school at Mt. DeSales Academy as well. She returned to her high school alma mater in 2022 to coach their Varsity swim team alongside Deanna Gurri.
Mary taught preschool for 8 years in both Maryland and New York. Meadowbrook has always been a second home to her and she is happy to be back teaching and coaching at the same pool she learned to swim.
Mary believes that it is important to meet every child where they currently are and then see how far you can help them by building confidence in achieving their dreams. She looks forward to assisting in building the next generation of confident swimmers who love the sport.
